Cast - National Tour 2023
- Ticket Person Anna Healy
- Newspaper Man Bosco Hogan
- Military Man Aidan Moriarty
- Umbrella Woman Rebecca O'Mara
- Woman in Pink Naima Swaleh
★★★★★ The Times
★★★★★ What's On Stage
★★★★★ The Arts Desk
★★★★★ The Wee Review
★★★★★ Feeling Good
★★★★★ Mickey Jo Theatre
Not all good things come to those who wait.
One final night. One last chance. Five people queue for a ticket to the hottest show in town. All they must do is simply wait in line. But what in life is ever simple?
Who will triumph, who will fail, and who will walk away with… The Last Return?
A new play by acclaimed playwright Sonya Kelly (Once Upon a Bridge, Furniture), The Last Return is a thrilling comedy about conflict, peace and the pursuit of territory at any cost.
Sara Joyce (Once Upon a Bridge) directs a cast of Anna Healy, Bosco Hogan, Aidan Moriarty, Rebecca O'Mara and Naima Swaleh.
Druid’s world premiere production of The Last Return opened at Galway International Arts Festival 2022 and then played Edinburgh Festival Fringe (where it won a Fringe First Award) and Dublin Theatre Festival at the Gate Theatre. In spring 2023, The Last Return embarks on an 8-venue tour of Ireland.
ROSCOMMON Roscommon Arts Centre, Thu 9 - Sat 11 Feb
LIMERICK Lime Tree Theatre, Tue 14 - Wed 15 Feb
ENNIS glór, Fri 17 - Sat 18 Feb
LETTERKENNY An Grianán Theatre, Tue 21 - Wed 22 Feb
NAVAN Solstice Arts Centre, Fri 24 - Sat 25 Feb
CORK The Everyman, Tue 28 Feb - Wed 1 Mar
TRALEE Siamsa Tíre, Fri 3 - Sat 4 Mar
GALWAY Town Hall Theatre, Wed 8 - Sat 11 Mar
Winner - Scotsman Fringe First Award 2022
Finalist - The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2022
★★★★★ 'a true work of genius'
The Times
★★★★★ 'astonishingly original'
What's On Stage
★★★★★ 'blisteringly funny'
The Arts Desk
★★★★★ 'a spectacular piece of theatre'
The Wee Review
★★★★★ 'astonishing dark comedy'
Feeling Good
★★★★★ 'a compelling piece of theatre'
Mickey Jo Theatre
★★★★ 'pitch black comic mayhem'
The Guardian
★★★★ 'a shocking and very funny play'
The Irish Times
★★★★ 'elegant and powerful ... beautifully delivered'
The Scotsman
★★★★ 'a scathing satire'
Fest Mag
★★★★ 'remarkably clever'
The Reviews Hub
★★★★ 'hilarious, thought-provoking'
The Arts Review
★★★★ 'racks up the tension and laughs superbly'
British Theatre
'Hottest ticket in town ... hilarious'
Sunday Independent
'wonderful ... unexpectedly touching'
The New York Times
'Sonya Kelly establishes herself as a major Irish playwright'
Irish Independent
'may well be both the funniest and most politically devastating play on the Fringe this year'
The National
'exquisitely crafted ... a masterclass in modern drama'
Sunday Mail
'shocking and side-splitting'
Business Post
'a masterclass in characterisation and comedic timing'
FringeReview
'a very smart play which makes you laugh and wince in equal measure'
Lyn Gardner for Stagedoor
'Kelly has re-imagined Ionesco for the post-colonial era'
My Theatre Mates
'mad and caustically brilliant'
Connacht Tribune
Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes (no interval)
Content warning: Please note that this production contains adult themes, strong language, strobe lighting and depictions of violence to others
Join the conversation: #TheLastReturn
Druid is core funded by the Arts Council. The Last Return at Edinburgh Festival Fringe was supported by Culture Ireland.