THEATRE: The hilarious tale of a century old Irishman…and his father

A POIGNANT, absurd and hilarious tale of a 100-year-old Irishman… and his father.

Livin’ Dred’s critically acclaimed hit play ‘Trad’ returns to tour 11 venues across Ireland this year after a sell out 2019.

Trad arrives at the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire on February 4 and 5 for two unmissable performances.

Written by Mark Doherty and directed by renowned actor and director Aaron Monaghan, Trad is the story of a 100-year-old man and his father who live in a remote Irish parish.

Da (played by Gus McDonagh) and Son/Thomas (played by Seamus O’Rourke) are the last of their lineage, until they discover that Son has a 70-year old son.

Together, Da and Son set out to discover this son they never knew they had.

On their travels Da and Son encounter two other characters, both played by brilliant funny Clare Barrett, Fr Rice and Sal. 

Trad is a highly authentic and original Irish comedy, slightly absurd and wickedly funny.

Trad is in tune with both the times of old and our current tales of a remarkable rural Ireland changing before our eyes.

It touches poignantly on family relationships, in particular between father and son, which are both stoic and filled with deep emotion. 

Heartbreakingly sad at times, the play strikes a cord with both urban and rural audiences given it’s incredible Irish themes. It’s mostly hilarious.

The heartwarming saga is accompanied by two live traditional Irish musicians who bring even more atmosphere to the play and stage. 

In the words of Director Aaron Monaghan, Trad is like “a cross between Father Ted and Waiting for Godot”.

Clare is well known at Christmas as she starred in The Mac’s Christmas show, The Elves and the Shoemaker last Christmas, in 2018.

Clare has most recently finished a run with Rough Magic’s Much Ado About Nothing which toured in autumn 2019 to brilliant acclaim from audiences. 

Other recent stage appearances include the Abbey Theatre’s highly successful production of The Unmanageable Sisters.

There is also her stint in Angela’s Ashes, based on the novel by Frank McCourt, that ran at the Bord Gais theatre and the Grand Opera House in Belfast.

She has worked with a variety of theatre companies performing in Ireland.