5 Reasons To Be Excited for ‘The Seafarer’ at Alberta Theatre Projects
Alberta Theatre Projects is thrilled to be opening their 50th Anniversary Season with Conor McPherson’s critically acclaimed play, The Seafarer, starring Paul Gross!
“A blistering emotional punch,” (Time Out) “daring and memorable” (Observer), The Seafarer is a gripping dark comedy that celebrates the bonds of camaraderie, the possibility of redemption, and the enduring hope found in second chances.
Read on to find out more about this stunning play and get excited for the first show of ATP’s 2024-25 Season:
1. Calgary-born Canadian star Paul Gross will be playing the role of Mr. Lockhart, the mysterious stranger who arrives to join the poker game and raise the stakes. The role has previously been played by well-known actors Ciarán Hinds and Matthew Broderick.
2. The Seafarer was nominated for the Tony Award, the Olivier Award, and The Evening Standard Award for ‘Best Play.’
3. The play has found great success on stages across the world, including productions at the National Theatre (London), Booth Theater (Broadway), Abbey Theatre (Dublin), Steppenwolf Theater Company (Chicago), Bárka (Budapest), Perth Theatre (Perth), Lyric Theatre (Belfast), and Parco Theater (Japan).
4. It was partly inspired by the anonymously written Anglo-Saxon poem, The Seafarer (c. 755 A.D.), the following excerpt of the poem being included in the introductory pages of the Nick Hern Books published script of the play:
“He knows not
Who lives most easily on land, how I
Have spent my winter on the ice-cold sea
Wretched and anxious, in the paths of exile
Lacking dear friends, hung round by icicles
While hail flew past in showers… “
(Translated from Anglo-Saxon by Richard Hamer)
5. Dublin-born playwright Conor McPherson is a five-time Tony nominee and has been named “the finest playwright of his generation” by The New York Times (source: BBC). McPherson also directed the first two iterations of his dark comedy at the National Theatre and on Broadway.
BONUS FACT! The first two productions featured three Irish actors from the hit HBO show Game of Thrones: Ciarán Hinds (Mance Rayder) played Mr. Lockhart on Broadway, Michael McElhatton (Roose Bolton) played Nicky Giblin at the National Theatre, and Conleth Hill (Lord Varys) played Ivan Curry in both productions!
Check out The Seafarer as part of ATP’s 2024-25 50th Anniversary Season from October 15 – November 10. Interested in the best price on tickets, free exchanges, and priority ticket access? Subscribe and join ATP for the season (plus all the perks) HERE.
