Blue Raincoat brings Brecht classic to Waterford stage

One of the 20th century's most acclaimed plays will come to Waterford next month when Blue Raincoat Theatre Company stages Mother Courage and Her Children at Garter Lane as part of a national autumn tour. 

The Sligo-based ensemble, one of Ireland's longest-running theatre companies, will present Bertolt's powerful anti-war drama on November 7, following a successful premiere run at The Factory Performance Space in Sligo last year.  

Directed by Blue Raincoat Artistic Director Niall Henry, the production tells the story of Anna Fierling, better known as Mother Courage, a canteen wagon operator trying to survive and protect her family amid the devastation of the Thirty Years' War in 17th-Century Europe. 

As armies march across the continent, Mother Courage follows the conflict in search of trade, determined to keep her wagon moving and her three children safe. 

While she profits from war, she also becomes one of its victims, making the play a powerful examination of survival, sacrifice and the human cost of conflict. 

Since its first performance in 1941, Mother Courage and Her Children has become regarded as one of the most important works of modern theatre and is frequently described as one of the greatest anti-war plays ever written. 

More than eight decades after it was first staged, its themes of war, displacement and resilience continue to resonate with audiences around the world. 

Henry said the company is looking forward to introducing the production to audiences around the country. 

“We were very excited by the Sligo audience reaction to Mother Courage when it premiered at The Factory in November 2024 and are really looking forward to bringing it to new audiences around the country,” he said.

The production stars Sandra O'Malley in the title role, taking on one of theatre's most demanding and iconic characters. She is joined on stage by John Carty, Aisling Mannion, Bob Kelly, Áine Ní Laoghaire and Brian Devaney. 

The creative team includes music director Joe Hunt, set designer Jamie Vartan, lighting designer Berry McKinney and costume designer Maura Logue. 

Blue Raincoat has earned a strong reputation for presenting a diverse range of productions over several decades since the company's creation in the 1990s. 

Best known in recent years for productions such as Shackleton and The Third Policeman, both of which were praised for their distinctive visual storytelling. Beyond its stage work, the company has also played a significant role in arts development in the northwest of the country.

Over the years, it has helped establish and support a range of initiatives, including a youth theatre, children's theatre festival, theatre academy and its home venue, The Factory Performance Space. 

Mother Courage and Her Children will be staged at Farter Lane, Waterford, on November 7. 

Tickets cost €21.50, excluding booking fees where applicable. Further information is available on the Garter Lane website.