Druid starts the year with a live stream of a new play from The Mick Lally Theatre, Galway.

During the first lockdown last spring, Druid commissioned Sonya Kelly to write a new play. Once Upon a Bridge follows the success of Sonya Kelly’s ‘whip-smart’ (Irish Independent) comedy Furniture which Druid toured nationally in 2019. The cast of this new production includes Druid Ensemble member Aaron Monaghan with Siobhán Cullen and Adetomiwa Edun.

Early one morning on Putney Bridge, three strangers’ lives collided for one fleeting second.

Inspired by real events, Once Upon a Bridge weaves a tale about human triumph and frailty, about the power of destiny and chance, and why sometimes we choose to hate, and other times we choose to dance.

The play’s creative team include graduates of Druid’s artist development programmes. In 2016, Sonya Kelly submitted Furniture for consideration under Druid’s New Writing process. It received a staged reading as part of the Druid Debut series and a year later Druid premiered the play as part of the 2018 Galway International Arts Festival. The production then toured nationally to thirteen venues in 2019.

Similarly, Sara Joyce first worked with the company as a director for the Druid Debut series in 2019. Sara has worked with leading theatres in London including the National Theatre, The Yard, The Bush and the Old Vic Theatre.

Clíodhna Hallissey was the 2019 recipient of the Marie Mullen Bursary and since then has worked on Druid productions including as Costume Designer for On the Outside as part of DruidGregory and now for Once Upon a Bridge. This year, Druid expanded the Marie Mullen Bursary for female theatre practitioners and awarded the bursary to two directors. Emily Foran will be Assistant Director for Once Upon a Bridge and last Autumn, Sarah Baxter worked as Assistant Director for DruidGregory.

Tickets are on sale now.

Early Bird Tickets at €12 are available until Friday 29 January.