Three Short Comedies by Seán O’Casey to be performed in Kilkenny

Three Short Comedies features three hilarious one-act plays by the great Irish playwright, Seán O’Casey.

Set in a post office, A Pound on Demand (1939) is the tale of Jerry and Sammy who badly need a quick injection of cash to continue their night on the town. In Bedtime Story (1951), poor John Jo Mulligan learns the hard way that inviting members of the opposite sex to Miss Mossie’s lodging house comes with serious consequences.

All hell breaks loose in The End of the Beginning (1937) when Darry Berrill and his wife Lizzie agree to swap their household roles - and before Darry’s clumsy friend Barry arrives.

These short tales of misadventure will be directed by Garry Hynes and performed by a cast of six including Druid Ensemble members Marie Mullen, Rory Nolan and Marty Rea, alongside Venetia Bowe, Caitríona Ennis and Liam Heslin.

This new tour continues Druid’s fruitful relationship with the works of Seán O’Casey. They previously toured these classic, rip-roaring one-act plays in 2021 to great acclaim.

Garry Hynes, Director of Three Short Comedies and Druid’s Artistic Director:

“Touring around the country is the lifeblood of Druid so it feels absolutely right for us to begin our 50 th year with a national tour, and to be touring with plays by the great Seán O’Casey makes it even better. These three one-act plays are full of farce, biting satire and joyful theatre-craft,” he said.

The Three Short Comedies will be performed at the Watergate Theatre on February 21 and 22.