The Chairs

by Eugene Ionesco

Directed by Niall Henry and designed by Jamie Vartan The Chairs is a masterpiece of absurd comedy with a host of characters that range from a photo engraver to an Emperor.

In a lighthouse on the edge of civilisation an old man and an old woman are waiting.

They await the arrival of the town's leading figures, the Mayor, the Blacksmith, the Colonel etc. because tonight, after a life of underachievement the old man has finally decided (with the help of the town orator whom he has employed to speak for him) to tell all. Who he really is, what life really means and what he should really have become.

But before we meet the orator who will deliver this message we must meet the old couple and their numerous guests. Married for 75 years they believe they have one son, but he left them when he was 7. They have lived, they have loved and now the old man is ready to deliver (albeit by proxy) the sum of his life’s experience.

By turn we meet a young woman, a colonel, a photo engraver, and his wife, members of the press, families, tall people, small people and an Emperor (of course).

They all need chairs!

A fast moving, tragic farce The Chairs brings superb performances from Mikel Murfi, Ruth Lehane and Ciarán McCauley. It is a must see show for anyone who enjoys high quality theatre with an absurd comic flavour.

The old man’s message will save humanity.

What will his message be?