Northern Ireland

Belfast actor and director wins Irish Theatre Awards

Marty Rea, Aoibheann McCann, Charlene McKenna, Ger Kelly and Mark Huberman in The Great Gatsby at The Gate Theatre
Marty Rea, Aoibheann McCann, Charlene McKenna, Ger Kelly and Mark Huberman in The Great Gatsby at The Gate Theatre Marty Rea, Aoibheann McCann, Charlene McKenna, Ger Kelly and Mark Huberman in The Great Gatsby at The Gate Theatre

WEST Belfast actor Marty Rea has won an Irish Theatre Award for his role as Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby.

The former St Mary's Christian Brothers School pupil appeared in the ground-breaking production at Dublin's Gate Theatre last year.

The Falls Road native also received the award on Sunday night in recognition of his role as Jemmy Maguire in Druid Theatre Company's production of King of the Castle by Eugene McCabe.

For the staging of Gatsby, seats were removed from the Gate's auditorium and the chandeliers lowered to transform the theatre into a 1920s mansion.

It meant backstage areas and spaces were made accessible to the public for the first time, with audiences also encouraged to dress in 1920s style and dance along.

Emma Jordan from Prime Cut also picked up the best director award. The former student at St Louise’s on the Falls Road in west Belfast also saw her co-production of RED with the Lyric Theatre wen best production

Meanwhile, Co Tyrone actor Fra Fee has scooped a prize at the WhatsOnStage Awards. He won best supporting actor for his role in The Ferryman.