Derry’s Judith Roddy starring alongside Stephen Rea in new Frank McGuinness play The Visiting Hour which was premièred by The Gate Theatre last night

The play, which was premièred by The Gate Theatre last night, features Judith as the daughter of an Irish father who is a nursing home resident, played by Rea. With a running time of an hour, the play tells the story of a daughter visiting her elderly father in the age of COVID-19.

Recalling events from his life that may or may not have happened, the father and daughter converse about family memories from conflicting points of view, until the’ visiting hour’ ends.

Judith who trained at the Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College Dublin, has extensive experience appearing on stage, both nationally and on Broadway.

She will be known to viewers from Derry, for her part as Ms. De Brún in Lisa McGee’s hit Channel 4 series, Derry Girls. She also starred in an episode of the acclaimed BBC drama The Fall.

The Visiting Hour has been written by writer and playwright Frank McGuinness, also a native of the North West. Buncrana-born McGuinness wrote the play during lockdown for the two renowned Irish actors in the starring roles.

The screening will be will be performed and recorded in the Gate auditorium, and streamed to audiences tonight and tomorrow at 7.30pm. For tickets, visit: https://gatedublinlive.ticketco.events/ie/en