Donal O’Kelly’s – Catalpa

Wednesday, 19 August 2026

Event times:

20:00 - 21:30

Event location:

The Civic Theatre

Event price:

€25.00

About this event

A classic of modern Irish theatre, Donal O’Kelly’s Catalpa, with live music by Trevor Knight, is the story of the daring 1876 whaleship rescue of six Irish prisoners from the British Fremantle penal colony in Australia.

All in the imagination of a rejected screenwriter, presented in the Civic on the exact 150th anniversary of the historic escapade.

Moby Dick meets Gone With The Wind with a passing glance at The Great Escape, Catalpa is a subversive epic that challenges the handed-down concept of heroism.

“A masterpiece .. searingly satirical, comic, tragic, profoundly sensitive”
 The Scotsman

“Rollicking, absorbing epic” Washington Times

“The best performance I’ve ever seen .. a huge adventure” Enda Walsh

Presented By:  Donal O’Kelly

Duration: 90 mins. One interval

Readers are advised to check with the venue before relying on the details published here.

Book nowOpens in a new window Visit websiteOpens in a new window
You may also like