AGREEMENT opens in the Gate Theatre Dublin on 27 September 2024 and runs until 27 October 2024.
AGREEMENT transferred to the Irish Arts Center in New York in April 2024 and ran until 12 May 2024
Nominated for Best New Play - UK Theatre Awards 2023
UK Theatre Awards 2023 - UK Theatre
“What takes courage is to compete in the arena of democracy”
The clock is ticking. It’s April 1998 and the main political parties in Northern Ireland, the British Government and the Irish Government, all under the watchful eye of Senator George Mitchell, try to hammer out a deal that could pave the way for peace in Northern Ireland. Every word, every movement, every stare means something. This is the last chance saloon and no one is leaving until Agreement is reached one way or another.
This major new play, commissioned by Michael Grandage Company was first performed at the Lyric Theatre Belfast on 23 March 2023
Directed by CHARLOTTE WESTENRA
ORIGINAL Cast
Richard Croxford - Senator George Mitchell
Dan Gordon - John Hume
Andrea Irvine - Mo Mowlam
Ronan Leahy - Bertie Ahern
Packy Lee - Gerry Adams
Patrick O’Kane - David Trimble
Rufus Wright - Tony Blair
Conleth Hill - Voice of President Bill Clinton
Cast changes in the Irish Arts Centre New York
Ruairi Conaghan - David Trimble
Chris Corrigan - Gerry Adams
Martin Hutson - Tony Blair
Set & Costume - Conor Murphy
Sound Designer & Composer - Kate Marlais
Movement Director - Dylan Quinn
Casting Director - Clare GaultRennie
Hair & Makeup - Nuala Campbell
Lighting Design - Mary Tumelty
Video Design- Eoin Robinson
Dialect Coach - Brendan Gunn
Percussist - Ruairi Glasheen
Lyric Theatre, Belfast - 23 March - 22 April
““Agreement,” with its universal title, is a meditation for this moment:
because peace-making is a human emergency, very much ongoing.”
New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/17/theater/agreement-philadelphia-here-i-come-irish.html
“The wonder of Agreement is how it turns the eye-glazing
details of a protracted political wrangle into the stuff of urgent drama.”
Lighting and Sound America
http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/news/story.asp?ID=6QT08G
"a compelling political thriller with echoes of Greek drama"
"ingeniously conceived, fictional drama"
***** The Irish Times
“a vivid, outstanding well-performed depiction of a key point in recent history, and a tribute to the power of compromise”
**** The Times
“McCafferty’s dramatisation of the last days of negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement remains accessible while expertly conveying tortuous political tussles”
**** The Guardian
“McCafferty’s skilful, sensitive and sharply argued interrogation of this most potent moment in time”
“Phenomenal. On every level Agreement at the Lyric Theatre is something special”
“McCafferty has taken a subject which could have been incredibly grey andlittered it with humour which would delight both political anoraks and those who avoid the topic alike”