Company SJ bring their aesthetic tools of language, site, the body and visual art to bear on Beckett’s haunting exploration of human relationships, in Happy Days. Mícheal Ó Chongaile translates, Sarah Jane Scaife directs, with Bríd Ní Neachtain as Winnie and Raymond Keane as Willie. Laethanta Sona emerges from the landscape, language and people of Inis Oírr, off the West coast of Ireland. Exhibition of documentation by Cormac Coyne and Kilian Waters. This piece will resonate for lovers of Beckett, language, the environment and the visual arts. The Irish language seeps into the searing beauty of Beckett’s imagery contained in the landscape of the island.

Tugann an comhlacht drámaíochta, Company SJ, uirlisí éagsúla na healaíne le chéile go cumasach – teanga, suíomh clochach Inis Oírr, an cholainn daonna agus físeanna beo – chun iniúchadh taibhsiúil a dhéanamh ar an gcaidreamh daonna i ndráma cáiliúil Beckett, Happy Days / Laethanta Sona,  aistrithe ag Micheál Ó Conghaile. Cuireann Bríd Ní Neachtain i bpáirt Winnie agus Raymond Keane i bpáirt Willie scoth na haisteoireachta inár láthair faoi stiúir Sarah Jane Scaife. Amach díreach as broinn an t-saibhreas teanga agus aníos as creaga clochacha Inis Oírr atá ar chósta thiar na hÉireann a thagann an léiriú bíogúil seo ina gcuirfidh lucht leanúna Beckett, lucht timpeallachta, lucht na Gaeilge agus na físealaíne spéis faoi leith ann. Luíonn an Ghaeilge agus áilleacht grian scallta íomhánna Beckett go compordach teolaí i mbaclainn a chéile sa léiriú. Beidh teaspantas doiciméide le Cormac Coyne agus Kilian Waters mar chuid den léiriú.

Funded by: Arts Council Ireland
In association with: Galway International Arts Festival
Supported by: Áras Éanna, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Irish Theatre Institute, Dublin City Council

Exhibition 

Company SJ and the Abbey Theatre in association with Áras Éanna present a photographic, sonographic and videographic exhibition celebrating the process of Laethanta Sona on Inis Oírr, which is integral to the overall experience.

Photographer Cormac Coyne celebrates the women of the island with a selection of portraits, which will be accompanied by a sound installation of their voices contemplating island life, recorded by Martha Knight.

Videographer Killian Waters of Arcade Films presents a video documentary response to the making of the Happy Days set on site in Chreig an Staic, Inis Oírr by designer Ger Clancy and islanders Mairtín Céline, Mairtín Stiofán and Thomas Sharry.

Audience members are encouraged to visit the exhibition, which is open from 10am – 5pm, in advance of attending the performance.

Audience FAQs 

Here’s everything you’ll need to know before attending Laethanta Sona (Happy Days).