Writer Kevin Barry wears a green shirt against a black background

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Kevin Barry: The Heart in Winter – Live Reading

Sat 2 Nov 2024, 7.45pm

Join us for a staged, abridged reading of Kevin Barry’s new novel, featuring actors Éanna Hardwicke and Faoileann Cunningham, and live music from Larry Beau.

Part of London Literature Festival

More details for Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall

Tickets from £15.00 View more time and price information

Run time 1 hour (approx)

Dates & tickets

Butte, Montana, October 1891, and a hard winter approaches across the Rocky Mountains. The city is rich in copper mines and rampant with vice and debauchery among a hard-living crowd of immigrant Irish workers.

Here we find Tom Rourke, a young poet and ballad-maker of the town, but also a doper, a drinker, and a fearsome degenerate. Just as he feels his life is heading nowhere fast, Polly Gillespie arrives in town as the new bride of the extremely devout mine captain Long Anthony Harrington.

A thunderbolt love affair takes spark between Tom and Polly and they strike out west on a stolen horse.

Join their journey through Montana and Idaho in this exclusive live reading, with narration from Kevin Barry himself.

Kevin Barry is the author of four novels and three story collections. His awards include the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Goldsmiths Prize, the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award and the Lannan Foundation Literary Award. His novel Night Boat to Tangier, was longlisted for the Booker Prize and named one of the ‘Top Ten Books of the Year’ by the New York Times.

Larry Beau is an Irish songwriter, whistler and troubadour. Based in Kerry, his forthcoming album is a collection of original journeyman songs written on his travels in Europe, Ireland and the USA over the past ten years. He has collaborated frequently with authors, playwrights and actors.

Éanna Hardwicke’s most recent credits include The Cherry Orchard at the Donmar Warehouse, The Doll Factory for Paramount+, and the BBC1 drama The Sixth Commandment. Hardwicke also played the lead role of Cian in Lakelands and the part of Rob in Normal People.

Faoileann Cunningham has played Ryl in The Witcher: Blood Origin for Netflix and has performed in multiple stage productions, including the Olivier Award-nominated production of Amelie, Once and Private Lives.

Presented in partnership with the Irish Cultural Centre

Need to know

Age guidance

For ages 16+

Times & tickets

Dates, times and prices

Dates & times

02 Nov 2024, 7.45pm

Run time

1 hour (approx)

All timings are approximate and subject to change

Standard entry

from £15.00*

* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.

Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.

Concessions

25%

Limited availability

About concessions

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For your visit

This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre

The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.

Purcell Room entrance at Southbank Centre

The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.

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