Pangur Ban presents: Tom MacIntyre’s The Gallant John Joe
Performed by Tom Hickey

After a hugely successful revival at the Peacock Theatre last year, one of the theatrical events of the year is coming to a town near you for a very special performance. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the internationally treasured, Tom Hickey perform his celebrated role in Tom MacIntyre’s The Gallant John Joe.

The Hickey/ MacIntyre collaborations are an integral part of Irish theatrical history. Together they are responsible for some of the most ground-breaking new writing and performance seen on the Abbey stage. Their celebrated collaborations include The Great Hunger, Rise Up Lovely Sweeney, Sheeps Milk on the Boil, and What Happened Bridgie Cleary.

It is the soliloquy of a Cavan widower grappling with increasing physical and mental infirmity. What keeps him on his feet is his capacity to tell stories, to make a story out of anything that moves, using language as a crutch, ointment, talisman, intoxicant. In his stories he introduces us to the characters in his life: Bossman, his well-to-do patronising friend, The Hitmatist; The Chinee; John-Joe O’Reilly, captain of the conquering Cavan team of the late 1940’s, and Jacinta, his teenage daughter.

Tom Hickey’s work is extensive- creating leading roles in new Irish drama written by the foremost Irish playwrights including Brian Friel, Tom Murphy, Marina Carr, Frank McGuinness, and as actor, collaborator and director with Tom MacIntyre. His films include: My Left Foot, Cal, Possession, Fools of Fortune, Circle of Friends,The Butcher Boy, Ken Loach’s Raining Stones, Inside I’m Dancing and Garage.

This is a truly special theatrical event, and a rare chance to see one of the country’s best-loved actors reviving a challenging and brilliant piece of theatre. This production has been supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, and is working in collaboration with the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland to help raise awareness about the condition.