Will O'Connell. CLASS. Photography by Ros Kavanagh
Brian and Donna’s son, Jayden, is nine years old, and he’s struggling. That’s what his teacher says. Mr McCafferty thinks Jayden should see a psychologist. But Brian and Donna never liked school, never liked teachers.
So are they going to trust this one?
And should they?
CLASS is a “hugely entertaining” (Irish Times) and “emotionally explosive” (Mail on Sunday) confrontation over learning difficulties, love and entitlement. Side-splittingly funny and beautifully observed, with rave reviews, a sold-out run at the Abbey Theatre and a Fringe First Award from Edinburgh, CLASS is new Irish writing at its finest.
David is a theatre director and writer, Artistic Director of Bewley’s Café Theatre and a core Acting Tutor at the Lir National Academy. Directing highlights include: Beowulf: the Blockbuster by Bryan Burroughs, These Halcyon Days by Deirdre Kinahan (Edinburgh Fringe First Winner), Moment by Deirdre Kinahan (Bush Theatre, London), Moll by John B Keane (Gaiety, MCD/Verdant Productions), Pineapple by Phillip McMahon (Calipo/DTF), Hue and Cry by Deirdre Kinahan (IAC New York Times Critics Pick, Bewleys), Macbeth and Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel (Second Age), In The Next Room by Sarah Ruhl and Three Winters by Ten Stivicic (Lir Academy) and the award-winning Tick my Box! (Inis Theatre) among others.
Iseult Golden is an actor, writer and director. Writing work includes: The Roy Rap for the Little Roy Series (Jam Media / CBBC), The Importance of Being Whatever (IFTA Winner 2012) and Belonging to Laura (an adaptation of Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde) for Accomplice Television/TV3 (IFTA Nomination 2009), and Fireworks, a one-act play for Tall Tales Theatre Company (published as part of the collection TXTs). Directing highlights include: Connected by Will Irvine and Karl Quinn (Fringe/Project Arts Centre), Payback by Marion O’Dwyer and Maria McDermottroe, Mangan’s Last Gasp by Gerard Lee and Buridan’s Ass by SR Plant (Bewley’s Cafe Theatre). Iseult also teaches at the Lir Academy of Dramatic Art.
Maree has designed for many of Ireland’s leading companies and directors in theatre, dance and opera. Some of her most recent designs include The Wizard of Oz at Cork Opera House and A Winter’s Tale at the Lir. Other companies she has designed for include Fishamble Theatre Company, The Peacock Theatre, Ballet Ireland, The Corn Exchange and many productions for CoisCeim Dance Theatre, Royal Irish Academy of Music, The Lir Academy, Second Age Theatre Company, Verdant Productions and Nomad Theatre Network. Maree is the recipient of an Irish Times best set designer award and is the Stage Design Course Director in the Lir Academy of Dramatic Art in Dublin.
Vincent and Ivan have worked together as composers and sound designers since 2003. They have worked with Bedrock,The Corn exchange, PanPan,The Lyric, The Abbey, Rough Magic, Calipo, Upstate, NYT, Fishamble, CoisCeim and Derry Playhouse among others and have scored a number of radio plays for RTE.
