After only its third year as a theater company in the D.C. area, Solas Nua received its first Helen Hayes award nomination this week for Outstanding Ensemble for its production of “Scenes From The Big Picture.” Linda Murray is the company’s artistic director.
Were you surprised by the nomination?
We knew the play had gotten great reviews and was sold out, and people seemed to love it, but we didn’t ever take it for granted. We’re certainly very honored and in awe.
What about the play do you think resonated with the audience?
Our director is from Belfast and it was written by a Belfast writer and I think this brought a unique perspective for the cast — gave it an air of authenticity that’s probably not that easy to come by outside of Ireland. The director created a very supportive environment for the cast, and one thing people commented on was that it seemed seamless.
Tell me about your company’s mission.
I’m from Dublin, so when I first moved here, I noticed that while Americans tend to be fervently excited about all things Irish, the more contemporary work was not that well-represented. So we began this company to promote new Irish artists in the United States — we have a film festival, a full theatrical season, and we give out Irish books for free on St. Patrick’s Day.
How did you end up in D.C.?
I came here for doctoral research. I have my Ph.D. in dance, and I was writing about a Russian choreographer whose collection was inside the Library of Congress. This was not something I planned, but it’s something that’s just taken over.
Who’s your favorite Irish playwright?
The two that I’m very passionate about are Enda Walsh and Mark O’Rowe. Enda’s really the writer who established us as a company — our first play was his “Disco Pigs.”
What are you most excited about for next season?
I’m going to try to get all Irish directors.
