The Valley of The Squinting Windows

Following its nomination for an Irish Times Theatre Award in 2019 and selling out completely at the Gaiety Theatre in 2023, and also at Mullingar Centre for the Performing Arts for all performances – Michael Scott’s daring play THE VALLEY OF THE SQUINTING WINDOWS based on the book by Brinsley MacNamara returns to the Gaiety Theatre in October 2024 for one week including 2 matinees.

The Demand for the production in 2023 was so great, that the show sold out completely two weeks before it opened at the Gaiety Theatre and was described by critics as “Trading in wild theatricality on such a glorious scale it’s impossible to resist” and “the Michael Scott production and script seeks to modernise a century old story with ingenious production methods that could become de rigueur for further plays”.

Set in 1918, and opening with the infamous “burning of the book” in the village of Delvin, the production is a “tour de force” using new digital video and audio technologies, 14 professional actors, and a company of “community players”. It drags McNamara’s book into the 21st Century while echoing life in “small town Ireland”. The title has become a well-known phrase for nosey neighbours and twitching curtains.

With music by 18th Century Irish composer John Field played live, and an electronic score by Michael Scott the production creates a great evening of theatre that will put you on the edge of your seat.

MacNamara in his depiction of a small Irish village, joins Synge and O’Casey who were despised for their depiction of West of Ireland people and the “Dublin working class”.

The production opens on 28th of October, and plays until the 2nd of November 2024

“The novel while ground breaking in its day needed the new brush strokes that Scott and his energetic empathetic cast brought to the two and half hours of the story…”