This is what I like • First publicity shot I've seen for John Gabriel Borkman at the Abbey Theatre

First publicity shot I’ve seen for John Gabriel Borkman at the Abbey Theatre

Don’t they all look great? That’s Fiona Shaw, Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan in the ABBEY THEATRE production of JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN by Henrik Ibsen, in a new version by Frank McGuinness. Directed by James Macdonald on the ABBEY stage, 13 October – 20 November 2010. Pic by Ros Kavanagh

Press release:

ABBEY THEATRE PRESENTS ‘JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN’ STARRING LINDSAY DUNCAN, ALAN RICKMAN AND FIONA SHAW

13 October 2010 - 20 November 2010 (Previews from 6 October – 12 October)

The Abbey Theatre is proud to present a major new production of Henrik Ibsen’s, devastating and darkly comic JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN in a new version by Frank McGuinness, as part of this year’s Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival.

Directed by James Macdonald, the cast includes outstanding actors – Lindsay Duncan, Alan Rickman and Fiona Shaw. JOHN GABRIEL BORKMANopens on Wednesday 13 October (previews from Wednesday 6 October) on the Abbey stage for a six week run.

Along with Duncan, Rickman and Shaw, the cast for this superb production includes Cathy Belton, John Kavanagh, Amy Molloy, Marty Rea and Joan Sheehy.

John Gabriel Borkman (Alan Rickman) was once a great man, wealthy, powerful and revered. He gave up love for success and was handsomely rewarded.

But now, disgraced and destitute after a financial scandal and prison, the former director of a bank paces out each day, alone in an upstairs room, planning his comeback. Downstairs his wife Gunhild (Fiona Shaw) lives a parallel life, plotting for their son to restore the family’s reputation.

The claustrophobia of their lives is shattered once and for all with the arrival of Gunhild’s twin sister Ella (Lindsay Duncan), the woman whose love Borkman gave away…

Set design is by Tom Pye, lighting design by Jean Kalman, sound design by Ian Dickinson while the costumes are designed by Emmy-winning designer, Joan Bergin.

Sign language interpreted performance: Thursday 11 November. Audio described and captioned performance: Saturday 13 November.

The organisation acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council.

Booking and information on www.abbeytheatre.ie and (01) 87 87 222.