Cavan's Monaghan stars as modern Irish superhero

Super-Bogger will debut in November, with World Premiere set for Cavan's Townhall.

Published: Wed 4 Oct 2023, 3:41 PM

Described as a roller-coaster deep-dive into the frazzled mind of an Irish Dad, new Livin’ Dred play 'Super-Bogger' sees local actor Aaron Monaghan take on the role of Ireland’s first modern day superhero.

Presented in association with Droichead Arts Centre, and with its World Premiere set to take place at Cavan's Townhall (November 22-23), this exciting new production unites the creative team behind the sell-out success of Clare Monnelly’s first play Charlie’s A Clepto (produced by Axis Ballymun in 2017).

Charlie’s a Clepto was nominated for two Irish Times Theatre Awards (Best New Play, Best Actress) and the Stewart Parker New Playwright Bursary. Her second play minefield premiered at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2019 and was nominated for three Fringe Awards (Best Design, Fishamble New Writing Award, First Fortnight Award). This year she has premiered two new plays - The Hare with Once Off Productions and Cairde Arts Festival and The Local with Asylum Productions and Kilkenny Arts Festival.

Her latest play, Super-Bogger, directed by Emily Foran, will be a tour-de-force blockbuster that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

Others involved include Stuart Robinson (Sound), Ronan Ward (Set Design), Helen Foy (Costume) and Suzie Cummins (Lighting).

Set in the perfect life of Barry West who has a wonderful wife, happy kids and lives in a beautiful home in a small country town where nothing ever happens. He just doesn’t know why he is so utterly miserable. But in a chance encounter with a radioactive fox leaves Barry with strange new super-powers… and sets him on track to disturb the small-town peace and reignite some old, small-town rivalries.

Husband-wife duo (Monaghan and Monnelly) have together crafted this thrilling new story set to light up Irish stages and to light up our lives this winter.

Monaghan is a Director and Actor and Artistic Director of Livin’ Dred Theatre, founded in in 2004 by Padraic McIntyre, Mary Hanley and Aaron Monaghan.

His film directing credits include Departure, and Ghost Light (which won awards at Fastnet Film Festival and Offshore Film Festival). His stage directing credits include the highly-acclaimed tours of Trad by Mark Doherty, the award-winning Charlie’s A Clepto, and Minefield by Clare Monnelly, Walking The Road by Dermot Bolger, From All Sides and Slice The Thief by Lee Coffey. Most recently he directed Tarry Flynn and Danti-Dan for Livin’ Dred, and Cavalcaders for Druid Theatre Company.

TOUR INFORMATION:

Townhall, Cavan [World Premiere]

Wednesday 22 + Thursday 23 November @ 8.00pm / €16-€18

Townhall Office - Tel: 049 4380494 / https://townhallcavan.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173646272

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Roscommon Arts Centre

Saturday 25 November @ 8.00pm / €16-€18

Roscommon Arts Centre Box Office – Tel: 0906 625 824 / https://roscommonartscentre.ie/event/superbogger/

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Backstage Theatre, Longford

Sunday 26 November @ 8.00pm / €16-€18

Backstage Box Office – Tel: 043 334 7888 / https://backstage.ie/events/super-bogger/