Bob Dylan's 1963 song "Girl from the North Country", from his second studio album, provided inspiration for writer-director Conor McPherson for this world premiere new musical (or is it a play with music?) at the Old Vic Theatre. Who'll be singing that and other classic Dylan tracks?
The Old Vic is proud to present the world premiere of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY, an electrifying new work from esteemed playwright Conor McPherson along with classic songs from Bob Dylan. Casting is today announced for the premiere production, which is also directed by McPherson and which runs from 10 July to 7 October 2017, with a press night on 26 July 2017.
The full cast are: Sheila Atim (Marianne Laine), Ron Cook (Doctor Walker), Bronagh Gallagher (Mrs Burke), Shirley Henderson (Elizabeth Laine), Ciaran Hinds (Nick Laine), Claudia Jolly (Katherine Draper), Arinzé Kene (Joe Scott), Debbie Kurup (Mrs Neilsen), Kirsty Malpass (Ensemble), Jim Norton (Mr Perry), Tom Peters (Ensemble), Karl Queensborough (Ensemble), Sam Reid (Gene Laine), Michael Shaeffer (Reverend Marlowe), Jack Shalloo (Elias Burke), and Stanley Townsend (Mr Burke).
Duluth, Minnesota. 1934.
A community living on a knife-edge huddle together in the local guesthouse. The owner, Nick, owes more money than he can ever repay, his wife Elizabeth is losing her mind and their daughter Marianne is carrying a child no-one will account for. And, when a preacher selling bibles and a boxer looking for a comeback show up in the middle of the night, things start to spiral beyond the point of no return…
Brought to life by a 20-piece company of actors and musicians, award-winning playwright Conor McPherson beautifully weaves the iconic songbook of Bob Dylan into this new show full of hope, heartbreak and soul.
Also on the creative team are: Rae Smith (designer), Simon Hale (orchestrator, arrangements and musical supervisor), Mark Henderson (lighting), Simon Baker (sound), Alan Berry (musical director), Lucy Hind (movement director) and Joe Murphy (associate director).
Conor McPherson is an acclaimed writer and director. He was born in Dublin in 1971 and attended University College Dublin where he began to write and direct. Stage plays include The Nest, The Dance of Death, Rum & Vodka, The Good Thief, This Lime Tree Bower, St Nicholas, The Weir (Olivier, Evening Standard, and Critics Circle Awards), Dublin Carol, Port Authority, Shining City (Tony Award nominated), The Seafarer (Tony, Olivier and Evening Standard Award nominated), The Veil, The Night Alive (New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Olivier, Evening Standard and Lucille Lortel Award nominated). Television credits include Quirke (Irish Film & Television Academy Award for Best Drama) and the upcoming programme Paula. For film, Conor wrote and directed The Eclipse (Irish Film & Television Academy Award for Best Script), and has written the screenplays for upcoming films Artemis Fowl, Double Cross and Strangers.
Bob Dylan is one of our culture’s most influential and ground-breaking artists. Born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941; self-taught on piano, guitar and harmonica, he travelled to New York City in 1961, quickly establishing himself as an explosive performer in the Greenwich Village music scene. More than half a century later, Dylan continues to perform almost 100 concerts each year. He has released more than 50 albums and written over 600 songs. He’s sold more than 125 million records and is the holder of 11 Grammy Awards. His songs have been covered more than 6000 times by artists as diverse as Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N’ Roses, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and Adele. He is also an accomplished visual artist and author, and in 2016 was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature – the first songwriter to receive such a distinction.
