Fishamble’s critically acclaimed production of Eugene O’Brien’s HEAVEN has made its grand London entrance at Southwark Playhouse Borough this month! After charming audiences with a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, this show has received rave five-star reviews from The Arts Desk and British Theatre Guide, plus four stars from The Guardian and the Financial Times. Who knew heaven could be so entertaining?
Olivier Award and quadruple Fringe First-winning Irish theatre company Fishamble bring HEAVEN to Southwark Playhouse Borough for its London premiere. Winner of the Irish Times Best New Play Award 2023 and a prestigious Fringe First Award, HEAVEN is written by Eugene O’Brien and directed by Fishamble artistic director Jim Culleton.
Set in County Offaly in the Irish midlands, HEAVEN sees 20-year married couple, Mairead and Mal, find themselves at something of a crossroads, struggling to keep their relationship together and each with secrets they haven’t told the other. Returning to Mairead’s hometown for a family wedding, they each find themselves facing old temptations, and questions that are difficult to answer.
Poignant, beautiful writing provides a snapshot into the relationship between two adults who have shared a life, a child and all that comes with it – but haven’t yet shared all of themselves. Separated on stage, two intersecting monologues conjure a vivid picture of a weekend where everything comes to the surface.
HEAVEN stars Andrew Bennett (part of 2023 Oscar-nominated AN CAILÍN CIÚIN/THE QUIET GIRL) and Janet Moran (Best Actress – Irish Times Theatre Awards for HEAVEN, most recently on screen in BAFTA Nominated The Dry). Eugene O’Brien was awarded the Rooney Prize for Literature for his debut play EDEN. Jim Culleton has been the artistic director of Fishamble for over 35 years, where he has directed multiple award-winning productions, recognised by multiple Fringe Firsts, Olivier Awards and The Stage Awards, and has personally been awarded the Irish Times Best Director Award. HEAVEN premiered at the Dublin Theatre Festival in October 2022, and toured Ireland prior to transferring Off-Broadway to 59E59 Theaters, New York, in January 2023. It then played a sold out run at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023. This run marks the first return to the stage for HEAVEN following its award-winning, sell-out run at the Fringe.
HEAVEN plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough (The Little) from Friday 7 – Saturday 22 February 2025. Tickets available at www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/heaven.
Time: 8pm (Monday – Saturday) / 3:30pm (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
Previews: Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 February
Press Performance: Friday 7 February
Price: £22 Standard / £17.50 Concessions / £16 Preview
Runtime: 90 minutes (No Interval)
Location: Southwark Playhouse Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD
How to Get There: The nearest stations are Borough and Elephant & Castle
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