What's Going On
Recent & Upcoming Projects
Happen/Chance @ Scene+Heard Fesitval of New Work 2024; (L-R) Paul Nugent, John J. O'Hagan, Anna Nugent, Charlie Kranz; PC Carol Cumins
Currently:
Beyond thrilled and grateful to continue taking this ride with this incomparable company and production - with the added bonus of making my West End debut (say what?!)
12-week limited run from 25 June to 12 September at The Wyndham's Theatre, Leicester Square in London.
After our 20 city UK/Ireland tour, I can't think of a better way to spend the summer!
Coming Up:
King Lear @ Principia College
All things being equal, "God willing, and the creek-don't-rise", I'll head back to Principia in the autumn of 2026 to teach a couple of acting studios and take on the title role as part of Prin's Scotland & England Study Abroad Program.
Burbage was rumored to be in his 50's when he played the role...I'll be fine, right? Right?! 😱
Recently Wrapped:
To Kill A Mockingbird - JCTP - UK/Ireland National Tour
From August 2025 through May 2026 I had the unbelievable honour of being a part of this extraordinary play, company, and production.
My primary responsibility was as "first cover" for Atticus Finch (played by the outstanding Richard Coyle and later by Patrick O'Kane).
I had the opportunity to step into the role a few times during our run (Festival Theatre (Edinburgh), Theatre Royal (Bath), The Lowry Theatre (Salford), Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (Dublin), and The Marlowe Theatre (Canterbury). I got some nice "ink" for my work:
"... a standout performance... O’Hagan... commands the stage with a presence that makes the play convincingly revolve around his character." - To Kill A Mockingbird - Festival Theatre, Edinburgh - The Reviews Hub
“...O’Hagan steps up brilliantly to the role of this reimagined Atticus...” - Theatre reviews: To Kill a Mockingbird | Righ Iasgair: The Fisher King
“...O’Hagan’s Atticus is measured and magnetic,... a reserved performance which resonates, delivered with a blow which shatters expectations where required.” - To Kill a Mockingbird: A Gripping Review of the Play
"...O’Hagan...delivers an emotionally charged powerhouse performance...his physicality and delivery is complete,... a finely nuanced performance..." - Brett Herriot ScotsGay Arts
"...O’Hagan makes a spectacular debut as Atticus Finch,..." - Rebecca Maher, All Edinburgh Theatre.com
"...O’Hagan...is superb. His containment and control cannot hide the fact that inside, he is simmering...a beautifully measured performance." - Glenn Meads, ilovemanchester.com
"...subtle, restrained and quietly compelling..." - Rob Williams, Manchester Evening News
"...O’Hagan’s Atticus is a pleasure to witness, effortlessly carrying the weight of such a well-loved character." - Justine M Jones, A Young(ish) Perspective
PC: Tom Brace-Jenkins
PC: Virginia Belt
PC: Virginia Belt
Is Mise Éire Eile: I Am Another Ireland
(L-R) Xeni Vassilaki, John J. O'Hagan, Anna Dal Ben, Yassine Barkaoui; PC: Ola Mann
Conceived and directed by Emily B. Ditkovski and written by Yassine Barkaoui, Serena Giordanengo and members of the company, Is Mise Éire Eile tells the story of how, on a rainy evening in autumn 2023, the staff of a small guesthouse in Newbridge prepared to welcome 100 international protection applicants. As buses with men seeking asylum pulled into the new direct provision site they were met by dozens of Newbridge residents who had gathered in the rain to protest their arrival. Protests occurred over many weeks and shocked the city. This is the story of a community grappling with itself following the protests and learning to connect with its new residents. This powerful production toured to 11 communities across Ireland.
(L-R) Yassine Barkaoui, Tuana Sunar & John J. O'Hagan PC: Ola Mann
SANTA FE: Tales from the Modern American West
Poster Design by Bridget Ash
Happen/Chance Productions and Bankside Arts Collective teamed up for the first time to bring these three unique and timely short plays by Rob Caisley to the Smock Alley Theatre.
Reuniting the the three goombas who make up The Three Poor Players podcast team and, working with the incomparable local talents Paul Nugent and Katie Lacey-Curtis, Santa Fe opened the door to a new phase of work born out of the original Happen/Chance experience.
Jason Pasqua & John J. O'Hagan; Production Design: Jennifer Keane; PC: Emer O'Neill
The Dumb Waiter @ Bankside Rep!
Had an absolute blast playing the role of Ben in Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter for Bankside Rep this past October!
The whole production team were stunned at how timely this piece continues to be. You can catch some of our discussions about the piece and our process through the "Inside the Dumb Waiter" series from the Bankside Arts Collective Podcast!
John J. O'Hagan & Riley Capp; Poster Design: John J. O'Hagan; PC: Chris Ajuoga
John J. O'Hagan; Set & Costume Design: Leah McFall; Lighting: Tom Halsey; PC: Chris Ajuoga
Happen/Chance: The Show @ The Civic Theatre, Tallaght
(L-R) John J. O'Hagan, Charlie Kranz, Paul Nugent, Anna Nugent; PC Sancar Çalişkan
Happen/Chance: The Show recently had a sold-out performance at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght.
We were incredibly pleased to have packed the place out and each of us (audience and actors alike) had a ball riding the Wheel of Archetype!
One audience member gave us this feedback:
"...I just wanted to congratulate you on a really fantastic show...I was amazed at your ability to create such wonderful, funny plays with [what] you were given...I will definitely go to your next show and recommend it to all...I felt privileged to be entertained by such a gifted group!"
Happen/Chance: The Show will be back in the autumn of 2026!
Happen Chance: The Show Teaser Trailer: Sancar Çalişkan
Twelfth Night: The Musical
Directed this wonderfully joyous version of Twelfth Night for Principia College in the US.
The company was comprised of immensely talented 1st and 2nd year uni students and members of the Principia College community.
The score is a delight from start to finish. This is one of the few musical adaptations of Shakespeare I have come across that I feel is as worthy of staging as the originals. Definitely one I hope to be able to come back to!
Poster Design: Zemma Kitchen
Sligo Youth Theatre
Spent a fantastic week working with members of Sligo Youth Theatre playing with Shakespeare and Stage Combat - particularly a simple long-sword format.
We spent the mornings exploring Shakespeare's use of rhetorical devices and the variety of ways that he puts everything the actor needs right there in the text.
In the afternoons we explored a few stage combat elements and learned some simple choreography for a "long-sword" fight.
We put all our learning into some brief scenes from a number of plays and presented a showcase performance to family and friends at the end of the week.
What a great group of young artists!
John & Members of Sligo Youth Theatre
