Operating Theatre

Roger Doyle
Olwen Fouéré

MusicTown presents the first performance in many years of Operating Theatre featuring the godfather of Irish electronic music Roger Doyle and acclaimed actor Olwen Fouéré. Operating Theatre is the influential avant garde musical and theatre group formed in the 1980s, whose Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in the Mouth was recently covered by Caroline Polachek. 

Operating Theatre is an Irish Music Theatre Company founded by composer Roger Doyle and actress and performer Olwen Fouéré. It is an avant garde musical and performance group which was active in two phases. The first phase was from 1981-1988. The group reformed in 1999 and were active until 2008. 

Operating Theatre was founded by composer Roger Doyle and performer Olwen Fouéré as an avant garde music group and Theatre Company. 

In 1981, Roger Doyle now dubbed the Irish Godfather of Electronica and Olwen Fouéré began working together which led to the founding of ‘Operating Theatre’ to create theatre performances with music as a core element and as a band. The band released their debut single ‘Austrian’ on CBS records (Ireland) in 1981. The band’s second single ‘Blue Light and Alpha Waves/Rampwalk’ was released in 1982. Operating Theatre released their LP Miss Mauger in 1983 on the Kabuki label in London. Operating Theatre’s first major Theatre Production The Diamond Body (adapted from a short story by Aidan C Matthews) premiered at the Project Arts Centre in 1984 and toured internationally. Later productions include The Pentagonal Dream (written by Sebastian Barry), Angel/Babel, Chair and the live installation Here Lies.

1986 saw them join forces with Mother Records. Bono was Executive Producer on the overall release, and in fact played guitar on ‘Queen of no Heart.’ Also included was ‘Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in the Mouth’. Both performed by singer/lyricist Elena Lòpez. 
In 1988, the group disbanded. Roger went on to release a large body of solo workover the years. The project was revived in 1999 until 2008. 2008 also saw the release of ‘Operating Theatre - The Early Years’, a double album which chronicled the first phase of the band’s existence.
In 2012, the Strange Fruit compilation of Irish Post-Punk, DIY and electronic music featured two Operating Theatre tracks were featured on the album ‘Austrian’ and ‘Eighties Rampwalk’. 

In 2022, Allchival Records released Operating Theatre’s ‘Spring Is Coming with A Strawberry in the Mouth” on vinyl. This has now caused a massive resurgence of interest in Operating Theatre and they have gained a younger and broader audience not only in Ireland but Worldwide. People are genuinely mesmerised by their genius and talent.

In February 2024, Roger Doyle got some very exciting news about Operating Theatre’s ‘Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in the Mouth’. American singer, producer and songwriter Caroline Polachek  released a cover version of Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in the Mouth’ to critical acclaim. This will also be featured on her upcoming deluxe double album, with a written feature from Roger Doyle included.

Roger was then approached by Gucci fashion house for permission to use Caroline’s version of ‘Spring is Coming with a Strawberry in the Mouth’ for their Fine Bit Jewellery worldwide advertising Campaign. Roger was also approached by ‘Chloé’ to use the original version for their worldwide fashion campaign.

2025 see’s Operating Theatre reform with a concert 18th June 2025 at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, MusicTown Festival. The first time the two of them will perform together in many years.

Presented by MUSICTOWN
Sponsored by Dublin City Council