Stories from Dubliners

Thu 28 May 2026 , 8pm

Tickets €16 / €14 conc
Draíocht Studio

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Back by popular demand, Volta Theatre’s critically-acclaimed Counterparts & A Little Cloud has been expanded to include adaptations of three stories from Joyce’s debut work: Two Gallants, A Little Cloud, and Counterparts.

These three short stories are vivid ‘slices of life’ from early 20th century Dublin. Stunningly accompanied by live music, they portray a society in paralysis in immaculately detailed scenes: in Two Gallants, a couple of ne’er-do-wells mooch around Dublin on the make. A Little Cloud sees a sensitive soul thrown by a meeting with an old college friend back from London, while Counterparts takes us on a doomed pub crawl with an ungainly, bad-tempered law clerk.

At once funny and tragic, Joyce’s tales are populated with an array of colourful characters who remain entirely contemporary, despite the bowler hats and Edwardian collars.

Adapted and directed by Jim Roche and Liam Hourican

Starring Liam Hourican and Jim Roche
Keyboard and violin: Feilimidh Nunan
Clarinet: Paddy Burke

"These latest adaptations ... are heart-rendingly perfect ..." - Emer O'Kelly, Sunday Independent

"Superbly articulated performances ..." - Chris O'Rourke, The Arts Review

"An enthralling hour of theatre ..." - No More Workhorse

More about Volta Theatre Company

The Volta Theatre Company is a new company with a mission to breathe new life into the classics. It has established a reputation for excellence with adaptations of works from Joyce and Shakespeare. With a residency at the National Opera House, it is a company of highly experienced actors, musicians and designers who have worked extensively in Irish theatre, television and film. The company was founded in 2023 by Liam Hourican and Jim Roche, long-time collaborators in sketch comedy for Channel 4, RTE and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Shakespeare productions include Hamlet (2024) and Macbeth(2025) at the NOH and Smock Alley. Joyce adaptations include Counterparts & A Little Cloud at the James Joyce Centre, Bewleys Café Theatre, the Draiocht and the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith, Telemachus at the James Joyce Tower (Bloomsday Festival 2024/2025) and Cyclops at the Lexicon Studio. It is currently enjoying a revival of Macbeth at the National Opera House and Smock Alley.

Biographies

Liam Hourican has worked with Shakespeare’s Globe, the Old Vic and Second Age Theatre company and has written and performed sketch shows and comedy drama for Channel 4, RTE and the BBC.

Jim Roche has starred in Normal People (directed by Lenny Abramson (BBC), Harry Wild (Acorn TV) Blood 2 (Virgin Media) Vikings(History Channel), Damo and Ivor,Fair City, Killinaskully, The Mario Rosenstock Show, Dead Still (RTE), The Tudors (Showtime) and iCandy (Channel 4).

Musicians Feilimidh Nunan and Conor Sheil regularly work with all the principal orchestras in Ireland (National Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Wexford Festival Orchestra, Irish National Opera Orchestra). Their professional interests has led them to collaborate with many other groups in film and theatre but also in different musical genres ranging from jazz to traditional music.