Theatre by the Lake
Theatre by the Lake provides a rare opportunity to experience culture in the most unlikely of places, performing top-rated theatre in a picturesque mountain valley in rural West Cork.
The venue is an intimate marquis set in the garden grounds of Gougane Barra Hotel. The surroundings are enchanting and the atmosphere warm and intimate. Theatre by the Lake presents a range of inspired performances by renowned actors who take up residence at Gougane Barra Hotel to perform from the cannon of Irish classics for an extended summer run.
Theatre by the Lake is the realized vision of Neil Lucey, hotel manager, and his wife Katey, who's the hotel's resident chef. The Lucey's bring a fresh approach to Gougane Barra Hotel, creating an air of vitality and spirit to the place.
Theatre by the Lake has also warmly welcomed by all involved. Actors enjoy a extended residence in a peaceful mountain valley. Locals accustomed to traveling great distances to experience culture of this caliber have enthusiastically supported Theatre by the Lake. And for guests to Gougane Barra, Theatre by the Lake makes for an enticing escape, coupled with their highly popular dinner bed and breakfast package.
The summer of 2008 marks the third season of Theatre By the Lake. building upon two highly successful runs. In the inaugural season of 2006 the marquis show was The Tailor and Antsy, which played to sold out performances for its entire five week run. Rendered by the New Theatre and written by Eric Cross, The Tailor and Antsy was something of a homecoming to Gougane Barra. The play was based in the townland and the two featured characters are buried in the nearby graveyard.
In 2007 Theatre by the Lake presented a John B. Keane classic, The Matchmaker. Directed by Michael Scott, the show ran for seven weeks and featured theatre legend Mick Lally as the colourful Dicky Mick Dicky O Connor, the matchmaker who endeavors to couple the lonely and lovelorn. Mick played aside Geraldine Plunkett/Anne Charleston, who together provided a spirited and hilarious rendition of Keane's classic.
The lineup for 2008 has yet to be announced but will reportedly mark a slight departure from the previous two years, offering two shows of a slightly shorter duration, one performed from the 15th of July until the 3rd of August and the second show from the 12th to the 31st of August.
Ireland Adventures will announce the lineup shortly, as soon as we're given word. In the meantime we are pre-booking theatre and activity break packages at Gougane Barra Hotel, a staff favourite.
