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Birmingham Rep in Centenary Square, Birmingham
Artwork for Happy Days. Image shows Siobhan McSweeney as Winnie looking up to the sky. The image has a sketch-like quality to it where it looks like a drawing. The background is coral and Siobhan is wearing a black, strappy top.

Happy Days

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Siobhán McSweeney shines in Beckett’s Happy Days”
★★★★ Irish Examiner

BAFTA winner Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls, The Great Pottery Throw Down) plays Winnie in Beckett’s masterpiece, directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, Artistic Director of Ireland’s national theatre, The Abbey.

the Derry Girls star is superb… a magnificent performance’
★★★★ The Irish Examiner

Critics described Siobhán McSweeney’s performance as ‘a dream‘ (Irish Mail on Sunday) and ‘superb … a remarkable feat’ (Irish Examiner) when it was streamed live from the stage of the 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin in 2021. Now audiences will have the opportunity to see one of Ireland’s best-loved actors play Samuel Beckett’s iconic heroine live on stage in Birmingham.

 a magnificent brutal revival of Samuel Beckett’s wasteland marriage play”
★★★★★ Musings in Intermission

Winnie is buried up to her waist. The merciless sun beats down. Her husband Willie barely speaks.
And yet! – she proclaims – ‘this will have been another happy day’.

Defiant, determined and fiercely resilient, Winnie greets each day with humour and boundless optimism, and lives as best she can between the bell for waking, and the bell for sleep.

Siobhán McSweeney plays it like a dream”
★★★★ Irish Mail on Sunday

Supported by Culture Ireland

Price

From £17.50

Produced by

Landmark Productions

Written by

Samuel Beckett

Directed by

Caitríona McLaughlin

Running time

2 hours including a 20 minute interval

Access performances

Captioned: Sat 1 July, 7.30pm

Special Offers

3 for 2: Add 3 shows into your basket and at checkout enjoy 33% off each production T&Cs apply – Find Out More

Teens Go Free: Receive one complimentary young persons ticket (13-19 years) when you book one standard ticket for selected productions. Discount will be applied automatically at checkout when you add both tickets to your basket. T&Cs apply – Find Out More

Fees and charges

Please note there is a transaction fee of £2.50 on all payment types. Please click here for more information.

 

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Production image for Happy Days. Image shows Siobhan McSweeny as Winnie up to her waist in a pile of sand. She is wearing a black dress, a pearl necklace and a small black hat. She is looking up to the sky and smiling serenely. On the pile of sand are a few objects, including an umbrella, a leather bag, and a sunglasses case.

Photography by Pat Redmond

Happy Days production photo. Siobhan McSweeny is in the centre of the image, she is in a large pile of sand. Willie, played by Howard Teale is seen on the left hand side, he has his back turned.
Production image for Happy Days. Image shows Siobhan McSweeny as Winnie up to her waist in a pile of sand. She is wearing a black dress, a pearl necklace and a small black hat. She is holding a black umbrella in the air with her right hand and is looking out towards the audience. In front of her on the sand is a black leather bag and a sunglasses case.

Photography by Pat Redmond

Production image for Happy Days. Image shows Siobhan McSweeny as Winnie up to her neck in a pile of sand. She is trying to touch her tongue to her nose. In the foreground there is a gun.
Happy Days production photo. Siobhan McSweeny is in a large pile of sand. She is looking away from the camera.
Happy Days production photo. Siobhan McSweeny is seen in a large pile of sand. She is laughing. Her fingers are splayed apart. She has a black leather bag to her left and a black umbrella to her right.
Production image for Happy Days. Image shows Siobhan McSweeny as Winnie up to her waist in a pile of sand. She is wearing a black dress and a small, black fascinator. On the pile of sand is an umbrella and a bag. Behind the sand is a straw hat and it looks as though Winnie is talking to them.

Photography by Pat Redmond

Production image for Happy Days. Image shows Siobhan McSweeny as Winnie up to her waist in a pile of sand. She is holding her nose in disgust and putting her other hand out to the side.
Happy Days production photo. Siobhan McSweeny (playing Winnie) is in a large pile of sand. The image is very dark and has a grey tinge. Willie, played by Howard Teale is seen on the far left of the image, he is on his knees on the pile of sand, crawling away from Winnie.

Watch the trailer...

Cast

Winnie

Siobhán McSweeney
Headshot of Howard Teale

Willie

Howard Teale

Creative Team

Director

Caitríona McLaughlin

Set and Costume Designer

Jamie Vartan

Lighting Designer

Paul Keogan

Sound Designer

Sinéad Diskin

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