Theatre News

O’Hanlon, Rogan & Nolan Star in Southwark Port Authority

13 December 2011

Father Ted‘s Ardal O’Hanlon will appear alongside Andrew Nolan and John Rogan in Conor McPherson‘s Port Authority at the Southwark Playhouse from 27 January (previews from 24 January 2012).

O’Hanlon, an acclaimed stand-up, actor and author of the novel The Talk of the Town, is best know for playing Father Dougal McGuire in the Craggy Island religious sitcom, which ran from 1995 to 1998.

His stage appearances include God of Carnage at the Gate Theatre, Dublin and See You Next Tuesday at the Gate and the West End’s Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward). He also starred in 2009 film Wide Open Spaces and has appeared in the BBC’s My Hero and Doctor Who, RTE’s Val Falvey and Channel 4’s Skins.

O’Hanlon appears alongside John Rogan, an RSC and National Theatre regular whose recent theatre credits include On Borrowed Time (Southwark Playhouse), A Couple of Poor Polish-Speaking Romanians, Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight (Soho Theatre), Awake and Sing, Macbeth (Almeida) and London Assurance (Chichester Festival, Haymarket and tour).

Also in the cast is Andrew Nolan whose credits include Butley (Duchess Theatre), The Shape of Things (the Gallery, Soho), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Skewbald Theatre), A Little Neck (Goat and Monkey) and Black Snow (Lost Trolley).

Set in contemporary Dublin Port Authority sees a young boy leave home for the first time, a middle-aged man begin a job, and an old man receive a mysterious package. Each has a story to tell, each has something to reveal.

As each man confronts the significance of these events, they are forced to take stock of themselves, their feelings, and of the decisions they have made. McPherson – whose 2000 play Dublin Carol opened at Trafalgar Studios 2 last night – weaves together a moving and funny tale of loves lost and found, the consequences of big dreams and the significance of even our smallest choices.

Port Authority is directed by Tom Attenborough whose recent credits include Arab Spring (Arch 61), The Mountaintop (Derby LIVE) and The Shape of Things (Gallery Soho). He also has assisting credits with the likes of Rupert Goold, Lindsay Posner and Rachel Kavanaugh.

Port Authority is produced by Tim Johanson Productions, Ollie Jordan and Rhapsody of Words. It runs in the Southwark Playhouse’s Vault space until 18 February 2012.