Once:The Musical (NHB Libretti)

When an Irish busker and a young Czech mother meet through a shared love of music, their songwriting sparks a deep connection and a tender, longing romance that neither of them could have expected.

Based on the much-loved Oscar-winning film, Once is an extraordinary, original and irresistibly joyous celebration of love, friendship and music. With music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, it has a book written by Enda Walsh.

Once won eight Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 2012, including Best Book and Best Musical. It opened in Dublin in February 2013 before transferring to the West End.

Enda Walsh is a multi-award-winning Irish playwright. He lives in London. His work has been translated into over twenty languages and has been performed internationally since 1998.

His recent plays include: Medicine at the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival and Galway International Arts Festival; Arlington at the 2016 Galway International Festival; an adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Twits for the Royal Court (2015); Ballyturk and Room 303 at the 2014 Galway International Arts Festival; Misterman, presented by Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival in Ireland, London and New York (2011–2012); and several plays for Druid Theatre Company, including Penelope, which has been presented in Ireland, America and London, from 2010–2011, The New Electric Ballroom, which played Ireland, Australia, Edinburgh, London, New York and LA from 2008–2009, and The Walworth Farce, which played Ireland, Edinburgh, London and New York, as well as an American and Australian tour, from 2007–2010.

He collaborated with David Bowie on the musical Lazarus (New York Theatre Workshop, 2015, and West End, 2016), and won a Tony Award in 2012 for writing the book for the musical Once, seen on Broadway, in the West End and on a US tour.

His other plays include Delirium (Theatre O/Barbican), which played Dublin and a British tour in 2008; Chatroom (National Theatre), which played at the National Theatre and on tour in Britain and Asia (2006–2007); and The Small Things (Paines Plough), which played London and Ireland (2005).

His early plays include Bedbound (Dublin Theatre Festival) and Disco Pigs (Corcadorca).

His film work includes Disco Pigs (Temple Films/Renaissance) and Hunger (Blast/FILM4), winner of the Camera d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

Glen Hansard (1970–2026) was an Irish singer-songwriter and actor. 

He starred in the feature film Once (2007), for which he wrote the original music with his co-star Markéta Irglová. The film won several major awards including the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Falling Slowly'. It was later adapted into a stage musical with a book by Enda Walsh, which premiered at New York Theater Workshop in 2011 and later Broadway, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Book and Best Musical.

Markéta Irglová is a Czech-Icelandic singer-songwriter, musician, and actress.

She starred in the feature film Once (2007), for which she wrote the original music with her co-star Glen Hansard. The film won several major awards including the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Falling Slowly'. It was later adapted into a stage musical with a book by Enda Walsh, which premiered at New York Theater Workshop in 2011 and later Broadway, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Book and Best Musical.