About Devious Theatre
The Devious Theatre Company (or Devious Theatre as we’re alternately known) was set up in 2006 by a bunch of theatre enthusiasts with a view to creating a program of fresh theatrical produce in Kilkenny and indeed, as much of the South East as we can manage.
Unhappy with how theatre is regarded as an entertainment outlet for younger people, Devious Theatre wants to provide a theatrical alternative to the pubs, gigs and cinemas that are favoured for nights out. Our aim is to create, nurture, develop and produce a professional and dynamic program of theatre with an onus on performing new and little seen works. We want to create a theatre that’s not academic or precious or stuffy, just live performance delivered as live performance should be: immediate, energetic, engaging and always entertaining.
Our first production was Heart Shaped Vinyl by John Morton which was successfully performed in 2006 and 2007 in Cleere’s Theatre, Kilkenny. It picked up uniformly positive reviews and word of mouth and went to be produced by NUI Maynooth Dramasoc and UCC Dramat.
We also produced the Irish stage premiere of South Park creator Trey Parker’s cult classic Cannibal! The Musical which debuted in August 2007 to widespread acclaim and occasional puking.
Our next venture was an ambitious new production of Irvine Welsh’s iconic Trainspotting, adapted by Harry Gibson. We arrived in the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny in June 2008 to be met with packe houses and widespread positive reviews. Gerry Moran, long time columnist with the Kilkenny People went as far as to write:
“This theatre group, this collection of youngsters, this collection if like-minded individuals, who love what they’re doing, who love theatre, will be around for a long time to come. Watch out for the Devious Theatre Company. They’re good. They’re very good. They’re the future of theatre in Kilkenny.”
We aw shucksed a little.
In August 2008 we premiered a new play by John Morton, a tragicomedic series of vignettes set in Kilkenny City entitled Smitten. It played in The Barn, Church Lane from August 20th - 23rd. We were happy to report that the 80 capacity studio space sold out each night of the 4 night run and people did a bit of clapping. Which is always nice.
Today, the core of our fair theatre group comprises of seven individuals, all intent on spending weekends drinking tea by the bucket load and discussing theatre. The committee exists to drive The Devious Theatre Company in a forward direction, everyone working together to achieve our goals and aims both on and off the stage. There’s a large audience out there who hunger for theatre that’s not highbrow, preoccupied with the classical and elevated or lowbrow, resorting to the lowest common denominator. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to serve such an audience and for that we owe it to the people who have given us their support and kind words. Perhaps, we’ll just call it ‘midbrow’ theatre.
Click to read more on our individual committee members (we do actually have very technical titles and roles within the company, be ye not fooled!)
For all looking to contact us, be ye actors, writers, techies or general lovers of theatre, we can be reached quite easily and happily at info@devioustheatre.com