PRODUCTION HISTORY:
The play was commissioned and dramaturged by Heinar Piller the Artistic Director of The Grand Theatre in London (Ontario, Canada), where it received its premiere.  The drama broke the theatre's 70-year-old box office records selling 99.69% of capacity in the historic 1100 seat former opera house - proving to be the most successful play in the theatre’s history.  Almost 20,000 tickets were sold and 20,000 were turned away after the run sold out, despite an extension, so the play was remounted the following season and then transferred to The National Arts Centre in Ottawa where Mr. Colley was one of the youngest playwrights ever produced at Canada's national theatre.  In the first two years it was seen by over 50,000 people.  Numerous productions across Canada followed.  It was published by MacMillans (Anthology) and Simon & Pierre (now The Dundurn Press).  It is required reading for certain schools and universities - a portion was filmed by TV Ontario for educational programming and also by Maclean Hunter Television.  It has also been performed in the United States.  In 2011 it received a major new production at Rep21 in North Bay and at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto, resulting in an updating of the text by the author, and new music.  In 2013 there was a hit production at The Roxy in Owen Sound, where the show sold out and was extended - the first time the Roxy has extended a regular season show in 40 years.    

“I found The Donnellys an outstanding and intense experience... an exciting and original work of theatre!  With this production The Grand Theatre has finally “arrived.”"
Rick Wellwood - CFPL TV

“The play’s portrait of a shameful past is both powerful and disturbing... a strong and unrelenting script... very moving... a dark display of evil... overwhelming emotions of fear, passion and hatred... left a lasting impact that should fill us with shame and dread.” 
David Barber - Kingston Standard

“The Donnellys is a stunning box-office success!  Intelligent entertainment... nimble yet perceptive.  Rich in atmosphere and compelling in incident.  This is important theatre!”
Jamie Portman - Montreal Gazette

“Grandly soars... full-bodied, full of lurid verse and high excitement!  It is a proud contribution to local culture.”  
Herbert Whittaker - Toronto Globe & Mail

“One feels that comment on this production is almost superfluous after the rave reviews and sell-out crowds The Donnellys drew.  The production was for myself a moving experience... nothing short of superb.” 
East London News

From The London Free Press

“Peter Colley’s The Donnellys, which began a run at the National Arts Centre, is a stirring drama... fascinating as fictionalised history.”
Maureen Peterson - Ottawa Journal

“The Donnellys brought to me a valuable, personal and literary interpretation of both life and history.” 
Mary Kowaltschuk - London Free Press

“I saw two performances (of the The Donnellys) and was deeply moved by the play... it was a hit!” 
Herman Voaden Editor: In Preface to “Look Both Ways”

Click on Review for larger version

“In The Donnellys, I wondered why Colley’s sweeping lyrics couldn’t be lifted and used as narrative poetry in the schools.  They’re utterly grand reading... the saga of the Donnellys could come to life the same way as The Highwayman has for schoolchildren.”  
Jeniva Berger - Scene Changes Magazine

"We closed our production of The Donnellys last night, thrilled to have been immersed in the world of your play for the last few months.  It is probably the most challenging work we’ve undertaken and it was met with an outstanding response from our audience.  Thank you for writing such an accessible, inspiring text.  My students grew immeasurably from their experiences during this project."
Vancouver Secondary School