Focus Theatre & PurpleHeart Theatre Co Present
HOLLYWOOD VALHALLA by Aidan Harney
A WORLD PREMIERE at Bewley’s Café Theatre
Hollywood 1985. Rock Hudson, a faded screen legend, struggles to keep his private life out of the spotlight as he secretly comes to terms with a devastating new illness. As his closest friends desert him and the media glare becomes blinding, an unlikely friendship grows between Rock and his fitness instructor, Toby. Faced by a society steeped in paranoia and ignorance, will the haunting memories from Rock’s unresolved past prompt him into one final act of selfless courage?
Hollywood Valhalla is a touching and poignant new drama about love, friendship and redemption during the Reagan era of the 1980's.
Cast includes Patrick Byrnes and Stewart Roche
Directed by Joe Devlin; Set Design Martin Cahill; Lighting design by Colm Maher
THE PLAYWRIGHT: In 2001, Aidan Harney was selected to complete the Rough Magic Theatre Company SEEDS programme. Since then he has completed commissioned work for Rough Magic Theatre Company Dublin and the Dublin Fringe Festival ('A Monarch in Hollywood' 2002); Red Kettle Theatre Company ('The Unsuccessful Suicide of Trish O'Malley' 2007) and Upstate Theatre Company ('Submarine Man' 2008). Other work includes 'Titus' 2005 (Dublin Fringe Festival). He was awarded a place at the Stewart Parker Trust residency in Annaghmakerrig in 2008 and completed The Abbey Theatre's playwright programme in 2009. Currently he is completing a second commission for Upstate Theatre Company and completing work on the play he began writing while on The Abbey programme.
