...to numerous new plays...
Speaking in Tongues
.jpg?678 "Drawing_Crosses_(1)")
Galway Theatre Festival from Friday 29th May till Monday 2nd June.jpg "Language_of_the_Mute_(13)")
Set: Eoin Lennon 
This is a new play by a first time writer directed by Liam celebrating the centenary of the 1913 Lockout.
This was a sell out site specific production, in one of Dublin's most extraordinary venues. It offered a remarkable setting for this wonderful European classic. 
Town & Country
by Gary Duggan
Smock Alley Theatre 7.30 25th to 30th June 2013
Liam directed Gary Duggan's two new plays Town & Country for this year's Gaiety School of Acting graduates.
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He has received numerous awards from the Irish Arts Council to develop his work over the past 15 years. Liam by Tom Lawlor 2013 He contributes as a part-time lecturer to the:- MA in Drama & Performance at UCD BA (Hons) in Theatre & Drama Studies for CIT at the Cork School of Music. Short Biography After training as an actor at the Stanislavski Studio at the Focus Theatre Dublin Liam worked with internationally renowned directors such as Lindsay Anderson, Sir Hugh Hunt, Declan Donnellan (Cheek By Jowl), Phyllida Lloyd, James Macdonald and Annie Castledine.
He has performed with companies as diverse as the Abbey Theatre, Oxford Stage Company, Cheek By Jowl, Birmingham Rep, Theatr Clwyd, Manchester Contact, English Dance Theatre, Torifune Butoh Sha and Gay Sweatshop. His films include the Irish classics Pigs by Cathal Black and Anne Devlin by Pat Murphy. He played Peter Dubois in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and his latest film, Banshee Blacktop by the writer/director Sean Garland, is due for release later in 2015/16.
Liam's directorial work has been funded and supported by:- The Arts Council Dublin City Council EU Peace & Reconciliation Fund The Gulbenkian Foundation & The British Council The Civic Theatre, Draíocht Arts Centre, Garage Theatre Fingal, Monaghan and Westmeath County Councils & Midland Health Board. His work is eclectic, ranging from...
...a devised physical theatre piece integrating live music like Cracked which looked at the lives of women in mental asylums in 1950's/60's Ireland... 'A vibrant and powerful piece. This is exemplary and innovative stuff.' Sunday Times Photo: Diane O'Keeffe, Liz Keller, Dawn Fleming by Hannah Smolenska
'A truly memorable work...a superb production and a riveting adaptation.' Irish Examiner
Photo: Ruth McGill by Toshi Sakauchi ...to a site specific A Midsummer Night's Dream in co-production with the Irish Chamber Orchestra co-directed with Lawrence Evans...
'A high energy production delivering hit by hit.' Irish Times Photo: Mark Fitzgerald, Brian Bennett by Maurice Gunning
2014: On City Water Hill by Philip St John at Theatre Upstairs. The Importance of Being Honest by Billie Traynor, Bewley's Café. The Belle Bottoms by Eoin Colfer for Dublin Fringe Festival, Smock Alley Theatre.
2015: Have a Heart by Seamus Moran, Edinburgh Fringe Festival Language of the Mute by Jack Harte, Dublin's New Theatre. 'This is an important play and deserves serious objective consideration.' Irish Independent 'Not to be missed!' Daily Mail Awards Nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award as Best Director for...
for Quare Hawks Theatre Company.
'There can be no doubt about the strength of Bovells creative imagination. The four actors bring clarity and depth. Liam Halligans direction is fluent and sharply etched, against Marcus Costello flexible design.' The Irish Times on Speaking in Tongues Noelle Brown & Karl O'Neill by Toshi Sakauchi Rashomon for Storytellers Theatre Company based on two stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. A savage drama. For seventy-five minutes a hypnotic stage creation unfolds. The original music by Denis Clohessy adds a haunting dimension. This is new ground for Storytellers and they have harvested it with profit. The Irish Times on Rashomon Emma Colohan, Malachy McKenna, Eoin Lynch by Toshi Sakauchi --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.5 Star Review at Galway Theatre Festival for..... 'Drawing Crosses on a Dusty Windowpane' by Dylan Coburn Gray
The Mick Lally Theatre at 6pm. This is part play, part word poem. It is a poetic act of remembrance and questioning exploring themes of loss and love. Dylan Coburn Gray was winner of the Fishamble Best New Writing Award 2013. Directed by: Liam Halligan Composer: Sean James Garland Lighting Designer: John Gunning. Photo of Claire Galvin by Toshi Sakauchi THE REVIEW HUB May 2016
Performer Claire Galvin stands calmly, waiting for the right moment to begin. When she speaks, its the beginning of a full 45 minutes of intricate, poetic text that she delivers without so much as a stutter. Galvin has a light touch as an actor but communicates with absolute clarity even in the midst of potentially obscure passages. Liam Halligans subtle direction should also be given credit here. There are several moments of laughter when the audience recognises their own experiences being reflected back to them, phrased by writer Dylan Coburn Gray with often exquisite precision. Drawing Crosses on a Dusty Windowpane is melancholy, hopeful, and insightful. Gray is lucky to have a performer like Galvin to bring his text to life, and Galvin is lucky to perform such well-crafted material. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- currently on national tour... LANGUAGE OF THE MUTE by Jack Harte
Photo by Toshi Sakauchi 'This is an important play' Sunday Independent 'It bravely tackles subjects that some would rather not acknowledge' The Public Reviews ' It cuts to the heart' Sunday Independent This is a controversial and dynamic new play by the much loved Irish novelist Jack Harte. It was supported by the Irish Writer's Centre and produced by Jack Gilligan and Ann Russell. The production had a sold out run for two weeks in September 2015. Veneus & Dates: Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge Sat 7th May Civic Theatre, Tallaght Mon 9th & Tues 10th May Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo Wed 11th May Backstage Theatre, Longford Thurs 12th May Roscommon Arts Centre Fri 13th May An Taibhearc, Galway Sat 14th May Cast: Jennifer Laverty, Marc McCabe, Ciaran McGlynn and Michael O'Sullivan Set and Lighting design: Eoin Lennon ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also this summer at The Viking.... It is being revived for a three week run: 23rd May to 11th June (Mon to Sat)
RISK EVERYTHING by George F. Walker The European Premiere of this fierce and darkly funny play. George F. Walker was awarded the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award in 2009, along with Robert Lepage. This is Canada's highest honour. ' It's great fun.' Sunday Independent 'In a word: brilliant.' Red Curtain Review 'Under the direction of Liam Halligan Risk Everything is consistent throughout. There are rare moments when there is no audible laugher, which is testament to the performances' The Public Review Cast: Dave Curry, Teri Fitzgerald, Pat Nolan and Ann Russell. Set Design: Maree Kearns Lighting design: Eoin Lennon Sound design: Eamonn Murphy Producer: Melissa Nolan of Mouths On Fire --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BANSHEE BLACKTOP: An Irish Ghost Story a new film written and directed by Sean Garland
The film has had two private screenings, one at The Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, London and another in the Irish Film Institute in Dublin. Both screenings received an extremely positive reaction. Since then the film was selected by Temple Bar Trust for a public screening on Halloween night in Meeting House Square in Dublin. You can see a trailer on www.bansheeblacktop.com You can read an interview with the writer/director here...http://filmireland.net
Cast also includes Kelly McAuley, Dylan Kennedy, Frank O'Sullivan and Marcus Lamb.
Photo: Conrad Gibbons ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recently completed.... The Tenderfoot Project A selection of plays written by twenty teenagers from the local area received a professional production in the Civic on 23rd and 24th January. See link to Video from The Irish Times about Tenderfoot at the Civic Theatre... http://www.civictheatre.ie/blog/.../tenderfoot-vid
This is an opportunity for transition year students to learn the basics of theatre making. Approximately 45 young people, drawn from seven secondary schools throughout the South Dublin region will work with Liam, Veronica Coburn and Gavin Kostick.
The group will write, perform, design and stage manage their own work for 3 public performances in the Civic Theatre.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tour completed in 2015.... The Importance of Being Honest by Billie Traynor This production was revived from last year by Bewley's Café Theatre at Powerscourt for a five week run this summer. The cast is Billie Traynor, Deirdre Monaghan and Karl O'Neill. The production also toured to a number of venues around the country. In the play two of Oscar Wilde's favourite characters, Gwendolen and Cecily from The Importance of Being Earnest, meet after 20 years in 1913.... 'A wise play in an entirely delightful production by Liam Halligan.' Sunday Independent 'In Wilde's play the social commentary is secondary to the entertainment, Traynor balances them equally.' The Sunday Times 'Liam Halligan's direction works fabulously. Traynor and Brown's onstage chemistry is unshakeable'. The Public Reviews 'What Traynor offers is a wonderful piece, bright and breezy. A wonderfully pleasant way to spend an hour in the theatre. It is delivered finely by the cast and deftly directed.' Red Curtain Reviewre some photos from the original production last summer....
Photos: L to R Billie Traynor, Noelle Brown and Eamon Rohan by Toshi Sakauchi
'An engaging proposition...Traynor deploys expected witticisms but her true intention is more serious. Liam Halligan's production follows that artful inversion to reveal a poignant picture of lives in stasis.' Irish Times
Lighting: Colm Maher Costumes: Helen Connolly Sound: Eamonn Murphy Producer: Bewley's Cafe Theatre Photos: Toshi Sakauchi Funded by the Irish Arts Council ---------------------------------------------------------------------- At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2015... HAVE A HEART written and performed by Seamus Moran 'Seamus Moran's one man show is a comic dramatisation of organ memory with a distinct thriller vibe. Energetically directed by Liam Halligan. The female characters are great fun. The plot stays ahead of the audience and it is testimony to Moran's talent that he manages to pull it all off.' The Sunday Times
Soundscape by Denis Clohessy Set & Lighting design by Marcus Costello ----------------------------------------------------------------- Two Publications in 2014:
Mushroom, a play by Paul Meade, commissioned and produced by Liam in 2007, has been published by Cork University Press in a volume of new plays called Staging Intercultural Ireland. The volume includes plays by Donal O'Kelly, Ursula Rani Sarma, Rosaleen McDonagh and Mirjana Rendulic. There is an excellent introduction to the play by Jason King from the University of Limerick. Tenderfoot, a volume of plays by and for young people.
It contains 16 short new plays all written by 15/16 year olds over the past 8 years on the Tenderfoot programme at the Civic Theatre Dublin. The volume is published by South Dublin Libraries & Arts and The Civic Theatre. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also in 2014...... The Belle Bottoms by Eoin Colfer This cabaret opened at the Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival 2014 at Smock Alley Theatre. It also had a sell out run at the Wexford Opera Festival in the Spiegeltent. Two ladies sing songs of restraining orders, gay brothers, spermy young fellas and growing up in the 1970's. There will be flares, there will be attitude, there will be glitterballs!
Lyrics by Eoin Colfer Compositions by Bressie, Heathers, Eleanor McEvoy and many others. Musical Direction by Liam Bates Lighting by Mark Galione 'Sharon Clancy and Aileen Mythen bring a sassy presence and formidable vocals...' The Irish Times **** 4.5 stars 'An hilarious one hour disco delight.' The Public Reviews 'The reliably inventive Eoin Colfer...the Belle Bottoms could yet reach the top!' The Irish Times 'Highly entertaining...a spectacular show.' The Public Reviews ---------------------------------------------------------- Other recent work... A Kurt Weill Cabaret with Lisa Sadovy and Walter van Dijk for The Soundings Festival in May 2015 at the Nasher Sculpture Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA Originally compiled and directed by Liam Halligan. Now directed by the wonderful Laurence Evans.
On City Water Hill by Philip St John at Theatre Upstairs, Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. May 2014 With Pat Nolan and Neill Fleming. Designed by visual artist Laura Kelly. **** 'Not to be missed' Irish Mail of Sunday 'Fleming and Nolan are a powerful combination' Daily Mail
Pat Nolan and Neill Fleming by Beata Barylka _______________________________________________________________________ Gaiety School of Acting full time students rehearsing their Shakespeare scene presentation November 2014 directed by Liam...
Left: Gordan Quigley & Aurelia Grierson. Centre: Larry Wilson & Ian Dunn. Right: Madeleine O'Carroll & Diana Melo. Photos by Tom Maher courtesy of the GSA 2014. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Work in 2013... 'Elster's first play crackles with fiercely help moral and political arguments....a lively and gripping production.' Photo: Rob Harrington, Aine de Siun by Toshi Sakauchi 'Scabs is insidious. It's infectious. So let the message spread.' Le Cool ----------------------------------------------
With a cast of ten actors and one musician we created an urgent, contemporary piece of theatre, played in traverse, creating an atmosphere of intimate intensity. Irish Theatre Magazine
Photos: Far left: Teri Fitzgerald, Rex Ryan, Ashleigh Dorrell in Town Left: Katie McCann, Clodagh Mooney Duggan in Country --------------------------------------------------------
Photo: Anna Shiels McNamee by Maciej Staroniewicz
Reviews:- 'Philip St John's drama is an exploration of the uneasy relationship between the viewer and the viewed, the slippery politics of exploitation, and the shifting value placed on constructed images. St John makes this argument compelling, and works to offer an additional critique by linking the ups and downs of the value of art, body and image to the fluidities of economic exchange and valuation in the midst of the recent financial crash. In broad
IT Magazine ------------------------------------------------- Back in 2012 Liam was...
See promo of the final performances in Draíocht Arts Centre... Supported by Fingal County Council and the Arts Council. There was great interest in the project with over a hundred initial enquiries. Liam created an hour long devised piece of theatre with 60 people from the local area. The final piece, You Yes You, became a political cabaret performed on the main stage of Draiocht Arts Centre for 2 performances at the end of November 2012. We received very good audiences and the piece had an excellent response. Director and Designer: Liam Halligan
Eoin Colfer is a New York Times best-selling author especially known for his extraordinary Artemis Fowl series. 'Mythen is a great testimony to the power of live theatre. On stage her acting is captivating. Golden is versatility personified. Under Liam Halligan's direction both actors maintain a hectic pace of narrative and an energetic flow of action. Denis Clohessy contributes a haunting soundscape.' Irish Theatre Magazine 'Humour and pathos aplenty!' The Irish Times 'Exuberant engaging performances under Liam Halligan's expert direction. **** The Metro 'Both women are delightful...beautifully encapsulated'
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Set & Lighting by Marcus Costello. Sound Design by Karl Kennedy. Costumes by Helen Connolly.   Photos of cast by Toshi Sakauchi 2011 Michelle sees the play as a reflection on what the younger generation are in for in deepest recessionary Ireland.  Photo of Stuart Conlon and Caoimhe O'Malley by Toshi Sakauchi 2011 This was a dynamic, inventive and hard hitting production which received excellent houses and a number of standing ovations.  Stuart Conlon, Alicja Ayres, Tiernan Kearns by Toshi Sakauchi 2011 
Photos: 
Colin O'Donoghue in 'Leaving' Below: Ruth McGill in The Turn of the Screw Ruth McGill in 'The Turn of the Screw'
One Hundred Strokes at the Abbey Theatre.
Below:Colin
L Above left: Helen Delaney & Chris Patrick Simpson in The Turn of the Screw Storytellers 2007 Photo: Tohi Sakauchi Far right: Brian Bennett in A Midsummer Night's Dream Storytellers/ICO 2008 Photo: Maurice Gunning Gaiety School of Acting - National Theatre School of Ireland...
He introduces the final year students to Shakespearean text. Liam's past students include: Ian Lloyd Anderson, Sarah Green, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Genevieve Hulme Beaman, Carl Kennedy, Marcus Lamb, Jane McGrath, Clare Monnelly, Charlie Murphy, Jamie O'Neill, Stafanie Preissner, Paul Reid, Ian Toner and Aidan Turner. National University of Ireland Dublin:
------------------------------------------------------------------- Recent Workshops... In The Body
This was a week long workshop and the facilitators were Joanna Merlin and Fern Sloan. Joanna is the only surviving pupil of Michael Chekhov who is still teaching.  'There is a disharmony in our age because we are already dead to the higher level. So in our school we must try to awaken these dreams about another kind of people who are strong and flaming and cold as ice and storming.' Getting a bit carried away..? Photo by Scott Burrell by courtesy of MICHA 2010.
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The Sylvia 
Supported by an Arts Council Touring Grant
Liam
Liam is a guest acting tutor at the GSA in Dublin. This is the oldest established professional actor training programme available in Ireland. 
Laura Flynn and Laura McGuire in Another Twin
Liam has facilitated practical workshops on theatre direction for the MA in Drama Studies utilizing texts by Beckett and Ibsen.
![Windsor_Group[1]](images/Windsor_Group[1].jpg?552)
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