'Lovesong' opens tonight in Waterford

Following sold-out runs in Cork, Waterford and Dublin, Red ‘n Blue Theatre Company will present its production of, 'Lovesong' by Abi Morgan in the Theatre Royal from tonight, Tuesday, February 24, until Thursday, February 26.

The shows get under way at 8pm.

'Lovesong' is a story of one couple, told from two different points in their lives, as young lovers in their 30s and as worldly companions looking back on their relationship. 

Their past and present selves collide in what is a beautiful tale of togetherness. 

All relationships have their ups and downs; the optimism of youth becomes the wisdom of experience and at the end of the day, love is a leap of faith.

The production received 16 sell-out performances in Cork, Waterford, and Dublin to-date and received five nominations at the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards, including: Outstanding Event of the Year; Best Play (which it won); Best Supporting Actor - Sean Ahern, and Best Supporting Actress - Mary Flavin-Colbert.

On its initial staging in Waterford, Arts Correspondent for Waterford News & Star, Pat McEvoy wrote: "Beautifully written and masterfully performed.” 

Another critic described it as "a wonderful, poignant, and beautifully crafted piece of theatrical magic", while another reviewer wrote: "A seamless interplay between youth and age - warm, tender, and profoundly moving.”

The formidable cast of the show includes Dylan Kennedy, Seán Ahern,  Mary Flavin-Colbert and Jenny Fennessy.

Dylan Kennedy trained at East 15 Acting School and has an impressive list of credits to his name including: 'From Out the Land' (Clonmel Junction Festival); 'The Last Stand, Amongst Men' (Four Rivers); 'Philadelphia, Here I Come', (Donmar Warehouse); 'Katie Roche' (Abbey Theatre); 'Our Tethered Kin' (Broken Crow); 'Hansel and Gretel' (National Theatre); 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh); 'All Over Town' (Project Arts Centre); 'Peter Pan' (National Theatre of Scotland) and 'Romeo and Juliet', to name but a few.

Alongside his onstage work he also has numerous directing credits including 'Lovesong', 'The Flags' and 'Taboo'.

Seán Ahern won Best Supporting Actor in the Waterford News and Star Green Room Awards for his performance as Bill in 'Lovesong'. He also won Best Supporting Actor in the RTÉ All-Ireland Final with Brideview Drama for his portrayal of Mick Tracey in 'The Stolen Child'. He is no stranger to All-Ireland finals, having won the One Act Drama League of Ireland Final playing Nashie in 'The Quiet Land' (2017) and finishing second with 'Where is This Malabar?'. 

Mary Flavin-Colbert, won Best Supporting Actress at the Waterford News & Star Green Room Awards for her performance as Maggie in 'Lovesong'. In 2025, she won Best Actress for Dora in 'Blackwater Lightship' (Ballyduff Drama), and in 2024, she won Best Supporting Actress for Aunt Maggie in 'The Ferryman' (Ballyduff Drama).

Previous awards include Best Supporting Actress for 'Conversations On A Homecoming' (Palace Players, RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival winner), Best Actress for 'Chipatti' (Palace Players, 2022), and a nomination for 'Where is This Malabar?' (2018).

Jenny Fennessy is an acting graduate from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London whose numerous TV credits include 'Call the Midwife' (BBC), 'The Doireann Project' and 'Seriously, Sinéad?' (RTÉ). Theatre credits include Greg Doran’s 'King Lear' and Melly Still’s 'Cymbeline' (Royal Shakespeare Company) along with Richard Eyre’s 'Liola' (National Theatre, London), 'Macbeth' (as Lady Macbeth – Red ‘n Blue Theatre), 'Romeo and Juliet' (as Nurse), 'Hamlet' (as Gertrude), 'Othello' (as Emilia) and 'The Merchant of Venice' (as Nerissa – Mill Productions).

Red ‘n Blue Theatre Company was established in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Dylan Kennedy and Jenny Fennessy. Simple storytelling is at the heart of their work, creating honest, entertaining, and memorable theatre. Between them, they have performed with companies and venues such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Abbey Theatre, The Donmar Warehouse, The National Theatre (UK), The Barbican, BBC, Channel 4, and RTÉ, and worked with some formidable directors including Tony Award winner John Tiffany and Olivier Award winners Katie Mitchell, Lyndsey Turner, Sir Richard Eyre, and Greg Doran.

The production in Waterford is supported by Waterford City & County Council.

Tickets for the show are priced €23.50 (€21.50 concession) and the running time is approximately 80 minutes with no interval. The age recommendation for the show is 16 plus.