Through the Mill

Internationally acclaimed author and playwright, Irvine Welsh (of Trainspotting fame) flew into Dublin last weekend unveiling Dundrum Town Centre’s €14 million state of the art theatre, The Mill Theatre. Irvine was joined by renowned singer and actress Honor Heffernan and actor and stylist Graham Cruz.

The opening of the theatre represents a milestone for Dundrum and has been funded by the developers of the Town Centre as part of its development plan for Dundrum. Box office sales for The Mill Theatre will commence on Tuesday April 18^th 2006.

Irvine, who actually lives in Rathmines Dublin 6, is based in the UK at the moment putting his own screenplay, “The Man Who Walks” into action and directing the first video for the group Keane. His play “Babylon Heights” will premier in the Dundrum Town Centre Mill theatre in August - and he is thrilled as the space is ideal for it.

“Babylon Heights”, based on a true story, is set behind the scenes at the making of the Wizard of Oz told from the perspective of four munchkins. As the munchkins were played by four tiny people, one of whom was from Ireland, the cast treated them as second class citizens and their lives were pretty miserable during the making of the film. Judy Garland even referred to them as "drunken, debauched idiots".

The theatre will hold its gala opening night on Thursday, 4^th May 2006 when Uachtaran na hEireann Mary McAleese will officiate and attend its maiden performance. The Mill Theatre launches in style with Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town”, which has been secured as the opening show. Though first performed in 1938, “Our Town” was set at the turn of the twentieth century and tackles the big issues of life and death uncompromisingly, counseling the viewer to relish the moment, to enjoy the fleeting moments of every day life and implores the audience to look one another in the eye.

The theatre boasts 206 seats in its main auditorium and 50 seats in the lounge area which will be used for lunchtime performances. It also has a café and a bar, 2 rehearsal rooms and 2 art exhibition spaces. It is also equipped with impressive state of the art technical equipment, including lighting production, sound production, communications systems and a motorised raise and lower system.

Another great reason to head Southside to Dundrum, the Mecca for, well, almost everything.