Christopher Saul as King Lear
& Philip Judge as Gloucester in
King Lear presented by
Second Age Theatre Company
Photo Tom Lawlor October
2015
www.verdant.ie
Background:
Second Age Theatre Company was established in
1989 by Alan Stanford, Ronan Smith, Brian
O'Donoghue and Martin Drury as a response to the
demand from Second Level schools for a dedicated
production company to present curriculum based
texts, especially those of Shakespeare. It was felt by
the company founders that something more
permanent was required that offered a more
complete package to the students. Thereafter
Second Age presented regular productions of the
major texts for study and in a time frame suited to
the study programme of the schools. Second Age
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focused on producing Shakespeare and
contemporary Irish classics for young audiences with
particular emphasis on the plays being studied by
Second Level Leaving Certificate students. Between
1989 and 2013 well over half a million second level
students gained their first experience of serious
professional theatre and of Shakespeare at a
Second Age production. In addition, the company
built a considerable following among theatre
audiences for its productions and was a regular
feature of the Irish theatre circuit.
The Cast of King Lear presented by Second Age Theatre
Company at The Helix October 2015. Photo by Tom Lawlor
BellTIME
Donal Shiels and Verdant Productions
Donal Shiels has worked in the arts and
entertainment industry in Ireland and abroad for
more than twenty years as a producer and promoter
of theatre, opera, music and dance. In 2011 Donal
founded Verdant Productions which has most
recently produced Handel’s Agrippina for Irish Youth
Opera along with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and
Northern Ireland Opera which took the award for
Best Production at the Tiger Fringe Festival 2015 in
September
Donal also recently produced The Field and Moll by
JB Keane, Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan ( The
Gaiety Theatre), the world premiere of The Unlucky
Cabin Boy by Mike Finn (Lime Tree Theatre Limerick),
The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down by Padraic
McIntyre ( Olympia Theatre), the world premiere of
Anglo The Musical by Paul Howard (Bord Gáis Energy
Theatre), Alone It Stands (Irish & UK tour), Guerilla
Days in Ireland by Neil Pearson (Olympia Theatre),
Rebecca Storm Live (Bord Gáis Energy Theatre),
Dreamland by Jim Nolan (Garter Lane, Waterford
and Irish tour), My Brilliant Divorce by Geraldine Aron
(Irish Tour), 47 Roses and Break A Leg by Peter
Sheridan and David McSavage Live ( Olympia
Theatre).
Previously Donal managed the China / Ireland Cultural
Exchange on behalf of the Department of Arts, Sport
& Tourism. This was the largest ever cultural
exchange between Ireland and any other country and
included all art forms. Donal also spent five years as
Chief Executive of St Patrick’s Festival, introducing a
range of new arts and cultural events during that
period.
Since 2013 Second Age has been dormant until the
reins were taken up this year by Donal Shiels and his
company, Verdant Productions. The first Second Age
production in two years kicked off when King Lear
opened at The Helix on October 6th and
played to packed houses of Leaving
Certificate students from all over the
country. The response has been
amazing from pupils and teachers
alike. This impressive production
featured Royal Shakespeare
Company actor Christopher
Saul in the title role, ably
supported by a terrific Irish
cast of both newcomers to
Second Age and seasoned
veterans. Some of the actors
returning to Second Age include
Irish Times Theatre Award winner
for Best Supporting Actor
(Sive at The Abbey) Simon O’Gorman, who appeared
in many Second Ag e productions including playing the
title role in Macbeth, Enda Kilroy, Susannah de Wrixon
and Jennifer O’Dea. Second Age was also delighted
to welcome for their debuts with the company, Elliot
Moriarty, Alan Mahon and Liam Heslin along with
Sarah Morris who gave audiences not just one great
performance but two as she portrayed Lear’s
favoured daughter Cordelia as well as appearing as
The Fool. Philip Judge, Colm O’Brien, Brendan Hickey
and Damien Devaney completed the cast and they
along with a very talented design team and a
hardworking backstage crew made King Lear and
Second Age’s return to The Helix a great experience
for all. The feedback from teachers in particular was
so positive with inquires coming already about
prospective productions.
Already Second Age is looking to the future and we
are delighted to announce that Hamlet will be
presented at The Helix, running from 3-12 February
2016 at The Helix DCU, Glasnevin.
Paul Meade - Director
We are delighted that the director of King Lear, Paul
Meade, will direct Hamlet next year. Paul is a very
successful director with Gúna Nua Theatre. Having
directed the award winning Little Gem by Elaine
Murphy & the World premiere of the musical The
Unlucky Cabin Boy by Mike Finn.
Verdant Productions is delighted to be resuming the
established relationship between Second Age and
secondary schools nationwide and continuing it’s
belief in providing theatre productions of the highest
quality for schools that aim to engage, educate and
entertain.
Liam Heslin as Edmond & Alan Mahon
as Edgar in King Lear by William
Shakespeare presented by Second
Age Theatre Company at The Helix
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October 2015. Photo by Tom Lawlor