It’s the summer of 1936, during the pagan festival of Lughnasa, and young Michael watches his five aunts navigate the fragile joys and looming hardships of rural Irish life. Brief moments of freedom, hope, and love flicker through the household only to be threatened as economic pressures and family upheaval close in.
Widely regarded as Brian Friel’s masterpiece, this semi-autobiographical memory play is a haunting and affectionate portrait of five unmarried sisters whose fierce spirit and resilience shine even as their world begins to change forever.
Isabella Milkovitsch heads this amazing team, in her New Theatre directing debut. However, you may recognise her style, as she has previously worked with us as associate director on Shakespeare in Love (2024), and Banging Denmark (2023). When asked about the production, Isabella said:
“The wonderful Artistic Director of the New, Louise Fischer, first introduced me to the script—it was the very first play she ever directed at New Theatre. That’s incredibly exciting, but of course a little daunting. I had that moment – I think everyone can recognise – where you begin reading a script and immediately your imagination soars, your eyes hungrily scan each page. The script actually grabs hold of you by the scruff of the neck and insists that you stage it. My job is a joy when the writing is really good. Nostalgia is powerful, and our memories can feel sacred, but no matter how hard we try, we can’t stay there forever—and that’s no way to live.”
Louise Fischer is thrilled that Dancing at Lughnasa is returning to New Theatre after 23 years: “This magical and lyrical plays resonates more than ever as a play about women whose face challenges with strength and humour. The Mundy girls lives of drudgery and hidden desire are briefly interrupted by moments of joy and sometimes abandon when they dance on the stage and into our hearts. Isabella is the perfect choice to bring this masterpiece to life. Her passion and understanding of the nuanced lyricism of the play will create such a bittersweet and joyful theatrical experience. The memory that still sticks vividly in my mind is the ending… but I won’t be providing a spoiler here, you will have to see for yourselves!”
Brian Friel (1929-2015) has been repeatedly recognised as one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century, penning over 30 works in his lifetime. Dancing at Lughnasa brought him 3 Tony Awards (including Best Play), the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. It was later adapted into a film by the same name, starring Meryl Streep.
In Dancing at Lughnasa, family, religion, philosophy, and yearning all combine against a backdrop of crushing and inevitable change, but hope is inextinguishable. This is a play fundamentally about the endurance of human joy in the face of disappointment.
This 2026 production of Friel’s masterpiece has an incredible team behind it, with many familiar faces, including Meg Bennetts (The Frogs: In Hell They Sing Show Tunes, 2025; Picnic at Hanging Rock, 2020), Audrey Blyde (Picnic at Hanging Rock, 2020; Collaborators, 2019), Marisa Hissey (The Venetian Twins, 2012), and Patrick Holman (Broadway Bound, 2018; The Lieutenant of Inishmore, 2018). The New Theatre welcomes some new faces, Sebastian Gray, Iris Simpson, James Sugrue and Tenielle Thompson.
CREATIVE TEAM
Director Isabella Milkovitsch
Choreographer Avalon Ormiston
Set Designer Max Shaw
Lighting Designer Paris Bell
Costume Designer Lily Moody
Sound Designer Maddy Briggs
Dramaturg & Singing Coach Naomi Belet
Assistant Director Talia Benatar
Accent Coach Benjamin Purser
Intimacy Consultant Shondelle Pratt
Photo credit Bob Seary
CAST
Megan Bennetts, Audrey Blyde, Sebastian Gray, Marisa Hissey, Patrick Holman, Iris Simpson, James Sugrue, Tenielle Thompson.
DATES/TIMES
New Theatre, King St, Newtown.
Opening Night Thu 23 Mar 7:30pm
Season Thu – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Final performance Sat 16 May 2pm
TICKETS
Full price $45 Concessions + Groups (6+) $40 New Theatre Members $30 and Thrifty Thursdays $30 (booking fees apply). BOOKINGS: New Theatre Ticket