A Skull in Connemara at Oldham Coliseum

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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A Skull in Connemara

Oldham Coliseum, Manchester
22 February-9 March 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

A Skull in Connemara at Oldham Coliseum
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Drawing the audience into the macabre mystery of an Irish village, The Oldham Coliseum will present this home-grown production of Martin McDonagh’s A Skull in Connemara as part of its Spring/ Summer Season.

BAFTA and Academy Award-winning McDonagh is best known for his impressive feature films: In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (which ran away with three BAFTAs and two Golden Globes).

A Skull In Connemara is the middle play in McDonagh’s much-celebrated Leenane Trilogy. Flanked by the tragedy of The Beauty Queen of Leenane and the darkly funny The Lonesome West, A Skull In Connemara is often considered McDonagh’s richest drama. The play first premiered at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway in 1997.

The narrative focuses on Mick Dowd, a local gravedigger whose wife died under mysterious circumstances several years ago. There are many whispers believing that his wife’s death was murder.

Every autumn Mick is hired to exhume the bones in an overcrowded Connemara graveyard – when the graveyard is full, he is the one who has to dig to make room for new arrivals. Autumn approaches and this time Mick has to dig up the remains of his own late wife. However, when he begins to exhume her grave, he finds her bones are missing. As the earth is disturbed strange stories surrounding his involvement in her death gradually begin to resurface.

Directed by Chris Lawson, who is the acting artistic director following Kevin Shaw’s departure in November 2018, A Skull in Connemara looks to be a bone-shatteringly razor-sharp production.

Where to go near A Skull in Connemara at Oldham Coliseum

Oldham
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Hack Oldham

Hack Oldham is an event space that also offers co-working, community groups and crafting in the heart of Oldham.

Gallery Oldham, in Oldham Cultural Quarter
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Gallery Oldham

Gallery Oldham provides a wide range of exhibitions and activities targeted at different audiences of all ages within Oldham and the surrounding area.

The Yoga Seed Oldham
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The Yoga Seed Oldham

The Yoga Seed is an intimate studio just outside of Oldham town centre. Run by Sharon it offers small classes including a men only class.

Liverpool
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Epic Apart Hotel

The Epic Apart Hotel offers 14 serviced apartments – and right righin the middle of the Ropewalks district, right behind FACT.

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Middleton Arena

The Arena has a regular programme of arts and entertainment including live music, concerts, comedy and dances with stage shows and national tours. With two licensed bars this is the perfect location for a great night out.

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