'Physical theatre at its very best' - Pat Kinevane's 'King' coming to The Dock this April

A popular play by Pat Kinevane is coming to The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, this April. 

King tells the story of Luther, a man from Cork, named in honour of his Granny Bee Baw's hero, Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Luther only leaves his apartment for essential journeys — and to perform as an Elvis impersonator. The play explores prejudice, privilege and resilience, as Luther struggles to live life to the full. 

Fishamble’s King by Pat Kinevane opened in Ireland in 2023 and transferred to Dance Base as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it was nominated for the Mental Health Foundation award and named a Pick of the Fringe.

King is the fifth collaboration between Pat Kinevane and Fishamble, with Jim Culleton as director. The production was developed with the support of Nasc Network Commission and Georganne Aldrich Heller.

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Fishamble and Pat Kinevane have previously collaborated on 'Forgotten', 'Silent', 'Underneath' and 'Before' which have won major international awards including Olivier, Fringe First, Herald Archangel, Adelaide Fringe, and Helen Hayes awards. They have been called "brilliant" (Irish Times), "extraordinary" (New York Times), "stunning" (Scotsman), "dazzling" (Guardian), and "mesmerising" (Sydney Morning Herald). Now, Fishamble and Pat Kinevane, under the direction of Jim Culleton and with music by Denis Clohessy, return with this very special fifth solo play.

A review by writing.ie said: "Kinevane is King! Martin Luther King, Elvis the King but above all Kinevane is King of his stage. This is physical theatre at its very best. In just 80 minutes Kinevane takes the audience on a roller coaster ride exploring mental illness, dealing with prejudice and navigating loneliness. The set is a suitably royal riot of purple and reds in stark contrast to the monochrome sets of Kinevane’s previous production ‘Before’ yet it is the physicality that brings the most vibrant colour.

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Kinevane masterfully morphs into a couple dancing a tango and it is so believable. He bravely travels through the audience, washes floors, boils kettles, irons clothes and wisely eats while taking medication. It is as if we are spying on Luther’s inner world. Deftly he tackles the issues of the day through the eyes of his childhood self, grandmother and the newly married couple he has befriended whose phone calls give us a reminder of the outside world."