A spectacular dramatic comedy, fresh from its world premiere on the Abbey stage of the national theatre, comes to the Lime Tree Theatre from Wednesday, 12th April to Saturday, 15th April, where the villainous Tartuffe shocks and enthrals audiences with his deceptive powers. In a new version of Molière’s Tartuffe retold for 2023 by Irish writer Frank McGuinness, directed by Artistic Director of the National Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin, the 17th century classic is given an audacious contemporary makeover. The production sees truth face off with deceit before unveiling who has the last laugh.

Tartuffe, a sanctimonious scoundrel who, professing extreme piety, is taken into the household of Orgon, a wealthy man. Under the guise of ministering to the family’s spiritual and moral needs, he almost destroys Orgon’s family. Elmire, Orgon’s wife sees through Tartuffe’s wicked hypocrisy and exposes him. 

Like Tartuffe, and much like it was four hundred years ago when the play was originally set, we ostentatiously perform our virtue, doing so today on social media. Like the man Tartuffe dupes in the play, Orgon, we are blinded by admiration for those that perform their virtue the most dazzlingly.  

The production stars Ryan Donaldson as Tartuffe [London-based Lisburn man who is known for his screen roles in The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016), Killing Eve (2018) and Stumbling (2022)] alongside Irish acting stage and screen star Frank McCusker, who plays the tormented Orgon [known for his screen roles in Hunger, Inside I’m dancing, Affair of the Necklace and Penny Dreadful]. Elmire is played by played by Aislín McGuckan, best known as Dr Liz Merrick in ITV’s Heartbeat, Outlander and RTE/ BBC’s hit TV show Normal People. 

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

Monsieur Loyal: Amy Conroy

Mariane: Emma Rose Creaner

Tartuffe: Ryan Donaldson

Damis: Naoise Dunbar

Dorine: Pauline Hutton

Orgon: Frank McCusker

Elmire: Aislín McGuckin

Filipote: Clare McKenna

Valere: Emmanuel Okoye

Pernelle: Geraldine Plunkett

Officer: Darragh Shannon

Cleante: Kevin Trainor

Written by: Molière

In a new version by: Frank McGuinness

Director: Caitríona McLaughlin

Set and Costume Designer: Katie Davenport

Lighting Designer: Sinéad Wallace

Composer and Sound Designer: Philip Stewart

Movement Director: Paula O’Reilly

Hair and Makeup Designer: Leonard Daly

Voice Director: Andrea Ainsworth

Casting Director: Sarah Jones

Production Dramaturg: Tanya Dean

Associate Composer and Sound Designer: Jane Deasy

Assistant Lighting Designer: Matt Burke