Bespoke and intimate performances down the phone for those of us feeling isolated or who have been desperately missing the connection of live performance.

Abbey Calling sees 50 of Ireland’s leading actors plug into the switchboard to make over 2,000 phone calls. In each phone call, our actors will read a poem, perform a speech, or perhaps sing a song, the choice is yours. Most importantly, you get to have a chat with the person on the other end of the phone.

In a difficult year, which has seen so many people in our communities isolated and alone, let’s light up the darkest week through art.

Abbey Calling is a special collaboration with Aware, and all proceeds from donations will go to our charity partner. Aware is the mental health organisation providing free support, education and information services to individuals and communities throughout Ireland. 

Performance list 

When booking you can select from one of these 16 performances.

1. Hopes Springing High
A performance of two poems, Lace by Eavann Boland, and Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

2. A Raindrop Each
A performance of two poems, Seed by Paula Meehan, and Lines Written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin by Patrick Kavanagh

3. Tread Softly
A performance of two poems, Song of Myself (Stanzas 1&2) by Walt Whitman  and Aedh wishes for the cloths of Heaven by W.B. Yeats

4. The Linnet’s Wings
A performance of two poems, The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W.B. Yeats, and Alone by Maya Angelou

5. The Watchful Heart
A performance of two poems, When all the others were away at Mass by Seamus Heaney, and Everything Is Going To Be All Right by Derek Mahon

6. Under Freezing Stars
A performance of the poem Quarantine by Eavann Boland 

7. Iontaisí an tSaoil
Léiriú de dhá dhán, An Chead Brog le Máire Mac an tSaoi, agus Cul an Ti le Seán Ó Riordáin

8. My Mother in Her Sparkly Dress
A performance of an extract from Actress by Anne Enright

9. A Nice, Evil Chill
A performance of an extract from Solstice by Kevin Barry

10. His Soul Swooned Softly
A performance of an extract from The Dead by James Joyce

11. You Can’t Have Christmas Without Brussel Sprouts
A performance of an extract from The Green Road by Anne Enright

12. Like I Was Tellin’ Ya
A performance of a selection from Two for the Road by Roddy Doyle

13. I Have Loved None But You
A performance of an extract from Persuasion by Jane Austen

14. The First Token
A performance of the song The Lass of Aughrim

15. A Hungry Feeling
A performance of the song The Auld Triangle

16. Being Young And Foolish
A performance of the song Down by The Salley Gardens

Everything Is Going To Be All Right by Derek Mahon, from New Selected Poems (2016), is used by kind permission of The Gallery Press

Lines Written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin by Patrick Kavanagh is reprinted from Collected Poems, edited by Antoinette Quinn (Allen Lane, 2004), by kind permission of the Trustees of the Estate of the late Katherine B. Kavanagh, through the Jonathan Williams Literary Agency.

An Chéad Bhróg by Máire Mhac an tSaoi and Cúl an Tí by Seán Ó Ríordáin are used by kind permission of Cló Iar-Chonnacht

FAQs 

Calls happen between 12pm and 8pm (GMT) daily.

They are free of charge but must be booked in advance. 

You can choose what piece you would like performed when booking.

It is possible to book for someone else, just fill in their details to receive the call, when booking.

You must be available to take the call at the time you have selected. We cannot offer callbacks.