Four Rivers

A Handful of Stars by Billy Roche

Directed by Conall Morrison | Starring Gary Lydon

Followed by Poor Beast in the Rain and Belfry, A Handful of Stars is the first play in Billy Roche's acclaimed Wexford Trilogy. First performed in 1988, this play from the writer of The Cavalcaders had successful runs in London's Bush Theatre and on The Abbey's Peacock stage. It is being revised by Four Rivers, in a production directed by Conall Morrison (The United States vs Ulysses).

A Handful of Stars explores how thwarted ambitions can destroy dreams and shape character in small-town Ireland. The story follows Jimmy Brady - a rebel without a cause, a frustrated chancer in the local snooker hall rebelling against day-to-day banality.

A legend of stage and screen who began his career with this very play, Gary Lydon (The Banshees of Inisherin, The Guard), is joined by a star-studded cast of Michael Power (Vikings, The Game of Thrones), John Olohan (Lies We Tell, Father Ted), Tiernan Messitt-Greene (Ghosted, Harry Wild), Brian Doherty (Resistance, The Woman in the Wall), Éilish McLaughlin (Rebecca’s Boyfriend) and, as Jimmy Brady, Dermot Murphy (The Drummer and the Keeper, Raw). Dermot was most notably seen in cinemas worldwide playing the role of Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. 

A Handful of Stars is designed by Liam Doona, with lighting by Paul Keogan and costumes by Jeni Roddy.