Subject matter of forthcoming Waterford theatre production very much 'taboo'

Following sold out runs of 'Lovesong' and 'The Flags', the Red 'n' Blue Theatre Company will present its new production, 'Taboo', in the Theatre Royal, Waterford, on Wednesday and Thursday, September 11 and 12.

A dark comedy, by award winning Kilkenny writer, John Morton, the event will include a questions and answers session after the show on the Wednesday night. The curtain will rise on both nights at 8pm.

The story is based around a boy and a girl, who somehow meet. Lily doesn’t get out much while Tom finds it hard to meet new people and now they’re having their first date.

Lily cooks a three-course meal and Tom brings flowers and wine. On the surface, everything seems fine. But in the modern world, dating is a surprisingly complex thing with a lot of unwritten rules. There are certain things you shouldn’t do on a first date and then there are certain things you shouldn’t do at all.

The production is a mix of poignant moments mixed with tragedy and hilarity in a way that is reflective of modernday life for many people.

As one review noted: "There are more twists and turns in Taboo than on the Ring of Kerry. The production is excellent”.

The Red 'n' Blue Theatre Company was founded by husband and wife, Dylan Kennedy and Jenny Fennessy. Their debut production, 'Lovesong', sold out 16 performances across Cork, Waterford and Dublin and was nominated for five Waterford News & Star Green Room awards. It won awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.

The company's second production, 'Flags', was nominated for a further six Waterford News and Star Green Room awards. It won Best Play of the Year 2022, Best Set and Jenny won Best Supporting Actress.

The writer of the forthcoming play, John Morton, is from Kilkenny and is the creator and writer of the TV series, 'Dead Still', for which he won an Edgar Award for Best TV Episode Teleplay. He has written and directed several short films including 'Smitten', for RTÉ Storyland, and also wrote the award winning shorts 'Seanie & Flo', 'Kathleen' and 'Swerve'. For the stage John has wrote the plays 'Denouement', 'War Of Attrition', 'Scratcher', 'Smitten' and 'Heart Shaped Vinyl'. 

With Peter McGann, he co-wrote the Irish historical plays, 'The Hellfire Squad' and 'The Roaring Banshees'. He also wrote the adaptation of Thomas Kilroy’s novel 'The Big Chapel', which was nominated in three categories at the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2020. John is a founding member of Devious Theatre in Kilkenny and White Label in Dublin. He is currently writing comedy drama pilot script, 'The Continental Method', for Deadpan Pictures Limited.

Dylan Kennedy, who plays Tom, trained at The East 15 Acting School. His credits include, 'From Out the Land', 'The Last Stand', 'Amongst Men', 'Philadelphia Here I Come', 'Katie Roche', 'Our Tethered Kin', 'Hansel in Hansel and Gretel', 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' and 'Romeo and Juliet', to name but a few. 

Alongside his impeccable acting credentials, Dylan’s directing credits include 'Lovesong', and 'The Flags'. 

Jenny Fennessy is an acting graduate from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Her TV credits include 'Call the Midwife' and 'The Doireann Project' and 'Seriously, Sinéad?' while in theatre her credits include Greg Doran’s, 'King Lear', Melly Still’s, 'Cymbeline', Richard Eyre’s, 'Liola' and 'Lady Macbeth',  in Macbeth, again, to name but a few.

She has appeared at some of the foremost theatres in the Ireland and had worked with some of the country's most reputable theatre companies.

Director, Shane Dempsey, trained at The National Theatre Studio and E15 Acting School and worked on some of theatre's most celebrated productions and in some of its most revered venues across Ireland and Britain.

He is also the founding member of Fragments, a dynamic physical ensemble in London working across theatre and film. He is currently developing a devised project with young people on The Climate Emergency for The Donmar Warehouse.

For more information about the forthcoming production look up the Theatre Royal social media platforms.