Dublin Theatre Festival Announces Exciting New Project

At the invitation of RTÉ Television and the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival, Hugh Leonard, Patrick McCabe, Frank McGuinness and Tom Murphy have written vibrant, pithy scripts in celebration of theatre. Starting on September 27, the first of these four 90 second dramas airs on RTÉ One after the main evening news.

Hugh Leonard evokes the last moments in the theatre of an ageing playwright, played by David Kelly.

Niall Toibin returns in his acclaimed portrayal of Brendan Behan, imagined by Patrick McCabe as living into old age.

As Frank McGuinness's theatre cleaner, Bronagh Gallagher takes a jaundiced view of theatre as seen the morning after a performance, in the cool light of day.

And Tom Murphy plays on the thin line between the serious and the farcical, as Eileen Walsh's young actor performs in comedy while she rehearses for tragedy.

Shot on location in Dublin's Gaiety and Gate theatres, the four separate, original dramas which make up Limelight are directed by Shimmy Marcus. Limelight is produced by David Blake Knox, Blueprint Films for RTÉ, and The Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival.

RTÉ and the 50th Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival

RTÉ will mark the 50th anniversary of the first Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival with a range of output across all its platforms.

On Television, RTÉ will present a special edition of The View presents... Meanwhile, Limelight, featuring four short dramas by some of Ireland's leading playwrights, will air on RTÉ One, and will also stream on RTÉ's dedicated Festival website www.rte.ie.

The website, which will stay live throughout the Festival from Thursday 27th September to Saturday 13th October, will contain event listings, reviews and exclusive daily video packages of all the news & views from the festival.

Meanwhile, RTÉ Radio will present a range of Festival related coverage.

The Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival is enjoying record sales and tickets are selling fast. The Festival runs from 27th Sept - 14th Oct at various venues. -- www.dublintheatrefestival.com