About Inis Theatre

INIS THEATRE was founded by actors Iseult Golden and Carmel Stephens in 2000. They met at drama school in the mid-nineties and bonded while writing and performing a six-minute musical adaptation of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'. After graduating and working freelance for four years, the lure of artistic autonomy drew them together again. And so, Inis Theatre was launched with their acclaimed debut show - 'The World's Wife' by Carol Ann Duffy. That first production was directed by David Horan, who became Director-in-Residence with the company and has directed all productions to date.

Inis Theatre is committed to presenting modern stories in a uniquely theatrical style. By blending traditional approaches (Commedia del Arte, Music Hall, Mime) with newer dramatic techniques found in popular culture (modern editing practices, multiple narratives etc), Inis both adapts and devises to create new languages for the stage. The company fosters a strongly physical style, placing the actor and the actor's craft firmly at the centre of the work. All work by Inis Theatre is completely new and original.

Visit Inis Theatre's website at www.inistheatre.com

Production History...

The World's Wife
(2000/01)

Based on a collection of poetry by Carol Ann Duffy, The World's Wife was Inis' debut production. It received widespread acclaim and established the company as one to watch.

'invention and awareness as arch as a lady's instep…this company is a seriously talented bunch making intelligent and engaging theatre'
The Irish Times

• Opened Temple Bar Gallery
• Transferred Bewley's Café Theatre
• Toured Nationwide (Ireland)

Lady Susan
(2001/2)
By Jane Austen, adapted by Inis Theatre

Inis Theatre's second production and a major hit of the Dublin Fringe Festival 2001. This production carries Austen from page to stage, creating a piece of theatre that is fast, furious and flamboyant. A 75-minute roller-coaster ride through a world of intrigue, secrets and illicit liaisons, with its innovative staging and multi-role play, Lady Susan is a celebration of the potential of theatre.

'A masterful feat of adaptation…from its safety announcement to the bows and curtseys of its curtain call the show remained a joy' Irish Theatre Magazine.

• Opened Players Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin Fringe Festival '01
• Transferred Andrew's Lane Studio
• Toured Nationwide as Double Bill with The World's Wife

To Kill a Dead Man
(2003)
Devised by Inis Theatre, written by Kevin Magee

The third of Inis Theatre's two-hander plays, To Kill A Dead Man is a full-length original play inspired by the movie genres Film Noir and Gothic. It delves into such grand themes as the struggle against death and the limitations of identity, while retaining the Inis trademarks of wit and style, all threaded through a labyrinthine murder mystery plot.

'the writing is a sharp as a bloody ice-pick; the timing as tight as the cuffs on a hitman caught red-handed. And the tangled plot is convoluted and seriously slapstick' The Independent

• Opened Mermaid Arts Centre
• Transferred The Project Arts Centre

Tick My Box!
(2004)

'I'm not a betting lady, but this will surely be a hit; it deserves it!' Sunday Tribune

• Opened Bewley's Café Theatre, Dublin Fringe Festival '04
• Winner, Best Actress(es), Nominated for Innovation
• Toured Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales

Personnel...

Carmel Stephens
Carmel is a co-founder of Inis Theatre. She trained as an actor at the Gaiety School of Acting and, after graduating went on to play the part of Carmel Doherty in the Irish language T.V. show, Ros na Run (TG4).

Theatre credits include Dublin 1742 for The Ark, Shorts with Fishamble Theatre Company, and, most recently, The Prince of Denmark with Electric Bridget.

She has appeared in and co-developed all four Inis shows to date.

Carmel currently plays Geraldine Creagh in Fair City; the national broadcaster's soap opera.

Iseult Golden
Iseult is co-artistic director of Inis Theatre and has performed in and co-created all of their shows, The World's Wife, Lady Susan, To Kill a Dead Man and Tick My Box!. She trained at the Gaiety School of Acting. Since graduating she has performed in a wide variety of theatre productions ranging from Shakespeare to Stoppard. She has toured nationally and internationally and has worked with some of Ireland's most exciting and established companies including Barabbas, Macnas, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company and Storytellers Theatre Company. Her most recent theatre credits are The Real Thing, with Guna Nua Theatre Company, Bolt Upright with Angel Exit Theatre Company and The Odd Couple with Civic Theatre. On television she is a regular performer on TG4's comedy sketch show RiRa.

David Horan
David graduated from the Samuel Beckett Centre with a BA in English and Theatre Studies. Having directed plays with a number of companies, he became Director-in-Residence for Inis Theatre Company in 2000 and has devised and directed all productions to date. He was made Staff Director at the Abbey Theatre in 2003 where he continued to work until October 2004 before relocating to Paris for a year, studying the principles of movement at the Ecole Internationale de Theatre, Jacques Lecoq. He teaches The Principles of Directing module at Trinity College, as well as Adult and Teenage Performance and Improvisation classes for the Betty Ann Norton Drama School.

Directing highlights include: The World's Wife, Lady Susan, To Kill A Dead Man and Tick My Box! (Inis Theatre), The Suck (Project Arts Centre) and The Call (Peri-Talking - nominated for Best New Play of 2002 by the Irish Times/ESB Theatre Awards), both by Tara Maria Lovett, The Race of the Ark Tattoo by David Hancock, a one-man show starring David Heap (Abbey Theatre Production, nominated for Best Actor IT/ESB 2003) and Ecstasy by Mike Leigh among others.

He has also assisted directors at the Gate, the Gaiety and beyond, including Lazlo Marton, Howard Barker, Gerry Stembridge, Alan Stanford, Stephen Rea and Michael Caven among others.

Visit Inis Theatre's website at www.inistheatre.com