An Abbey Theatre production

An Octoroon

21 April - 14 May 2022

Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike

Booking Information

Dates: 21 April – 14 May

Previews: 21 – 23 April

Times: Mon – Sat 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2pm

Tickets: €15 – €45

Running time: 2hrs 40 Minutes including an interval

Age recommendation: 14+

Content Advice:
An Octoroon uses caricatures and racial comedy to challenge societal conventions. It features murders, racial violence, and obscene language, including the N-word.

Touch Tour: The Audio Described performance includes a free Touch Tour for Visually Impaired patrons and their companions to explore the set, costumes and props. To book, contact grace.mckiernan@abbeytheatre.ie or call 01 87 87 222.

Sign language interpreted performance: Thursday 5 May, 7:30pm

Audio-described and captioned performance: Saturday 14 May, 2:00pm

Touch Tour of Stage and Set: Saturday 14 May, 12:00pm

‘Hi everyone, I'm a black playwright. Now I don't know what that means but I'd like to tell you a story.’

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ radical reboot of Irish playwright, Dion Boucicault’s notorious 1859 play The Octoroon became “this decade’s most eloquent statement on race in America today.” (The New York Times)

Both old and new, both disturbing and hilarious, the original storyline of this flawed Irish classic is remixed into a bigger, wilder, more subversive version.

The Peyton’s failing Louisiana plantation is in financial ruins. Everything and everyone they own is going to be auctioned. Can Zoe escape the clutches of the devious Jacob McClosky?

After productions in New York and London, the Abbey Theatre presents the Irish premiere of An Octoroon in Boucicault’s hometown. What might it mean for Ireland today?

#AnOctoroon

Find out more about this production in our digital programme.

Audio-described Programme Notes 

Download the audio-described programme notes here, or listen to them below.

Trailer 

Audience Response 

See two shows for €40 

This spring, you can see both Luck Just Kissed You Hello and An Octoroon for just €40, when you book both tickets at the same time. See more information here.

 

Reviews

★★★★★
'a masterpiece'
The Irish Times

★★★★★
'hilarious, inventive, irreverent, and challenging.'
Irish Examiner

★★★★★
'one of the best nights of theatre you'll have this year.'
The Arts Review

★★★★
'brilliantly funny performances'
Sunday Times

★★★★
'It’s funny, tragic, and a blistering critique of racial attitudes in America'
The Irish Mail on Sunday


'extraordinary, outrageous and thought-provoking production.'
Business Post


'this production, directed with fierce political fervour by Anthony Simpson Pike, is as slick and lively as anyone could hope.'
Sunday Independent


'Don’t miss this great show; it is rollicking entertainment.'
Irish Independent

Production Images 

Mara Allen as Dido on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Mara Allen as Dido and Leah Walker as Minnie on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Jolly Abraham as Assistant and Rory Nolan as Playwright on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Patrick Martins as BJJ on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Rory Nolan as Playwright and Patrick Martins as BJJ on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Patrick Martins as BJJ on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Patrick Martins as BJJ on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Leah Walker and Mara Allen on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Umi Myers on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Mara Allen and Leah Walker on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Leah Walker as Minnie on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Umi Myers as Zoe on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Satin Beige, cellist, on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Maeve O’Mahony as Dora and Umi Myers as Zoe on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Patrick Martins as M’Closky on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Maeve O’Mahony as Dora and Patrick Martins as George on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Patrick Martins as BJJ on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Maeve O’Mahony as Dora on the Abbey stage in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon, directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike. Image: Ros Kavanagh

Credits

  • Assistant/ Pete/ Paul: Jolly Abraham
  • Br'er Rabbit/ Captain Ratts: Loré Adewusi
  • Dido: Mara Allen
  • Cellist: Satin Beige
  • BJJ / George/ M'Closky: Patrick Martins
  • Zoe: Umi Myers
  • Grace: Jeanne Nicole Ní Ainle
  • Playwright / Wahnotee / Lafouche: Rory Nolan
  • Dora: Maeve O’Mahony
  • Minnie: Leah Walker


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Ireland
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