Volta theatre presents – “Counterparts” & “A Little Cloud”

These two short stories from James Joyce’s debut work are vivid ‘slices of life’ of early 20th century Dublin. Against the backdrop of a society in paralysis, desperately awaiting change, a pair of Dublin lives are revealed in stark, sometimes brutal, scenes.

In Counterparts, a bad-tempered law clerk is set on having a heavy night’s drinking, while in A Little Cloud, a sensitive soul is embittered by a meeting with an old university friend back from London.

At once funny and tragic, relatable and surprising, the stories are populated with an array of colourful characters who remain entirely contemporary, despite the bowler hats and Edwardian collars.

The Irish Cultural Centre is delighted to present the UK Premiere of Volta Theatre  Company’s production of  “Counterparts” and “A Little Cloud” from James Joyce’s book of short stories “Dubliners”. The production comes to the ICC after its sell out run at Dublin’s Bewley’s Theatre.

Frank McNally from The Irish Times says…

‘Jim Roche and Liam Hourican bring Joyce’s Dubliners, and Dublin, vividly alive. Their two-part show is a superb dramatised introduction to one of the greatest short-story collections in world literature’

Katy Hayes from The Irish Independent says…

“Good theatre is often about breaking new ground, but there is also something to be said for ­polishing gems. And that is the case here with this delightful pair of stories from James Joyce’s Dubliners; both are so beautifully dramatized”

Cast and Crew

Performed By: Jim Roche and Liam Hourican

Adapted And Directed By: Jim Roche and Liam Hourican

Keyboard And Violin: Feilimidh Nunan

Clarinet: Conor Shiel

Photography: Malcolm McGettigan

Age guidance: 12+  Duration: 60 minutes

Volta is a new company with the remit to bring classical theatre to a wide audience. Its founders are Liam Hourican and Jim Roche, who have collaborated for many years in theatre and TV. Liam has worked with Shakespeare’s Globe, the Old Vic and Second Age Theatre company and has written and performed shows and comedy for Channel 4, RTE and the BBC. Jim has starred in Normal People, (directed by Lenny Abramson (BBC), Harry Wild (Acorn TV) Blood 2 (Virgin Media) Vikings (History Channel), Damo and Ivor ,Fair City, Killinaskully, The Mario Rosenstock Show, Dead Still(RTE), The Tudors (Showtime) and iCandy (Channel 4).

Musicians Feilimidh Nunan and Conor Sheil regularly work with all the principal orchestras in Ireland (National Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Wexford Festival Orchestra, Irish National Opera Orchestra). Their professional interests have led them to collaborate with many other groups in film and theatre but also in different musical genres ranging from jazz to traditional music.

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