James Joyce in Rostrevor celebrates 'Nora'

Light Theatre Company present a screening of 'Nora' at the Kilbroney Bar on Monday February 26, with a pre-film supper and an introduction by the director Pat Murphy

As part of the James Joyce in Rostrevor Festival, January – March 2024, Light Theatre Company is proud to present a special screening of Pat Murphy's film ‘Nora’ at the Kilbroney Bar on Monday February 26, together with a pre-movie supper. The early evening supper from 5.30pm and the film screening at 7pm.

The Director of ‘Nora’ - Pat Murphy - will be in attendance and will introduce the film and will be available to answer questions.

Funded by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and hosted by Light Theatre Company, the Joyce in Rostrevor Festival celebrates the village’s special connection with the world’s greatest novel, James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’. It was in the summer of 1904 that Miss Lydia Douce came for a holiday in Rostrevor, the only place in the north of Ireland visited by a named character from ‘Ulysses’.

‘Nora’, based on Brenda Maddox’s 1988 novel of the same title, features Susan Lynch in the title role, Ewan McGregor as James Joyce, Andrew Scott as Michael Bodkin, Vinnie McCabe as Uncle Tommy and Veronica Duffy as Annie Barnacle. The film centres on Nora Barnacle’s tempestuous relationship with James Joyce but, significantly, it begins at a point in Nora’s life in Galway, and the unfortunate end of her relationship with Michael Bodkin, rather than when she meets Joyce in Dublin. This immediately establishes Nora’s life as her own rather than simply part of Joyce’s larger story.

On March 11, also at the Kilbroney Bar, the festival will host a free screening of the film ‘Bloom’. This 2003 Irish film written and directed by Sean Walsh and produced by Odessa Pictures stars Stephen Rea as Leopold Bloom, Angeline Ball as Molly Bloom and Hugh O'Conor as Stephen Dedalus. The film premiered at the 2003 Taormina Film Festival. Angeline Ball won the award for "Best Actress in a Film" at the Irish Film and Television Awards.

Another highlight of the festival is a photo exhibition of Rostrevor as it was in 1904 featuring 10 original photographs of Edwardian Rostrevor. The Exhibition will be open every Saturday in February at the Men’s Shed, 16 The Square, with music, readings from Joyce’s work and occasional films.

Further information on all events can be found at https://lighttheatrecompany.org Booking for ‘Nora’ essential