HEAVEN, from award winning Irish writer, Eugene O’Brien, premiered at the Dublin Theatre Festival in October 2022, and toured Ireland prior to transferring Off-Broadway to 59E59 Theaters, New York, in January 2023. This upcoming run marks the first return to the stage for HEAVEN following its critically acclaimed, sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 when it played at the Traverse Theatre.
No strangers to Edinburgh, the wonderful Olivier Award and quadruple Fringe First-winning Irish theatre company Fishamble return to the Traverse Theatre with HEAVEN that was Winner of the Irish Times Best New Play Award 2023 and a prestigious Fringe First Award.
Set in County Offaly in the Irish midlands, HEAVEN, directed by Fishamble artistic director of 35 years standing Jim Culleton, sees 20-year married couple, Mairead and Mal, find themselves at something of a crossroads, struggling to keep their relationship together and each with secrets from the other. Returning to Mairead’s hometown for a family wedding, they find themselves facing old temptations and difficult questions.
The beautifully written work provides an insightful snapshot into the relationship between the two adults Mal, played by Andrew Bennett, who had a significant role in the poignant 2023 Oscar-nominated An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl and Mairead, played by Janet Moran, who won Best Actress Irish Times Theatre Awards for HEAVEN and was most recently on screen in BAFTA Nominated comedy drama The Dry.
The couple have shared a life, a child and all that comes with that, but haven’t yet shared all of themselves. Separated on stage, two intersecting monologues conjure a powerful picture of a weekend where past issues surface.
Prior to playing at the Traverse Theatre, HEAVEN plays at Southwark Playhouse (Borough – The Little) from Friday 7th – Saturday 22nd February 2025.
Traverse dates: 25th February – 1st March 2025
Tickets now available at www.traverse.co.uk
Website: www.fishamble.com
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 