Betrothed: Immersive King House Drama by Julie Sharkey

King House in Boyle is one of those buildings that holds a lot of silence in its rooms - a four-storey Georgian mansion built in 1730, home to a powerful landowning dynasty, later turned military barracks, and saved from demolition in the 1980s after decades of neglect. Betrothed puts that history to theatrical use. Written and directed by Julie Sharkey, this immersive drama draws audiences through the house’s restored rooms as witnesses to a family story from May 1764. It is the kind of theatre that suits the building exactly, and it runs as the headline drama event of Boyle Arts Festival 2026.

What to expect

The story centres on the return of young Robert King from Eton, arriving home for an arranged celebration - his meeting with his bride-to-be. The audience moves through King House alongside the characters, which means the rooms become the set: the proportions, the light through the sash windows, the staircase and the hallways all serve the drama directly. As the evening goes on, old rivalries and family tensions surface beneath the formal occasion. Sharkey created the piece to mark the 30th anniversary of King House’s restoration, which gives it a particular purpose - this is not just theatre in a historic building, it is theatre about that building’s people. Capacity is limited by the nature of the format, so advance booking is strongly advised. Tickets are €20.

Getting there

Boyle sits on the N61 between Roscommon town and Carrick-on-Shannon, roughly equidistant between the two. From Dublin, the M4 west to Carrick-on-Shannon and then the N61 south puts you in Boyle in under two hours. From Galway, the N63 and then N61 north takes a similar time. Bus Eireann serves Boyle on the Expressway routes between Dublin and Sligo, with the stop close to the town centre. King House is on Bridge Street, right in the middle of Boyle, and is straightforward to find. Street parking is available on Bridge Street and the surrounding roads.

While you’re in Boyle

The arts festival runs 16 to 25 July with over 40 events across the ten days, so staying in town for a night gives you a full programme to pick from. King House itself has a tearoom, a farmers market on Saturdays, and permanent exhibitions on Gaelic Ireland and the town’s role in the struggle for independence - worth an hour before the evening performance. There is more to see in Boyle and across Co. Roscommon.

Good to know

• Dates: 16 - 25 July 2026 (multiple performances across the festival run)
• Performance time: 6:00pm (check the festival schedule for all available dates)
• Price: €20
• Book at boylearts.com - capacity is limited and earlier slots have sold out previously
• King House, Bridge Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon