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theatre · Friday 28 August 2026 · 8:00pm 
In the Heart of the Country - Market Place Theatre, Armagh
At Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre (Studio) · 9 Market Street, Armagh, Co. Armagh BT61 7BW
At Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre (Studio) · 9 Market Street, Armagh, Co. Armagh BT61 7BW
In the Heart of the Country plays two nights in the studio theatre at the Market Place, Armagh, on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August 2026. It is a rural drama set in a small farming community in Tyrone, staged in the studio’s intimate cabaret-style layout rather than the main auditorium, which suits a play built on close, character-driven storytelling.
With laughs, tears and a fair degree of anger, In the Heart of the Country takes audiences back to a land where life was simpler, attitudes more relaxed and people more forgiving, before harmony was cruelly broken in this rural heartland. It is the kind of production that leans on strong performances and a tightly written script rather than spectacle, and the studio’s unreserved, cabaret-style seating puts the audience close to the action - there genuinely is no bad seat in a room this size.
The studio at the Market Place is a separate, smaller space from the 400-seat main auditorium, generally used for more intimate drama, spoken word and touring productions that do not need a big stage. It is a good option for anyone who prefers theatre at close quarters over a large-venue night out.
The Market Place Theatre is on Market Street in Armagh city centre. From Belfast, the M1 and A3 via Portadown take around an hour; from Dublin, take the A1/N1 through Newry. Translink Goldline and Ulsterbus services run into Armagh bus station on Lonsdale Road, a short walk away, and there is public parking nearby including the Market Street car park.
Two nights in the studio give plenty of excuse to make a proper evening of it - dinner in the city centre, then a short stroll to the theatre. There is more to see in Armagh and across Co. Armagh.
Heading to Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre (Studio) in Armagh? Armagh has plenty more to see. Read the Armagh area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.