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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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Táin

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Páraic Breathnach 

  • Author Notes

    Táin was adapted by Páraic Breathnach and devised by the cast.
  • Synopsis

    A dramatic non-verbal adaptation of the ancient Irish saga 'Táin Bo Cuailnge', the centre piece of the eight century Ulster cycle of heroic tales. The play opens with the wedding of lovers Medb and Ailill, which is marred by a row between the couple that erupts when Ailill produces a Golden Bull as a symbol of his vast herds of cattle. Driven by a need to possess a bull equal to that of her husband's, Medb sends an envoy to Ulster to purchase a famous bull. On their way, Medb's men injure Cuchulainn, the famous warrior, which results in war being declared between Queen Medb and Conor, King of Ulster.

  • Play Type

    Physical/Devised Theatre

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    15

  • Cast Size Female

    12

  • Cast Notes

    Cast doubling is possible. See original production for details. Five musicians were also used in the original production.

Original Production

  • Date of First Production

    17 June 1992

  • Producer

    Produced by Macnas

  • Original Venue


  • Venue Notes

    Táin premiered at Expo '92 in Seville, Spain.

  • Irish Premiere Notes

    The Irish premiere of the play took place at the McDonagh Building, Galway as part of the Galway Arts Festival on July 17, 1992.

Original Cast  
Medb Jane Talbot (1)
Messenger Rod Goodall
Old Man Rod Goodall
Warrior Rod Goodall
Cú Cuchulainn Midie Corcoran
Warrior Hillary Kavanagh
Goddess Hillary Kavanagh
Fionnabhar Hillary Kavanagh
Ferdia Fred McCloskey
Warrior Peter Nelson
Bondmaiden Petal Pilley
Warrior Goddess Petal Pilley
Messenger Brendan Savage
Warrior Brendan Savage
Drummer Brendan Savage
Warrior Natalie Sebald
Healer Natalie Sebald
Ailill Peter Sammon
Warrior Peter Sammon
Warrior Rob Meijer
Warrior Jill McGregor
Bondmaiden Jill McGregor
Sorceress Jill McGregor
Goddess Jill McGregor
Warrior Conor Nolan (2)
Conchobar King of Ulster Dick Donoghue
Warrior Dieter Ostheimer
Production Team  
Director Rod Goodall
Designer Owen MacCartaigh
Designer Tom Conroy
Lighting Designer David Murphy (2)
Costumes Margaret Linnane
Costumes Charmian Goodall
Music by John Dunne (1)
Musician Nuala Ni Chanainn
Musician Kevin Duffy
Musician Fergal Gallagher
Musician Lloyd Byrne
Musician John Dunne (1)
Masks and Moulds Mick Moynihan
Masks and Moulds Conor Nolan (2)
Masks and Moulds Ele Woods
Masks and Moulds Petra Breathnach
Production Manager Rob Meijer
Props Master Bob Pritchard
Set Construction Peter Nelson
Set Construction Donal O'Brien
Set Construction Dieter Ostheimer
Scenic Artist Marja Van Kampen
Scenic Artist Ger Sweeney
PR Joan Conway
Weapons Dave Dennis
Administrator Derval Byrne

Unpublished Scripts

Rights Information

  • Not Available

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme.