DANCING AT LUGHNASA

BY BRIAN FRIEL

21 April – 16 May 2026

“I want to dance, Kate. It’s the Festival of Lughnasa. I’m only thirty-five. I want to dance.”

It’s the summer of 1936, during the pagan festival of Lughnasa, and young Michael watches his five aunts navigate the fragile joys and looming hardships of rural Irish life. Brief moments of freedom, hope, and love flicker through the household only to be threatened as economic pressures and family upheaval close in.

Widely regarded as Brian Friel’s masterpiece, this semi-autobiographical memory play is a haunting and affectionate portrait of five unmarried sisters whose fierce spirit and resilience shine even as their world begins to change forever.

“Exquisite… a finely crafted memory play… an exploration of nostalgia… the way we choose to reconstruct the past.” The Guardian

CREATIVE TEAM

Director Isabella Milkovitsch

CAST

TBC

DATES/TIMES

Previews Tue 21 & Wed 22 Apr 7:30pm
Opening Night Thu 23 Apr 7:30pm
Thu – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Final performance Sat 16 May 2pm

Running time: to be announced

Please note: latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance

tickets

Full $45
Concessions, Groups (6+) $40
New Theatre Members $30
Thrifty Thursdays $30
Preview $25
(booking fees apply)

BOOK TICKETS

New Theatre bar and
box office accepts card only