TU Dublin Lecturer Lesley Conroy Premieres New Play EPIPHANY at Bloomsday Festival 2026
Assistant Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at TU Dublin, Lesley Conroy, will premiere her debut full-length stage production, EPIPHANY, as part of the 2026 Bloomsday Festival this June.
EPIPHANY plays The New Theatre (Tickets) for 5 shows only Fri 12th, Sat 13th, Mon 15th & 16th June Bloomsday! All shows at 7.30PM, with a 3pm matinee on Sat 13th. Tickets: €22.50 (€20 conc.)
Transfers to dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum (Tickets) on 18th – 20th June. 7.30PM, 2.30pm matinee on Sat 20th June. Tickets: €22.50 (€20 conc.)
Presented by newly founded theatre company tenderfire in association with the Bloomsday Festival, The New Theatre and dlr Mill Theatre Dundrum, EPIPHANY is a bold reimagining of James Joyce’s celebrated story The Dead, told through the voice of Gretta Conroy.
Written and performed by IFTA-nominated actress Lesley Conroy, whose screen credits include Bad Sisters, Maxine and Fair City, the production places Gretta centre stage during the Misses Morkan’s annual supper party, a night of music, dancing and social ritual that takes an emotional turn when a song from her past resurfaces long-buried memories.
Set against the backdrop of South County Dublin and the iconic Gresham Hotel, EPIPHANY explores themes of love, loss, longing, motherhood, marriage and midlife reflection. The production expands the female voice within the Joyce canon beyond Molly Bloom and the women closely associated with Joyce himself.
Speaking about the production, Lesley Conroy said:
“EPIPHANY is a joyful meditation on love, loss and longing. If you are a fan of Joyce and The Dead, come and see the story as told from Gretta’s point of view. Gretta gives voice to the preoccupations of midlife, motherhood and marriage, the secrets you share with your friends in the early hours of the morning.”
Conroy founded tenderfire to amplify female voices in emotionally charged narratives for stage and screen. An award-winning emerging writer and accomplished stage actor, she has previously performed on many of Ireland’s leading stages, including The Abbey Theatre, Everyman Theatre and Galway Town Hall Theatre. Her recent performances include Lady Macbeth in Volta Theatre Company’s production of Macbeth at Wexford Opera House and Smock Alley Theatre.
The production is directed by acclaimed theatre and film director Fiana Toibin, whose career has spanned Broadway collaborations with Vanessa Redgrave as well as writing and directing for screen and stage internationally.
The creative team also includes:
- Assistant Director: Sinead O’Connor Ringwood
- Lighting Design: Cathy O’Carroll
- Set and Costume Design: Dara Gill
- Sound Design: Brian Dillon
- Music: Anne Marie Papin Labazordière