The Dream of a Summer Day

Adapted and directed by Liam Halligan

Reviews of ‘The Dream of a Summer Day’

The Irish Times, Gerry Colgan,  Monday 4 April 2005

‘An absorbing story… an effective blend of performance and narrative…

Here narrative is subordinated to vivid impressionism, expressed in a series of imaginative set-pieces interweaving fact and fantasy. This is a production with a fascinating difference, and the cast Aoife Molony, Colin O’Donoghue, Diane O’Keeffe, Conan Sweeny and Maria Tecce – inhabit their multiple roles with authority.’

RTÉ 1 – The View with John Kelly, Tuesday 5 April 2005

‘[This production is] the fruit of people who’ve worked together for a long time…a high watermark of design by Marcus Costello…and a very sophisticated piece of writing. Liam Halligan has a fully realised vision [in what is an] essentially beautiful production. Wonderful, wonderful acting…completely transporting’

The Guardian Karen Fricker, Wednesday 6 April 2005

‘The five performers are superb, playing numerous characters, narrating the action, and adding live singing and instrumentation to the soundscape. Halligan builds on his reputation here as a wonderful creator of stage images’.

Sunday Independent  Emer O’Kelly  Sunday 10 April 2005

‘Liam Halligan has drawn the writings and their complex author into a play [that] is a triumph of theatricality and thoughtful charm. The cast’s exposition, co-ordination and multi-skilled playing are little short of mesmerising … wonderful set and costumes … hauntingly minimalist music. Anybody who wants to see where Storytellers might be going should make a point of seeing this almost dauntingly imaginative work.’

Sunday Tribune Rachel Andrews Sunday 10 April 2005

‘Storytellers Theatre Company continues its impressive tradition of richly imaginative stage work [in this] biopic with a difference. The myriad possibilities of live performance are embraced here through songs, dance and music on stage. At its best, this play is a visual and imaginative treat: Halligan invests great energy in conjuring up beautiful stage images.’

Ireland on Sunday  Michael Moffatt  Sunday 10 April 2005

‘The play is a fascinating piece of unusual, atmospheric theatre.’  ****