The Effect – which is a romance exploring what it feels like to experience love on mind-altering medication when two volunteers met on a drugs trial for a new antidepressant – will star Siobhán Cullen, Donal Gallery, Ronan Leahy and Ali White .
Director Ronan Phelan says he wanted to bring this script to the stage the minute he read it. “I was drawn to the filmic quality of the play, how muscular it is, how funny and sharp. Lucy Prebble’s takes on huge themes of love and sorrow fearlessly, approaching them with wit and vitality,” he says.
“Ultimately, I think that the debate between the two lovers is something everyone has to face at some point. Once you get past the initial euphoria of romantic love - you have to ask where the feelings come from? Where's the source? And in the end, the fact is there are no answers - there is no evidence. That's what this play is really about, for me. That the act of loving is always an act of faith."
Speaing about the new production, Rough Magic’s Lynne Parker says: “We are delighted that Ronan Phelan is to direct this brilliant play for the company. After his outstanding SEEDS showcase production of Assassins we knew that his was an exceptional talent. We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic young theatre-maker to the core Rough Magic team as Associate Director.”
For further information about the play log onto www.roughmagic.ie