Olwen Fouéré

Olwen Fouéré is an actress and writer/director in theatre, film and visual arts. She was born on the west coast of Ireland of Breton parents Yann Fouéré and Marie-Magdeleine Mauger.[1] In 2020, she was listed at number 22 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.[2]

Theatre

As a freelance actress, Fouéré works internationally in English and French with numerous appearances at the Abbey Theatre, the Gate Theatre in Ireland, the Royal National Theatre in England, the Bouffes du Nord in Paris, at Brooklyn Academy of Music New York, Sydney Theatre Company Australia and Shakespeare Theatre Company, DC. In 1980 she formed Operating Theatre, an avant-garde theatre company with composer Roger Doyle. She later established an artistic entity called TheEmergencyRoom for the development of her ongoing projects which have included the creation of her internationally acclaimed RIVERRUN (her adaptation of the voice of the river in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake); her staging of LESSNESS by Samuel Beckett (Barbican, Galway International Arts Festival and Project Arts Centre, Dublin); her translation and production of DANSE,MOROB written for her by the French writer Laurent Gaudé and her translation and performances of SODOME, MY LOVE (in association with Rough Magic) also by Laurent Gaudé; a film project co-directed by Kevin Abosch from a script by Anne Enright titled Cassandra:fragments of a playscript.

Play Role Director Author Venue Company Year
UNWOMAN IIIUnwoman (solo)The Rabble-Dublin Fringe Festival and Melbourne--
Ballyturk3Enda WalshEnda WalshAbbey Theatre 2017 and St Ann’s Warehouse New York 2018Landmark Theatre Productions & Galway International Festival2017, 2018
WHAT IF WOMEN RULED THE WORLDThe President-Yael BartanaManchester International Festival at Aarhus and Volksbuhne Berlin--
SALOMENameless Woman-Yaël Farber-Shakespeare Theatre Company Washington DC and National Theatre, London-
LEFT BEHIND: SONGS OF 1916 WIDOWSNarrator-Simon O’Connor and Michelle O’Rourke-National Concert Hall, Dublin-
THE FEVER--Fintan O’Toole-Belfast Festival-
DEATH AT INTERVALSDeathKellie Hughes--Galway International Festival / Dublin Theatre Festival-
EMBODIEDPerformerMegan & Jessica Kennedy-Junk Ensemble Production--
RIVERRUNSolo performanceOlwen Fouéré (with co-director Kellie Hughes)Olwen FouéréTheEmergencyRoom/ Galway International Arts Festival/ International tour--
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNESTDr. ChausubleAntony McDonaldComposer: Gerald BarryNI Opera--
A TENDER THINGJulietSelina Cartmell-Siren Productions--
MARIA DE BUENOS ARIESEl DuendeConor Hanratty--Cork Opera House-
THE RITE OF SPRING / PETRUSHKAthe CailleachMichael Keegan - Dolan-English National Opera & Sadler’s Wells--
The Taming of the Shrew
The Broken HeartMark O'RoweVariousAbbey Theatre World Tour2011
TerminusAMark O'RoweMark O'RoweVariousAbbey Theatre World Tour2011
The Rehearsal, Playing the DaneGertrudeGavin QuinnWilliam ShakespearePan Pan theatre
Medeasole ChorusSelina Cartmelltranslated by Robin RobertsonSiren productions
Sodome, My LoveCelle de SodomeLaurent GaudéLynne Parker (translated by Olwen Fouéré)Project Arts Centre, Dublin
The Rite of Springthe CailleachMichael Keegan-DolanLondon ColiseumFabulous Beast and ENO
Under Glass (The Test Tube)Suzy Willson and Paul ClarkeAlice OswaldThe Clod Ensemble
Paula Spencer, La Femme Qui Se Cognait Dans Les PortessoloMichel AbécassisRoddy Doyle (trans. Ian Monk and Isabelle D. Phillippe)Théatre de l'Eveil tour including Bouffes du Nord, Paris, and Project Arts Centre, Dublin
Woman and ScarecrowWomanSelina CartmellMarina CarrAbbey Theatre
The BullMaeveMichael Keegan-DolanDublin Theatre Festival 2005, Barbicanbite 2007, speilzeiteuropa08Fabulous Beast
CatastropheThe AssistantSelina CartmellSamuel BeckettBarbicanGate Theatre Beckett Festival
Titus AndronicusTamoraSelina CartmellShakespeareProject Arts Centre, DublinSiren Productions
Here LiesAntonin ArtaudSelina CartmellGalway Arts Festival 2005, Dublin and Paris 2006Operating Theatre
A Cry from HeavenNessOlivier PyVincent WoodsAbbey Theatre, Dublin
The Plough and the StarsMrs GoganBen BarnesSeán O'CaseyAbbey Theatre, Barbicanbite and Cork Opera House
The Playboy of the Western WorldWidow QuinnBen BarnesJohn Millington SyngeAbbey Theatre (USA Tour)
Passadesself and explorerSelina CartmellLee's Cash 'n Carry, DublinOperating Theatre
La MusicaWomanSelina CartmellMarguerite DurasSS Michael and John, DublinSiren Productions
The House of Bernarda AlbaAugustineMartin DruryFrederico Garcia Lorca, trans. Sebastian BarryAbbey Theatre, Dublin
MacbethLady MacbethMichael Barker-CavenShakespeareDublin and Irish tourSecond Age
LessnesssoloJudy Hegarty-LovettSamuel BeckettGare StLazare IrlKilkenny Arts Festival, Cottesloe Theatre, Dublin Fringe Festival
BailegangaireDollyTom MurphyTom MurphyAbbey Theatre, Dublin
ChairsoloJohnny HanrahanOperating TheatrePeacock Theatre, DublinOperating Theatre
The Playboy of the Western WorldPegeen MikeNiall HenryJohn Millington SyngeAbbey Theatre, Dublin
Peer GyntSolveigConal MorrisonHenrik Ibsen (trans. Frank McGuinness)Royal National Theatre, London
Romeo and JulietLady CapuletTim SuppleShakespeareRoyal National Theatre, London
The TempestArielConal MorrisonShakespeareAbbey Theatre, Dublin
Life Is a DreamRosauraCalixto BietoCaldéron de la Barca (trans. John Clifford)Edinburgh Festival '98, Barbican '99, BAM,'99
The WakeMary JanePatrick MasonTom MurphyAbbey Theatre and Edinburgh Festival1988–1999
By the Bog of Cats (World Premiere)Hester SwanePatrick MasonMarina CarrAbbey Theatre (Dublin Theatre Festival '98)1988
Angel/BabelsoloLeon IngulsrudOperating TheatreProject@the mint, DublinOperating Theatre1999
Lady Windermere's FanMrs ErlynneAlan StanfordOscar WildeGate Theatre Dublin & Charleston Spoleto FestivalCompany1997–1998
The Electrocution of ChildrenMargotBrian BradyChris LeeAbbey Theatre, Dublin
Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem CardsEmpress and MoonJohn CrowleyChikamatsu Montsaemon, trans. Peter OswaldRoyal National Theatre
Play and Come and GoBairbre Ni ChaoímhSamuel BeckettGate Theatre & Lincoln Center, New York
Double HelixBickerstaffeJohn CrowleyPeacock Theatre, Dublin
Six Characters in Search of an AuthorMme. PaceJohn CrowleyLuigi Pirandello, trans. Tom KilroyAbbey Theatre, Dublin
Slaughter CityCodRon DanielsNaomi WallaceRoyal Shakespeare Company, The Pit
The Mai (World Premiere )The MaiBrian BradyMarina CarrAbbey Theatre, DublinCompanyYear
Old TimesAnnaKevin BillingtonHarold PinterGate Theatre, DublinGate Theatre Pinter Festival
Sheep's Milk on the BoilThe Inspector of WrackTom HickeyTom Mac IntyreAbbey Theatre, Dublin
HamletHamletMichael SheridanShakespeareProject Arts Centre, Dublin
The Tempest and MacbethAriel and Lady MacduffMichael BogdanovShakespeareWorld tourEnglish Shakespeare Company
The Cherry OrchardVaryaMichael BogdanovAnton ChekhovGate Theatre, DublinCompanyYear
SalomeSaloméSteven BerkoffOscar WildeGate Theatre '88, Edinburgh Festival '89 & Spoleto '90Company1988, 1989, 1990
The Master BuilderHilde WangelPaul UnwinHenrik IbsenBristol Old Vic, Bristol1989
Dancing at LughnasaAgnesPatrick MasonBrian FrielPhoenix and Garrick Theatre, London
The Master BuilderHildePaul UnwinHenrik Ibsen, trans. Michael MeyerBristol Old Vic--
BajazetAtalidePeter EyreRacine, trans. Allan HollinghurstAlmeida Theatre, London--
Cathleen Ni Houlihan & The Cuchulainn CycleCathleen and AoifeJim FlanneryWilliam Butler YeatsAbbey Theatre, Dublin--
Peer GyntSolveig and AnitraPatrick MasonHenrik Ibsen, trans. Frank McGuinnessGate Theatre, Dublin--
Les Liaisons DangereusesLa Presidente de TourvelBen BarnesChristopher Hampton (after Laclos)Gate Theatre, Dublin-
Uncle VanyaSonyaPaul UnwinAnton ChekhovGate Theatre, Dublin--
Fool for LoveMayRay YeatesSam ShephardAbbey Theatre, Dublin--
InnocenceCaterinaPatrick MasonFrank McGuinnessGate Theatre, Dublin--
The Playboy of the Western WorldPegeen MikeGarry HynesJohn Millington SyngeDruid Theatre New York Tour ‘86--
The Pantagonal DreamsoloDavid HeapSebastian BarryDamer Hall DublinOperating Theatre-
The Diamond BodysoloBrendan EllisAidan MathewsDublin, Bush Theatre London ‘84, Avignon Festival’86, Glasgow Mayfest ‘87Operating Theatre-
The AntigoneAntigoneMichael ScottAidan MathewsProject Arts Centre, Dublin-
The Old Woman BroodsKazimierz Braun-Tadeusz RosewiczProject Arts Centre, Dublin--
ExtremitiesMarjorieJulian Plunkett-DillonWilliam MastrosimoneProject Arts Centre, Dublin--
The Morning After OptimismAnastasiaMichael ScottTom MurphyProject Arts Centre, Dublin--
Three Bunches of Blood and a Lump of Fog-Michael ScottSean MacCarthyProject Arts Centre, Dublin--
Three SistersIrinaStephen ReaAnton Chekhov, trans. Brian FrielField Day 1981--
Twelfth NightViolaChristopher FitzsimonShakespeareIrish Theatre Company--
Withering Hypes and Bubblegum-Thom MacGinty--Grapevine touring company-
The Glass MenagerieLauraPaul BrennanTennessee WilliamsGate Theatre, Dublin--
Riders to the SeaKathleenBrendan EllisJohn Millington SyngePlayers Theatre, Dublin--
Not IsoloBrendan EllisSamuel Beckett.Focus Theatre, Dublin--
The Fall of the House of UsherMadeleinePeter SheridanSteven Berkoff (from Edgar Allan Poe)Project Arts Centre, Dublin--
The HostageTeresaSean TreacyBrendan BehanProject Arts Centre and Eblana Theatre, Dublin--
Marat/SadeCharlotte CordayMichael SheridanPeter WeissProject Arts Centre, Dublin--
FamineMaeveTom MurphyTom MurphyProject Arts Centre, Dublin--
DevMrs DeValeraPeter Sheridan-Project Arts Centre, Dublin--
The Risen PeopleAnnieJim SheridanJames PlunkettProject Arts Centre, Dublin--
A Month in the CountryVeraMary Elizabeth Burke-KennedyTurgenevFocus Theatre, Dublin--
EndgameNellSean TreacySamuel BeckettAPE Theatre company, Dublin--

Film

Television

  • Above Suspicion (Mrs Hughes) /Gillies MacKinnon/ ITV/ by Lynda LaPlante
  • The Ambassador /Ken Grieve/ Ecosse Film and TV
  • Ballykissangel series one /Chris Harrison / BBC
  • Hard Shoulder /MirrorFilms/RTÉ/Channel 4/ by Mark Kilroy
  • When Reason Sleeps (Celia)/ R. Wynne Simmons /RTÉ/ Channel 4
  • Time After Time (Young Nun) /Bill Hays/ BBC
  • The Irish R.M. (Miss Malone) /Roy Ward-Baker / BBC/RTÉ
  • A Painful Case (Mary Sinico) / John Lynch /RTÉ/ Channel 4
  • The Babysitters /Pat O'Connor / RTÉ
  • Nightflyers /Connie / SYFY
  • Cursed /Yeva / Netflix

Visual Arts

Olwen Fouéré features in several works by artist James Coleman which continue to be shown internationally. Their first collaboration So Different and Yet... was created in 1980. She worked with artist Andrew Duggan on "unravel_róis" on Inis Oirr, Dublin Biennial and University of Lyon. She collaborated with artist Jesse Presley Jones representing Ireland at the Venice Biennale 2017 on a film installation 'Tremble Tremble'

Honours

Olwen Fouéré was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy - Honoris Causa) from Dublin City University in April 2016

Awards

  • The Irish Times Theatre Awards Special Tribute 2013 for outstanding achievement and contribution to theatre in Ireland.
  • The Herald Archangel Award 2014 for "riverrun" and her outstanding contribution to the Edinburgh Festivals.
  • 'Best Actress' in the Irish Times/ESB theatre awards 2011 for "Sodome,my love" by Laurent Gaudé produced by Rough Magic in association with TheEmergencyRoom
  • 'Samuel Beckett Award' at the Dublin Theatre Festival for her role as Hester Swane in the world premiere of "By the Bog of Cats" by Marina Carr at the Abbey Theatre 1998.
  • 'Best Actress' at the Dublin Theatre Festival 1982

Nominations

  • IFTA nomination for 'Best Supporting Actress' in 'The Survivalist' by Stephen Fingleton
  • 'Best Actress' in the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2013 for 'riverrun' by TheEmergencyRoom
  • 'Best Actress' in the Harvey Awards 1985 for 'The Diamond Body' by Operating Theatre.
  • 'Best Actress' in the Irish Times/ESB Theatre awards 1999 for 'By the Bog of Cats' by Marina Carr
  • 'Best Actress' in the Irish Times/ESB Theatre awards 2000 for 'Angel/Babel' by Operating Theatre
  • 'Best Actress' in the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2006 for 'Titus Andronicus' directed by Selina Cartmell.

Publications

She has contributed to a number of publications on contemporary theatre and performance including:

  • The Dreaming Body, edited by Melissa Sihra and Paul Murphy;[6]
  • Women in Irish Drama, edited by Melissa Sihra [7]
  • Actors Voices: the people behind the performances, edited by Patrcik O'Kane [8]
  • The Theatre of Marina Carr, edited by Cathy Leeney and Anna McMullan [9]
  • Theatre Talk, edited by Lilian Chambers, Ger Fitzgibbon and Eamonn Jordan [10]
  • Operating Theatre 1980–2008 [11]

Documentary

A documentary of a year in her life, "Theatre in the Flesh" directed by Dara McCluskey, was produced for RTÉ's Arts Lives series in 2005.

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-50-greatest-irish-film-actors-of-all-time-in-order-1.4271988
  3. 2011, Indigo films, Cannes selection in competition for the Palme D'Or 2011
  4. 2012, Fastnet films, Cannes selection for the Director's Fortnight
  5. Animals at IMDb
  6. Ulster Editions and Monographs series, Oxford University Press, September 2009, ISBN 0861404653, ISBN 978-0861404650
  7. Palgrave Macmillan (17 March 2009). ISBN 0230577911 ISBN 978-0230577916
  8. Oberon Books, February 2012. ISBN 9781840029567
  9. Carysfort Press, December 2003. ISBN 0953425770 ISBN 978-0953425778
  10. Carysfort Press, 2001. ISBN 0-9534-2576-2
  11. Zero-G, October 2008. ISBN 0956043909 ISBN 978-0956043900
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.