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PHOTOS Bread Not Profits play to mark the 100th year anniversary of the Limerick Soviet

Colm O’Brien, Georgina Miller, and Mike Finn, writer of ‘Bread Not Profits’, pictured at the Launch of Gúna Nua Theatre Company’s new production ‘Bread Not Profits’ at the Belltable arts venue. Picture: Orla McLaughlin/ilovelimerick.

PHOTOS Bread Not Profits play to mark the 100th year anniversary of the Limerick Soviet

Guna Nua is delighted to announce details of its newest production, Bread Not Profits, to mark the 100th year anniversary of the Limerick Soviet.  Launched on Tuesday, March 5 by Historian Liam Cahill and Vice President Academic Affairs and Student Engagement of the University of Limerick, Professor Kerstin Mey, Bread Not Profits is an exciting new large scale, site-specific, theatre production which commemorates the 100 year anniversary of the Limerick Soviet. The Soviet was a citywide worker strike in protest of British military occupation in the city in 1919. 

bread not profits

Mike Finn, writer of ‘Bread Not Profits’, Professor Kerstin Mey, Liam Cahill, and Mayor Daniel Butler pictured at the Launch of Gúna Nua Theatre Company’s new production ‘Bread Not Profits’ at the Belltable arts venue. Picture: Orla McLaughlin/ilovelimerick.


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Written by Limerick Playwright Mike Finn (PigTown, A Quite Moment) Directed by Terry O’Donovan of Dante or Die Theatre Company (I Do, User not Found) and with new music composed by David Blake (The Unlucky Cabin Boy, Brad Pitt Light Orchestra) the show will take place in the Cleeves factory site in Limerick City in a combination of immersive and promenade performance styles. The audience will be brought through this historically important site and into the world of Limerick in 1919 when the might of the British Empire was challenged by a 14,000 strong worker-led protest. We will see the Strike Committee, armed with just a printing press and the support of the workers of Limerick navigate an international media, frenzy, food shortages and eventually the issuing of their own tender, the Soviet Shilling.

With a cast of 11 actors, 3 musicians, and a community ensemble that promises to be a highlight in the Limerick Theatre Programme for 2019 bringing together history and creativity to present a once in a centenary experience. 

The stunning cast includes both familiar Limerick faces and new and established nationally recognised performers including Aidan Crowe, Ann Blake and Gene Rooney. 

It will also be the first appearance in Limerick for English actor, Kit Thompson. Kit is originally from Kent in the South-East of England but moved to Dublin two years ago to pursue an acting career with the Gaiety School of Acting. 

The crew similarly draws on local, national and international talent with Irish Times Theatre Award winner Zia Bergin-Holly on Lighting design, Irish Times Theatre Award Nominee Emma Fisher on set and Costume Design, Visual Artist John Galvin on AV design and the Lime Trees Theatre’s Jay Kavanagh on Production Management. Directing the play is Terry O’Donovan, who is from Limerick originally but moved to England to study theatre. Terry is the Co-Artistic Director of ‘Dante or Die.’

The production opens April 17, with a preview April 16, and runs Tuesday to Saturday until April 27. 

Tickets are available from the Lime Tree Theatre Box Office on www.limetreetheatre.ie or by phone through the box office on 061 953400.

For more information, go here.

For more stories on Guna Nua go here.

Pictures: Orla McLaughlin/ilovelimerick

Pictures: Conor Owens/ilovelimerick

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.