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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Sophie McLaughlin

Unique theatre experience for both book and music lovers coming to Belfast

If you are a fan of reading, seeing plays and listening to music then the perfect show for you is coming to Belfast next weekend. Iron Annie described as an "experience unlike anything the theatre has ever seen" is coming to the Accidental Theatre on July 29 and 30.

Based on the Luke Cassidy novel of the same name, ittells the story of Aoife, and her doomed relationship with the beautiful but capricious Annie. Set against the backdrop of the larger-than-life criminal underworld of Dundalk, their adventures also take them on a whirlwind road trip across the Irish Sea to offload 10kgs of cocaine swiped from a rival.

The show stars actor and Dundalk native Georgia Cooney, who will be playing the inimitable Aoife. A recent graduate of TU Dublin’s Conservatoire of Music and Drama, Iron Annie is Georgia’s professional theatre debut.

Read more: NI actor says playing Gerry Conlon at Grand Opera House is "bucket list" moment

Georgia said: “I am very excited to be bringing the character of Aoife to life. It’s extra special that my first professional theatre production is centred around my hometown of Dundalk, showing all its complexities and dark humour.

"I feel honoured to be representing a character like Aoife on stage, to give her a voice, especially in a home-grown live theatre production."

There is a definite buzz surrounding the show this year as Luke Cassidy’s novel was recently shortlisted for the 2022 Desmond Elliott Prize. This award is regarded as the most prestigious award for first-time novelists in the UK and Ireland.

Theatre Director and Associate Director for Prime Cut Productions, Rhiann Jeffery, will be joining the production as director this year. Rhiann promises a fresh take on the show, bringing her considerable experience to the table.

Musical performances feature original material inspired by the book, written, and performed by the newly formed border punk band False Slag.

False Slag describes themselves as a collective incarnation of the atmosphere of the Irish border banditry, in keeping with the theme of the book and the production. Irish artist and musician Annie June Callaghan will also be performing original songs by the Dandelion Few which have been composed exclusively for the show.

Author and playwright Luke Cassidy said: "It has been a real journey with Iron Annie, and what an honour it is to be shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize. I am hopeful that this will help bring Iron Annie to new audiences.

"I am thrilled to be taking this one-of-a-kind live stage show back on the road. I think audiences are in for a real treat: think Reservoir Dogs meets Fleabag, with a badass original soundtrack played live to accompany the action.”

For more information, see here.

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