The World Premiere of Maeve Binchy's Circle Of Friends At Gaiety Theatre
Ireland’s best-loved author, Maeve Binchy, has delighted readers all over the world with her nostalgic and often humourous portrayal of small-town life in Ireland. This April, theatre-goers and Binchy fans alike, are in for a treat!
Breda Cashe in association with the Gaiety Theatre are delighted that the world Premiere of Maeve Binchy’s most loved novel, Circle of Friends will run at the Gaiety Theatre from 20 April – 14 May 2022.
Speaking at the time of the announcement Maeve’s husband Gordon Snell said, “Among all her stories, Circle of Friends was always one of Maeve’s own favourites. It reflects so much of her own memories of the joys and anxieties of student life, and even students from much later generations find it creates a world familiar to them. So I am delighted that this excellent new production brings that world so vividly to life for theatre audiences. I am sure that Maeve would love it too!”
Lovers of Maeve Binchy’s work have flocked to see her novels come to life since Minding Frankie hit the stage in 2017. That production was followed by Light A Penny Candle in 2019.
The cast of the world premiere stage production of Circle of Friends will include Roseanna Purcell (as Benny), Juliette Crosbie (as Nan), Aisling Kearns (as Eve), Jack Hickey, Shane O’Regan, Marcus Lamb, David Crowley, Mark O’Regan and Susannah DeWrixon.
The production will also run at the Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick from 13 - 16 April.
Maeve is one of those rare writers – like Dickens, Wilde, Behan, whose work springs from larger – than –life personalities. In Circle of Friends Maeve Binchy offers us some of her most loved literary characters, none more so than Benny, in this coming of age story.
About Circle of Friends:
Big-hearted Benny Hogan, an adored only daughter and little orphan, Eve Malone, are best friends in the small rural town of Knockglen. On their first day at University College Dublin, their lives are turned upside down when they are introduced to the beautiful and sophisticated, Nan Mahon, and the handsome, Jack Foley. As love blossoms, Benny reluctantly boards the bus home every evening to Knockglen unaware of the trouble brewing within their new circle of friends. Set in 1950s Ireland, this enchanting tale of first love, fierce loyalty and friendship, is a rich, resonant coming-of-age story, wrapped in the warmth of Maeve’s trademark compassion and humour.
As one of Ireland’s most successful writers, Maeve Binchy has sold more than 40 million books worldwide. The hugely successful film adaptation of the novel was made in 1995 starring Minnie Driver, Colin Firth and Aidan Gillian.
Charting the lives of Irish women throughout the decades, Maeve’s sharp and insightful storytelling is still resonating with old and new audiences today.
Performance times:
Monday – Saturday nightly at 7.30pm
Matinees: Wednesday & Saturday at 2.30pm
Tickets:
Tickets from €16 (inc €1 restoration levy).
Rescheduled tickets:
All original tickets purchased for the 2020 run will remain valid for the rescheduled dates in 2022. Ticketmaster and Group Bookings Department will contact all ticket purchasers directly regarding their new rescheduled date and bookers can see gaietytheatre.ie for details. Ticket refunds will be available to any purchaser who would like a refund, we kindly ask that you contact point of purchase as soon as possible.
