Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo is being reimagined at The Complex in Dublin

The Complex is set to play host to a brand new reimagining of the Tennessee Williams’ classic, The Rose Tattoo – based within a modern Irish Traveller context, and reawakening its themes of female emotional and sexual emancipation. The eagerly anticipated play runs from May 11th to May 20th at The Complex, Dublin 7.

The play dives into issues of marginalisation as it highlights the ability of love and sexuality to redeem life.

Set within a modern Irish setting, Denise McCormack leads a talented and unique group of actors and musicians from an incredible diverse background from both Traveller and non-Traveller backgrounds. World-renowned uillean piper, ​​Paddy Keenan, is due to join the cast to perform live as part of the plays performances, in an immersive set designed by Sabine D’Argent.

Williams' classic work is a woman’s journey from widowhood to self-determination and sexual freedom, which, when reimagined by Vanessa Fielding and Catherine Joyce, finds a place within a modern Irish Traveller context, and addresses themes of culture, faith, rights to education and bodily autonomy.

The Rose Tattoo was last staged in Dublin in 1957, and was shut down for its explicit content whereby a condom was produced on stage- provoking the Catholic church to close the whole Festival and imprison the Festival Director. Through their research, today’s production team have found no evidence that a professionally produced version of the play has been put on since. It has come as an unprecedented move for the Tennessee Williams Estate to allow a translation of the play into a modern Irish Traveller context, from its original set in the Italian community of 1950s New Orleans.

From Tallaght, Finglas, Blanchardstown, Pavee Point and ITC, five Traveller projects committed to being part of the audience development for the production.

Presented by The Complex, who alongside the Abbey Theatre produced the multi award-winning and critically-acclaimed Dublin Will Show You How by Tracy Martin in 2019, The Rose Tattoo is the first in a line of three new-large scale, immersive productions in The Complex’s Depot.

Tickets are on sale now from €15, via The Complex's website.