Solas Nua

Solas Nua (; "new light" in Irish) is a Washington, D.C.-based Irish contemporary arts organization. Founded in 2005, its first event was a production of the play ''Disco Pigs'' by Enda Walsh. While it is best known for its theater offerings, Solas Nua also presents programming in areas including film, music, visual arts and literature. The organization puts special emphasis on promoting recent work by up-and-coming Irish artists.

Past theater productions

In its 2008–09 season Solas Nua performed ''Disco Pigs'' by Enda Walsh at 59E59 Theaters in New York City as part of the first Irish Theater Festival. Solas Nua produced this play again in D.C. in their 2009–10 season. In the 2008–09 season Linda Murray directed Gerald Murphy's ''Take Me Away'' and Des Kennedy directed the American premiere of Marina Carr's ''Woman and Scarecrow''. Solas Nua also produced a series of readings of 11 plays commissioned by Belfast theater company Tinderbox.

In Solas Nua's 2009–10 season they presented David Ireland's ''Everything Between Us'' in D.C., Buffalo and Philadelphia. They also produced Rosemary Jenkinson's ''Johnny Meister and the Stitch''.

''2010–11'' events included ''Swampoodle'' by Tom Swift. This place-based performance was created in collaboration with Ireland's Performance Corporation at the U-Line Arena. Solas Nua also presented John Paul Murphy's ''The Prophet of Monto'', and Arthur Riordan and Bell Helicopter's musical ''Improbable Frequency''.

In 2012–13 Solas Nua commissioned and performed ''Bradley O’Gill and the Little People'' by Tom Swift.

In 2014 Solas Nua began play-reading series in Washington, D.C. and in Boston.

In 2015, Solas Nua hired Rex Daugherty as the second artistic director of the company. He had previously appeared as an actor in Solas Nua productions, and became a company member in 2008. His theatre productions have earned Solas Nua their first Helen Hayes Award (Outstanding Ensemble - ''The Frederick Douglass Project'').

''2016'' - ''Wild Sky'' by Deirdre Kinahan and ''Little Thing Big Thing'' by Donal O'Kelly''.''

''2017 - Coolatully'' by Fiona Doyle and the updated ''Misterman'' by Enda Walsh.

    *''Misterman'' was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award in Outstanding Sound Design.

''2018 - The Frederick Douglass Project'' by Psalmayene 24 and Deirdre Kinahan and '' How to Keep an Alien'' by Sonya Kelly.

    *''The Frederick Douglass Project'' was a Solas Nua commission, staged on a floating pier on the Anacostia River, overlooking Douglass' historic home in DC. The play earned 6 Helen Hayes nominations, was the recipient of The Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Ensemble, and was listed by The Washington Post as "one of the best theatre productions of the year." How to Keep an Alien was also nominated for Outstanding Sound Design.

''2019'' ''- Silent'' written and performed by Pat Kinevan (from Fishamble: The New Play Company) and ''The Smuggler by Ronan Noone.''

    *''Silent'' was nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards, Outstanding Visiting Production and Outstanding Visiting Performer. ''The Smuggler,'' a one-man show starring artistic director Rex Daugherty, was listed by The New York Times Readers' Choice as one of the best theatre productions of the year, nationwide.

Other Solas Nua activities

Regular events include a film screening series called Irish Popcorn! Solas Nua also presents Irish films at their annual Capital Irish Film Festival. Each year Solas Nua gives away thousands of Irish books on their Irish Book Day (March 17). In 2014 Solas Nua collaborated with Irish literary magazine '' The Stinging Fly'' to create an original Irish Book Day publication for the first time. ''What's the Story?'' included short stories and poems by authors including Kevin Barry.

Additional programming includes visual arts and video art exhibitions, multiple book clubs, music and dance.

References

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External links

Solas Nua Official WebsiteSolas Nua FacebookSolas Nua TwitterSolas Nua InstagramSolas Nua YouTube

Arts organizations based in Washington, D.C.
Irish-American culture in Washington, D.C.
Irish-American organizations
Arts organizations established in 2005
2005 establishments in Washington, D.C.