BLOOMSDAY: Nora & Jim

In the course of one hour that pledge is tested and we get an insight into both of their hearts, along with their dreams and ambitions as with failing eyesight he forges on with his writing and she with holding the family together whilst the map of Europe changes around them, driving them into further exile, but ultimately resulting in his best known work ‘Ulysses’ which has generated legions of academics to examine it and how he was inspired.

The publication of ‘Ulysses’ in 1922 gained a complex reputation due to elements of erotic observations. To this day a hundred years on – James Joyce’s work has resulted in a world-wide literary celebration known as ‘Bloomsday’ often referred to as ‘the longest love letter to Nora Barnacle’ from Galway. 

This play ’Nora & Jim’ is a superb manifestation of telling that tale as the writer Nora Connolly channels their story with acuity, sensitivity, and charm. ‘Nora & Jim’ was a key production in the Dublin’s Bloomsday Festival 2023, where it was presented at The James Joyce Centre and  in November 2022 it was performed upon the invitation of President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, at their residence Áras an Uachtaráin, in front of an invited audience of 200 people. The play had it’s UK premiere here at the ICC in October 2023, where it played to a sold out audience; Here is another chance to see the play here at the ICC during Blooms Week 2024.

About the Writer Nora Connolly

Nora Connolly trained at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. She has performed at the National Theatre, The Bristol Old Vic, The Tricycle, The Riverside Studios, The Royal Lyceum, The Edinburgh Festival and many other regional theatres throughout the UK. Nora has performed in many Irish plays including ‘The Playboy of The Western World’, ‘Shadow of a Gunman’, ‘The Plough and The Stars’, ‘Juno And The Paycock’, ‘The Midnight Court’, ‘Translations’, ‘Rouge, Rifles and Revolvers’, ‘Dancing At Lughnasa’, ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ and ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’.Her most recent theatre work includes ‘These Halcyon Days’ by Deirdre Kinahan in Gothenburg, Sweden. Her T.V. work includes ‘Fresh Meat’ and the upcoming T.V. version of ‘Four Weddings And A Funeral’.

Her devised one woman show ‘Nora’s Bloomsday’ has been performed at the Liverpool Arts Festival and The Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith.

Nora is also a poet and she’s taken her one woman poetry show to the Prague Fringe Festival She can also be seen performing some of her poetry on ICC’s On-Line platform ICC Digital.

Nora and Jim is a play which will make your Blooms Week very special.  Tickets  £16 / £13.

CAST and Production Compny of  “NORA & JIM”

Actor:

Julie Hale (NORA BARNACLE):  Theatre: ‘Nora & Jim’; ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time’ (West End & World Tour): Sunshine Boys (Gate Theatre, Dublin); “The Beauty Queen Of Leenane” (Scottish Tour); Exiles by James Joyce;  Film and TV includes “His Dark Materials’, ‘Shetland’, ‘My Left Foot’, ‘Garrows Law’’, ‘When Brendan Met Trudy”; Julie played ongoing role of Trish in ‘Fair City’.

Actor:
Rúaidhrí Conroy (JAMES JOYCE): Film ‘Into the West’, ‘Six Shooter’ (winner of Oscar academy Award for Live action short film)., THEATRE: received the Theatre World Award for his performance in Martin McDonagh’s play ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’; MacGuinnes: Philadelphia Here I Come; Nora & Jim; ‘Country Boy’; “Last Days of Cleopatra”.

Musician:

Fiachra White is an established classical and contemporary musician and composer, who was the music accompanist in previous productions of ‘Nora & Jim’; A multi-instrumentalist, who majors in harp and piano, he has worked with a diverse range of artists and musicians and has released how own album ‘Kammerpop : Like a Ride in the Back of an Ambulance’.

Director:  

Ronan Wilmott: Ronan is one of Dublin’s renowned Theatre Directors. His directors credits include ‘Mr Joyce is Leaving Paris’;  ‘Exiles’ by James Joyce;  His is former Artistic Director of The New Theatre Dublin where his plays included O’Casey’s ‘Shadow of a Gunman’; ‘The Cherry Orchard’; ‘The Entertainer’;  Behan’s ‘The Hostage’; ‘Fool For Love’; Ronan wrote and directed ‘The Man Who Gave The Beatles Away’. Ronan is also and established actor, who has performed at The Abbey Theatre, The Royal Court, The Gate Theatre Dublin, The Project ZArts Centre and with the Royal Shakespeare. Company. 

Producer.

Kevin Cronan is on the Board of Directors at The New Theatre, Dublin and he is a volunteer at The James Joyce Tower in Sandycove Dublin. His interest in theatre led him to forming ‘Dublin Theatre Productions’ with Ronan Wilmott and being Producer of the play Nora & Jim.