Paul Mescal in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Photo by Ste Murray.

My writing for the stage includes:

An adaptation of James Joyce’s
A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN
Performed by Rough Magic in Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 2018. Then on a nationwide tour of Ireland playing in Dunamaise – Portlaoise, An Grianan – Letterkenny, Backstage- Longford, Theatre Royal – Waterford, Everyman – Cork, glór – Ennis, Town Hall Theatre – Galway and Siamsa Tire – Tralee.

"Riordan has created something fast-paced, fun and refreshingly unconventional from Joyce's most earnest of writings, and every stroke of theatrical boldness is delivered with absolute joy. You may have read Portrait more times than you would like, but you will find something new in this brilliant production." - The Irish Times

Available from Bloomsbury
Tip-top bargain!

Conor O'Riordan, Karen McCartney, Aoibhéann McCann, Amy Conroy, Marty Breen, Kieran Roche, Paul Mescal and Peter Corboy in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
Photo by Ste Murray.

Book and lyrics for the musical
THE TRAIN (`with music by Bill Whelan)
The Train received its World Premiere with Rough Magic at the Lime Tree, Limerick in October 2015, followed by performances as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival in the Project Arts Centre. The Train was revived in 2017 where it played at the Abbey Theatre Dublin, and the The MAC, Belfast.

"The whole show is a triumph" - The Irish Independent

"An Arthur Riordan musical has become something to look forward to in Irish theatre; and when his book and lyrics are teamed with music  composed by Bill Whelan, it can be expected to be a winning combination... it's a terrific show" - The Sunday Independent

Dannielle Gallagher, Kate Gilmore, Lisa Lambe, Sophie-Jo Wasson and Karen McCartney in The Train.
Photo by Ros Kavanagh. 

Available from Nick Hern Books 
Smashing price!

Book and lyrics for the musical
IMPROBABLE FREQUENCY (music by Bell Helicopter)
Improbable Frequency premiered by Rough Magic in the Dublin Theatre Festival at the O’Reilly Theatre in 2004 before successful runs in The Abbey Theatre (2005), Kontakt Theatre Festival Poland (2006), Traverse Theatre Edinburgh (2006), a National Tour of Ireland (Black Box Theatre – Galway, Dun Mhuire Theatre – Wexford, Siamsa Tire – Tralee, Cork Opera House, Pavilion Theatre – Dun Laoghaire, An Grianan – Letterkenny, glór – Ennis, Dunamaise Arts Centre – Portlaoise, Backstage Theatre – Longford 2007), 59E59, New York (2008) and the Gaiety Theatre (2012).
This production won Best Production, Best Director – Lynne Parker, and Best Costume Design – Kathy Strachan at the  2004 Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Awards. It was also nominated for Best Set Design – Alan Farquharsan, and Best Supporting Actress – Lisa Lambe.

A theatrical tour de force. Quite unlike anything you'll ever see" - The Guardian

"Willfully, gleefully, dynamically different" - The Irish Times

"truly magnificent...Arthur Riordan is something akin to a genius, with a weirdly soaring imagination and a talent for lyric-writing not seen since Noel Coward and Cole Porter" - The Irish Independent

"Why is this man not made a Dame?" - The Observer

Declan Conlon and Rory Nolan in Improbable Frequency. Photo by Ros Kavanagh,

An adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's
PEER GYNT (with music by Tarab)
The World Premiere of Peer Gynt was presented by Rough Magic as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival in the O’Reilly Theatre in October 2011

Available from Bloomsbury. A plethora of playwrights in one volume! 
Inexpensive! 

Fergal McElherron and Peter Daly in Peer Gynt (also me in a horse's head).
Photo by Ros Kavanagh.

The libretto for Andrew Synnott’s
DUBLINERS opera
Presented by Opera Theatre Company at Wexford Festival Opera and at the Samuel Beckett Theatre
Nominated best Opera, Irish Theatre Awards.

"The libretto by Arthur Riordan... exudes intelligence, wit and refinement." - The Side Balcony Blog. 

An adaptation of Flann O’Brien’s
SLATTERY’S SAGO SAGA 
with The Performance Corporation at Rathfarnam Castle, followed by a national tour.
Nominated Best New Play at the Irish Theatre Awards

"Crock full of fresh, parodic fun" - The Irish Times

Darragh Kelly in Slattery's Sago Saga. Photo by Colm Hogan.

LOVE ME?!
With Corn Exchange, in a car, in many venues. There's a radio version, starring Peter Hanly and Jennifer O'Dea, here.

 SHOOTING GALLERY (Bedrock Productions) and
RAP ÉIRE (Bickerstaffe), both co-written with Des Bishop

A one-man show,
THE EMERGENCY SESSION
Featuring MC Dev, a Rough Magic production, various venues around Ireland, and The Tron, Glasgow.

MC Dev