Clíodhna Hallissey is facing her biggest ever work challenge, as co-costume designer for Druid Theatre’s major production of Seán O’Casey’s Dublin Trilogy, which premieres at next month’s Arts Festival. The Renvyle woman tells BERNIE NÍ FHLATHARTA what’s involved and about her passion for design.

Little did the young Clíodhna Hallissey know that a family heirloom of a fabric-cutting shears would one day play such a big part in her career as a costume designer. The shears belonged to her grandparents, who had a drapery shop in Cork and she remembers spending hours playing with a box of fabrics, making costumes and putting on shows for her parents, Leo and Clare, in their home in North Connemara.

Twenty-nine-year-old Clíodhna is co-costume designer for Druid’s upcoming production of Seán O’Casey’s Dublin Trilogy, which will premiere at Galway International Arts Festival next month before touring to other venues Ireland, followed by a visit to the United States.

In just over a week, Druid will preview its O’Casey production in Galway, with tickets for the run having sold out weeks ago.

Clíodhna is beyond excited about the opening night which marks the culmination of months of work with her co-designer Francis O’Connor, who’s also the set designer.

She has worked with Druid for several years now, most recently as associate designer, but being co-designer of costumes for The Plough and the Stars, The Shadow of a Gunman and Juno and the Paycock, is her biggest challenge yet. The production involves 18 actors playing 45 characters and Clíodhna feels ready for the challenge.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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