Stephen Rea in OCEAN CHILD
The sea remembers everything. It holds in its depths the stories of those who trusted their lives to its mercy, only to discover its terrible power. This November, one such story will surface at London’s Irish Cultural Centre, brought to life through a haunting fusion of music, poetry, and the unmistakable voice of Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea.
OCEAN CHILD represents something entirely unique in contemporary performance art. Born from the creative vision of Belfast cellist and composer Neil Martin, this extraordinary work transforms a forgotten maritime tragedy into an unforgettable artistic experience that transcends traditional boundaries between classical and folk music, between historical documentation and poetic interpretation.
The story at its heart is achingly real. On January 21, 1854, the RMS Tayleur met its fate in the cold waters off Dublin’s Lambay Island. What should have been a triumphant maiden voyage to Australia became instead one of the most devastating shipwrecks in Irish maritime history. The clipper had departed Liverpool just two days earlier, carrying over 650 souls eager for new beginnings in the Australian colonies. Within hours of entering Irish waters, their dreams were swallowed by the sea. Only 280 people survived.
It is Stephen Rea’s presence that elevates OCEAN CHILD from historical commemoration to something approaching the mystical. Known internationally for his powerful performances in THE CRYING GAME, MICHAEL COLLINS, and V FOR VENDETTA, Rea brings to this production a voice capable of carrying both intimate sorrow and epic scope. He embodies the titular Ocean Child, described as “a poetic creation evoking themes of memory, exile, and the vast power of the sea.” This is not merely narration; it is channeling, giving voice to the voiceless, speaking for those whose stories were lost beneath the waves.
The Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith provides the perfect setting for this London premiere, as the venue celebrates its own 30th anniversary. Centre Director William Foote recognizes something special in OCEAN CHILD, describing it as encapsulating “everything the ICC stands for: artistic excellence, cross-cultural dialogue, and a commitment to work that transcends cultural and disciplinary boundaries.” This is precisely what makes the production so compelling—it refuses to be contained within conventional categories.
OCEAN CHILD stands as testament to art’s unique power to rescue memory from oblivion. In an age where historical tragedies often become mere statistics, Martin’s composition insists on the human dimension of loss. Every note played by the quartet, every word spoken by Rea, every haunting melody drawn from the Mulcahy sisters’ instruments serves to remind us that behind every shipwreck lie individual stories of hope, fear, love, and desperate courage.
The production’s November 8 and 9 performances represent the only opportunity London audiences will have to experience this remarkable work. In choosing to limit the run, the creators ensure that OCEAN CHILD remains what it was always meant to be—not a commercial entertainment, but a sacred act of remembrance, a artistic ritual that honors both the dead and the living’s need to understand their stories.
Get your tickets HERE.
Irish talent is absolutely dominating the BAFTA Film Awards longlist this year, and we`re here for every single moment of it 🎬✨
Jessie Buckley is longlisted for Leading Actress in HAMNET, with co-star Paul Mescal recognized in Supporting Actor for the same film.
The Irish connections run deep here—Coleraine-born author Maggie O`Farrell, who wrote the original novel, is longlisted for Adapted Screenplay alongside director Chloé Zhao.
Cillian Murphy earns a Leading Actor nod for STEVE, a film that includes his own @bigthingsfilms among the producers and is also up for Outstanding British Film. Andrew Scott shines in the Supporting Actor category for BLUE MOON, filmed in Ireland with Dublin-based @wildatlanticpictures.
Behind the camera, Dublin cinematographer Robbie Ryan is longlisted for BUGONIA (produced by Dublin`s @element_pictures), while Armagh-born Séamus McGarvey gets recognized for DIE MY LOVE.
Donegal`s Myrid Carten earns an Outstanding Debut nomination for documentary A WANT IN HER, while MY FATHER`S SHADOW (also from Element Pictures) features in the same category.
From acting to cinematography, from visual effects to screenwriting—Irish creatives are proving once again that our island produces world-class storytelling talent across every discipline.
#Ireland #Irish #Movies #Film #Television #TV #Cinema #Irishmovies #IrishFilm #IrishCinema #Actor #ActorsLife #IrishActor #BAFTA #BAFTAs #JessieBuckley #PaulMescal #CillianMurphy #AndrewScott #Hamnet #IrishTalent #FilmAwards #Cinematography #VisualEffects #Documentary #ElementPictures #IrishProduction #Screenplay #AwardsSeason
Paul Mescal is an Irish God in the new @britishgq interview.
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More Mescal at irishfilmtv.com.
A priest. A pool. A Spanish island. And one very dead body. 🏊♂️☠️
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Newly released trailer now at irishfilmtv.com.
Killarney`s own Jessie Buckley just took home the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for HAMNET, and her acceptance speech was pure gold 🏆✨
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More Jessie at irishfilmtv.com.
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More at irishfilmtv.com.
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More at irishfilmtv.com.
** Now on Netflix **
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By order of the Peaky Blinders, Merry Christmas!
A teaser for the new film PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN just dropped, and it features Cillian Murphy’s gangster Tommy Shelby returning to his old ways despite leaving them all behind at the end of the TV series.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
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He plays an awkward council worker tasked with relocating two siblings who survive by hunting seabirds, talking to mythical beings, and fiercely defending their homeland from outsiders.
More Domhnall at irishfilmtv.com.
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With Hinds, you`re not just getting an actor. You`re getting decades of gravitas, warmth, and that rare ability to make every scene feel like it matters. From prestige drama to fantasy epics, he`s built a career on understated brilliance. And now? He`s ready to find the humor in heartbreak.
More Ciaran at irishfilmtv.com.
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With powerful performances by Agnes O`Casey and David Wilmot, the Irish drama takes Sheridan Le Fanu`s classic novel UNCLE SILAS and transforms it into something urgent and vital for our moment.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
When Colin Farrell and Jessie Buckley finally sat down together, they were strangers—but within moments, the conversation became profound.
Both Irish actors are carrying the weight of devastating roles this year: Farrell as a gambling addict spiraling in Macau in BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER, Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare grieving her son in HAMNET.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
From FAIR CITY to KNIVES OUT! Daryl McCormack shines in the new #netflix film WAKE UP DEAD MAN.
McCormack just wrapped Netflix`s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE opposite Jack Lowden, Emma Corrin, and Olivia Colman. Talk about range: trading viral grift for Jane Austen elegance. Same actor, different century, wildly different moral compass.
More Daryl at irishfilmtv.com.
Eve Hewson brings ghosts to life in Noah Baumbach`s JAY KELLY.
From her breakout in THIS MUST BE THE PLACE to BAD SISTERS and beyond, she`s now haunting George Clooney as Daphne—a face from the past that forces a movie star to confront who he became while chasing fame.
More Eve at irishfilmtv.com.
