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Liam Halligan

PHOTO: LIAM HALLIGAN by SEAN GARLAND 2024

Liam is an established theatre director, theatre maker and acting tutor based in Ireland. He has received numerous awards from the Irish Arts Council to develop his work over the past twenty-five years.
He has produced and directed many touring productions including new plays, devised multidisciplinary pieces and his own critically acclaimed adaptations: CRACKED (Quare Hawks), Henry James' THE TURN OF THE SCREW (Storytellers), DREAM OF A SUMMER DAY based on the life and works of Lafcadio Hearn (Storytellers).

He was granted an Arts Council Agility award last year to develop a new play, The Old Boys, with first time playwright Leo Lynch at Draíocht Arts Centre. Other recent awards include a Touring Grant for Take Off Your Cornflakes (2020) and a Professional Training Award (2021) to research Stanislavski's 'Active Analysis' approach to rehearsals.

Liam has developed a strong interest in new writing and has worked with writers including Bryan Burroughs, Carys D. Coburn, Eoin Colfer, Fiona Buffini, Fionn Foley, Fionntán Larney, Elizabeth Moynihan, Philip Osment, Colin Teevan, Paul Meade, Felicia Olusanya, Mary Elizabeth Burke Kennedy and Rose Henderson. Currently working with playwrights Lianne O’Hara, Leo Lynch and Amy Redmond.

He recently worked with Elizabeth Moynihan on Happiness Then... with Fishamble's New Play Clinic. It was produced by Bewley's Café Theatre in Feb/March 2024 which played to full houses for the entire run andis being revived in March 2025.

His current project is BABY by Lianne O'Hara was produced by the Dublin Fringe Festival Sept 2024 with actor Aisling O'Mara and support from the Irish Theatre Institute. The production won 'The Little Gem' and will be revived by Bewleys in 2025.

Director

Liam trained as an actor at the Stanislavski Studio, Focus Theatre, Dublin with Deirdre O'Connell and
Mary Elizabeth Burke Kennedy from 1976 - 1980.
He was awarded a first class honours MA in Drama & Performance from University College Dublin in 2018.
He has worked as an actor in Ireland and the UK with internationally renowned directors including
Sir Hugh Hunt, Declan Donnellan, Phyllida Lloyd, James Macdonald, Annie Castledine, John Doyle and Laurence Boswell.

AWARDS
His production of Lianne O'Hara's BABY for the Dublin Fringe Festival 2024 won 'The Little Gem' Award.

He was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award as Best Director
for:
Speaking in Tongues
by the Australian playwright Andrew Bovell (Quare Hawks)
Rashomon
based on two stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa (Storytellers)

Dream of a Summer Day
adapted by Liam from the writings of Lafcadio Hearn (Storytellers)
nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award for
Best Lighting (Marcus Costello) and Costume Design (Chisato Yoshimi).

Winter Came Down
by Michael McCuddan (Quare Hawks) nominated for a Stewart Parker Award as Best New Play.

ACTING AWARDS

Played Ross in Cheek by Jowl's 'Macbeth' which won an Olivier Award for 'Best Production' in 1987. The production toured the UK, played at the Donmar London and was revived for the Lyric Hammersmith.
Won 'Most Promising Young Actor' from the Evening Press Theatre Awards, Dublin in 1979. These awards were the precursors to the Irish Times Theatre Awards.

REVIEWS
A further selection of Acting and Directing reviews is available on the next page.

I was delighted to have a small input into this wonderful promenade performance of 10 new peices which will be presented throughout the Axis Theatre building on Saturday 23rd November 2024. Congrats to Axis for presenting such important new work. Both performances are completely sold out!

REVIVAL

BABY
by Lianne O'Hara

Photo of Aisling O'Mara by Dean Ben Ayre

Performed by Aisling O'Mara.
Music by Denis Clohessy. Lighting & Set by Eoin Lennon.
Stage Manager: Sarah Mooney.

'A heartbreakingly vulnerable portrayal of a woman's struggle with fertility issues. O'Mara shines as Camilla, in all her fury, heartache and scorn. It does a masterly job of exploring the kind of feelings you want no one to know about. This is one that so many people should see.'
The Irish Times Sept 2024.

BABY was developed with the support from the Dublin Fringe Festival and the Irish Theatre Institute and was presented by DFF at The New Theatre in Sept 2024.

Liam worked with Lianne on her first play FLUFF which had a sell-out run at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2022.

'Informed by interviews with sex-workers, this work gives a vivid insight into this kind of life experience.' Katy Hayes, Irish Independent on 'FLUFF'

New Work in Development

Aoibhéann McCann (Rachel) and Barry John Kinsella (Ken) in a staged reading of 'The Old Boys'. Photo: Noel Brady

THE OLD BOYS
by Leo Lynch

This play is being developed with the help of
The Arts Council, Draíocht Arts Centre, Fishamble's New Play Clinic and
Bewley's Café Theatre.

Liam has worked with Leo and the dramaturg Penny Black on a final draft.
We presented a staged reading with the help of the Irish Theatre Institute
on Thursday 22nd February 2024 with actors
Aoibhéann McCann, Peter Gaynor and Barry John Kinsella
We are planning a full production in Oct 2025, pending funding, with support from the Dublin Theatre Festival, Backstage Theatre Longford and Droichead Arts Centre.

Leo Lynch was a pupil at Terenure College Dublin in the 1980s.
In four intense scenes, over the course of one day, this play examines what the novelist Claire Keegan calls the 'complicit silences' that have permeated so many aspects of Irish life.
Set in a fictional prestigious boy's school run by a religious order in 1982
three teachers attempt to deal with a serious issue regarding one of their colleagues - the school's renowned rugby coach.

The process included interviewing ex-teachers who worked in secondary schools in the 1980s.

Aoibhéann McCann (Rachel) and Peter Gaynor (Richard) in reading of 'The Old Boys'. Photo: Noel Brady

Latest Production

Bewley's Café Theatre
Happiness Then...
by Elizabeth Moynihan
with Rachael Dowling and Sorcha Furlong.

'Sharp and very sophisticated...Liam Halligan gets full brittle value from the text.' Sunday Independent
'Two riveting performances…it is genuinely heartfelt.’
The Arts Review
'Compelling with consummate skill and experience.'
Review Hub

The play was developed with the help of Fishamble Theatre Company's
New Play Clinic and the Irish Theatre Institute.
The show sold out for the entire run.

It will be revived by Bewleys in March/April 2025.

'Moynihan typically has her finger on the zeitgeist, her observations are sharp and very sophisticated...it is as witty as it is full of acuity. The play is a 'high-res image' of today's increasingly insane society and director Liam Halligan gets full brittle value from the text in sharp-edged performances from Sorcha Furlong and Rachael Dowling. A nice touch of reality, cooly and wittily laid bare on stage.'
Emer O'Kelly Sunday Independent 25/02/2024

‘Two riveting performances…Dowling beautifully evokes the pain of women trying endlessly to be perfect, Furlong grounding it all with a captivatingly brilliant performance. It is a touching portrait of two sisters striving for connection, full of tender moments…it is genuinely heartfelt.’
Chris O’Rourke, The Arts Review, 16 Feb 2024

4 star review ****
'Compelling...consummate skill and experience, Moynihan's dialogue is incisive, the sisters confronting each other with acerbic wit and vitriolic retorts. The whole framework is shaped and proportioned by Liam Halligan's direction.'
Claire Galligan, The Review Hub, 18 Feb 2024
Photo below of Rachael Dowling and Sorcha Furlong by Al Craig

Other Recent Work

Photo: Rose Henderson and Pat Nolan by Toshi Sakauchi

TAKE OFF YOUR CORNFLAKES
by Rose Henderson & Pat Nolan
Directed by Liam Halligan. Original music by Denis Clohessy.
AV by Kieran McBride.
A Show-in-a-Bag production for Fishamble Theatre Company.
This revival had a packed out run at Bewley's Café Theatre for three weeks in April/May 2023.

'This show has it all and is played to perfection.’
Emer O'Kelly, Sunday Independent

'An acutely observed piece that has authentic dignity. Liam Halligan steers with a sensitive and steady path.'
Fiona Charleton, Sunday Times.

'Liam Halligan directs with a meticulous approach, teasing out the emotions at all points. This play delivers...it is moving and very real.'
Katy Hayes, Irish Independent 3 May 2023

**** 'Show of the Week "... the loving relationship is central to everything …
very moving performances.’
Michael Moffatt, Mail on Sunday.

‘...one of the most sensitive, heartfelt, and uplifting shows of the festival.' The Arts Review

Liam was delighted to be part of 24 Hour Plays: Dublin
in January 2022 at the Abbey Theatre.
He directed the opening play
A Night at the Movies
by Fionntán Larney
Cast: Vincent Brightling, Gene Rooney, Leah Minto and David Rawle.
The evening consisted of six short plays which were written, rehearsed and performed in twenty-four hours!

David Rawle in 'A Night at the Movies' 24 hour Plays/Abbey Theatre. Photo: Ste Murray

Photo of Kyle Hixon and Bairbre Ní Chaoimh by Jeda de Brí

Bewley's Café Theatre production Oct/Nov 2022
LOST HEARTS
by M.R. James
adapted by Michael James Ford and Stewart Roche.
Cast: Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, Kyle Hixon and Michael James Ford.

'It's a quiet hoot throughoutg and great fun... a superb choice for the spooky season. The set design is ingenious.'
Emer O'Kelly The Sunday Independent 30/10/2022

'Liam Halligan’s direction skillfully allows the entire production to move stylishly. The actors make a fine ensemble and the occasional comic touches add to the pleasure. This is a complex piece but all the elements come together to produce a memorable lunchtime play. It is very much worth a visit.'
www.nomoreworkhorse.com

Dublin Fringe Festival 2022
FLUFF
by Lianne O'Hara

Photo by Shauna Maher

This production had a sold out run during the
Dublin Fringe Festival at Smock Alley Theatre.

'This work gives a vivid insight into this kind of life experience. O’Hara’s heartfelt play wades skillfully into this debate in the highest of heels.
Director Liam Halligan keeps the touch light over the 60 minutes, with plenty of laughs leavening what is in essence a highly polemical play.
The two girls are totally unashamed and there is no hint of Catholic guilt or layman prudery. Informed by interviews with sex-workers, O’Hara’s script makes a case for the dismantling of recent legislation which criminalises both clients and brothels.’
Irish Independent, Katy Hayes 23 Sept 2022

'Lianne O’Hara’s play offers a behind-the-curtain look at the world of sex work drawing on real-life experiences.
There’s lots to like here. The script offers intriguing anecdotes – sometimes sad, at times amusing – and frank reflections which remind the audience that sex workers are, at the end of the day, just humans trying to make a buck like everyone else.'
BUZZ.IE Aoife Moriarty 22 Sept 2022

FLUFF is a hard hitting new piece set in a Dublin strip club.
You are invited into the world of Lola and Carli, ready to share their thoughts on money, sex and power. This play challenges your beliefs around sex work -
and show you how it's done.
Cast: Shir Madness, Aaron Lockart and Lianne O'Hara.

Director: Liam Halligan Sound: Denis Clohessy
Lighting: Eoin Lennon
Costumes/Make Up: Shauna Maher

Photo by Shauna Maher L to R Liam Halligan, Shir Madness, Lianne O'Hara

Lianne O'Hara is a published poet and short story writer. In 2020, she was selected for the Poetry Ireland Introductions Series, featuring a reading at International Literature Festival Dublin, and awarded a Literature Bursary from the Arts Council of Ireland. FLUFF was selected for development by FringeLab50

RECENT WORK
with THE GAIETY SCHOOL OF ACTING
Liam completed a Shakespeare module at the Gaiety School of Acting Dublin with seventeen wonderful students in November 2023.
The staff photographer, Thom McDermott, caught some lovely moments from the GSA's in-house presentation of scene work...

Work in 2021

Shifting Sands was written by Rose Henderson and directed by Liam Halligan.
It was selected for the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2021
and was screened to a live audience in
Cork's Gate Cinema in September at
as part of the Cork Indie Film Festival

Cast: Rose Henderson and Pat Nolan
with Sorcha Furlong, Clare Monnelly and Helena White.

Cinematography/Editing by Noel Brady. Music by Denis Clohessy.
Production Manager: Miriam Duffy.
Funded by Screen Ireland and Memory House
with support from the Civic Theatre.

The script is based on our very successful stage play Take Off Your Cornflakes.

Photo: Pat Nolan and Rose Henderson during filming.

Tour 2021

Aenne Barr, Dermot Magennis 'Heather' Belltable Arts Centre Limerick 2020. Photo: Angie Steele.

HEATHER
by Thomas Ecclesshare
for Bewley's Café Theatre Dublin.

'Expertly directed'
The Sunday Times
HEATHER opened to rave reviews in February 2019 and was revived for a second run in May. Our transfer to the Civic Theatre was cancelled due to the covid pandemic.

However, despite various covid restrictions, we managed to bring the show on tour later in the year to The Civic Tallaght, Watergate Theatre Kilkenny,
Backstage Theatre Longford and Droichead Arts Centre,

Cast: Aenne Barr and Dermot Magennis.
Music composition by Denis Clohessy
Set Design by Kieran McBride, Lighting by Colm Maher
Stage Manager is Michelle Barry.

Performance Analysis
June 2021

Anna Sheils-McNamee as Yelena. Photo by Sean Garland

Thanks to the Irish Arts Council and Dublin City Council Liam worked with actors Anna Sheils-McNamee and Ronan Leahy exploring Stanislavski's 'Active Analysis' approach to rehearsals for a two-week period.

Ronan Leahy as Dr. Astrov. Photo by Sean Garland

The aim was to transform the tedious task of 'line learning' into a more creative and positive process, while bringing a text based scene to performance level.
We worked on a scene from Chekhov's Uncle Vanya.
From initial 'silent' improve to 'one phrase' improve, to short 'action' motivated improves, the actors gradually soaked-up the words of the scene, line perfect.

The workshop evolved into a very practical use of Stanislavski's teachings.
It allowed the actors to completely own the lines and to maintain a dynamic spontaneity while absolutely following the structure of the scene.
A sense of ‘character’ was achieved by discovering the thought process that was revealed in the text. Also, the choreography of the scene came together quite quickly and organically.

Anna Sheils-McNamee and Ronan Leahy. Photo by Sean Garland.

A wonderful part of the process was meeting with Abbey actress Máire Ní Ghráinne. Máire played Dunyasha in the Abbey's famous 1968 production of The Cherry Orchard with Siobhán McKenna and Cyril Cusack, which was directed by the renowned Russian director Maria Knebel.

Madame Knebel was one of Stanislavski's last students. She formulated 'active analysis' based on the last three years of Stanislavski's explorations. Knebel utilized this approach in her own work and was awarded the title People's Artist of the USSR in 1958 for her achievements in theatre.

Dr. Cathy Leeney of UCD's Drama Department came to view and discuss our final 'work-in-progress'. She remarked how the work was 'so alive, full and immediate' and she was very eager to see a full production using only this approach.
Let's hope we can make that happen!

Some recent productions:

TAKE OFF YOUR CORNFLAKES
by Rose Henderson & Pat Nolan
A Show-in-a-Bag production for Fishamble Theatre Company.

Photo: Pat Nolan and Rose Henderson by Toshi Sakauchi.

'THIS SHOW HAS IT ALL. PLAYED TO PERFECTION.’
Emer O'Kelly, Sunday Independent

Produced for Dublin Fringe Festival 2017 receiving excellent reviews and went on to tour nationally in 2018.
Performances in 2019 included full houses at the Pavilion Dun Laoghaire, the Market Place Armagh and St. Patrick's Hall Delvin, Co. Westmeath.
Received an Arts Council Touring Grant for Spring 2020 which we managed to almost complete before corona virus restrictions kicked in.

Home Theatre (Ireland)
FOR DRAÍOCHT ARTS CENTRE IN COLLABORATION WITH DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL, 2018.
Under the overall artistic directorship of Veronica Coburn, Liam was one of six directors, including Conall Morrison, Annabelle Comyn and Louise Lowe, working on 30 new pieces which were performed in 30 homes throughout Dublin 15 all on the same night.
Liam worked with five actor/writers, Bryan Burroughs, Fionn Foley, Sharon Mannion, Neil Watkins and the spokenword artist Felicia Olusanya (aka Felispeaks).
The work transferred to the main stage of Draíocht and was performed over three nights during the
Dublin Theatre Festival.
Photo (below) of Fionn Foley by Killian Waters from 'Home Theatre'

‘Foley’s performance is flawless under Liam Halligan’s sharp direction. Home Theatre presents a wide-angle shot of an entire community in all its rich diversity. It is hard to imagine a more appropriate use of Arts Council funding for “public” projects and deserves its support.’
The Review Hub

The Comedy of Errors
Dublin Youth Theatre.
Liam was delighted to be invited to direct the annual DYT summer show at Smock Alley Theatre in 2018.
Photo (below left): Cast of 'The Comedy of Errors' by Sarah Bragg-Bolger.

PYGMALION
by G. B. Shaw
Smock Alley main house, Summer Production 2016.

Anna Sheils-McNamee as Eliza

**** Irish Mail on Sunday

‘This production exposes the performances behind social divisions and questions whether money takes more than it gives. There are strong performances and Anna Sheils-McNamee brings a frank irreverence to the character of Eliza Doolittle, which is a useful tool to guard against the excessive dramatics of staged hysteria.’
The Sunday Times

Gerry Byre, Deirdre Monaghan and Paul Meade. Photo: Toshi Sakauchi

‘Halligan allows Shaw’s play to sing through the centuries and Colm McNally’s set costumes could well belong to the living rooms of today. The ingrained attitudes towards class and gender – ‘middle-class morality' as Eliza’s father puts it - remain surprisingly modern. Anna Sheils-McNamee brings a feisty sauciness to Eliza, ensuring we never envisage her accepting her fate without a fight. Paul Meade’s Higgins seems blinded by his own bravado rather than cruelty.
David O’Meara distinguishes himself as Doolittle.’
Sunday Business Post

‘This production puts the emphasis firmly on that firecracker social/sexual dialogue and captures the darker mood that takes over in the last act when Eliza realises she’s trapped helplessly between two social worlds. Paul Meade is an excellent Higgins, Anna Sheils-McNamee is a feisty Eliza who carries off the Cockney flower girl with panache. Her transformation works perfectly in the final scene. Gerard Byrne gentlemanly Colonel Pickering is a splendid foil to the boorishness of Higgins and Deirdre Monaghan is excellent as Higgins no-nonsense mother, while David O’Meara gets the most out of Eliza’s father.’
The Irish Mail on Sunday

For more info on Liam's directing work see the next page.

Acting Tutor and Lecturer

Photo (above): Liam with YT leaders at Youth Theatre Ireland Workshops 2017. Photo: Alan King.

Liam has been a part-time acting tutor at the Gaiety School of Acting since 2004. He introduces the full-time acting students to Shakespeare.
He taught for the Rose Bruford College on their Foundation Course at the MAC Belfast 2019.
He was a core tutor on Tenderfoot at the Civic Theatre for ten years with Veronica Coburn and Gavin Kostick. Tenderfoot is an apprenticeship programme for transition year students funded by the Arts Council and the Civic.
Liam contributes as a part-time lecturer to the MA in Drama and Theatre Practice at
University College Dublin and to the BA (Hons) in Theatre and Drama Studies for CIT at the Cork School of Music.
He has facilitated a number of workshops with Youth Theatre groups, including a 3-day Facilitator's Workshop on Shakespeare for Youth Theatre Ireland at Maynooth University in 2017.
He has directed full-scale Summer productions with Carlow Youth Theatre ('How To Live' 2016), Dublin Youth Theatre ('Comedy of Errors' 2018) and Backstage Youth Theatre Longford ('Future Tense' 2020).

Slideshow below of work with various students including the GSA, Tenderfoot and Youth Theatre Groups...

Liam's work as an actor

on stage...
Liam has performed with companies as diverse as the Abbey Theatre, Lyric Belfast, Oxford Stage Company, Cheek By Jowl, Birmingham Rep, English Dance Theatre, United British Artists, Theatre Clwyd, Manchester Contact, Torifune Butoh Sha and Gay Sweatshop.
Liam was delighted to play a cameo role in Andrew Legge's new film L.O.L.A.
produced by Cowtown Pictures (2021).

Slideshow below of some of his acting work...

FILM WORK

Photo: Liam as Peter Dubois with Kevin Costner in 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'

Work includes the Irish classics Cathal Black's Pigs and Pat Murphy's Anne Devlin.
Liam played Peter Dubois in the hit Kevin Costner movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
He has recently returned to filming in Natalya O'Flaherty's Her Sixteenth Birthday (Tenderfoot Films) and played a lead role in Banshee Blacktop by Sean Garland which is available on Amazon.

YOUR CART

Liam Halligan

Director

New​ Work in Development

Acting Tutor and Lecturer

Liam's work as an actor

New Work in Development