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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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The Buddhist of Castleknock

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Jim O'Hanlon 

  • Setting

    The play is set in the Sullivan's house, Castleknock, Dublin.

  • Synopsis

    The play takes place during Christmas time in a Castleknock home. Edie is delighted to have her family reunited for the occasion and is determined to celebrate in a traditional manner, but other family members have alternative views on how the holiday should be celebrated. Edie is just about coping until she discovers that one of her sons, who has returned from London with a black girlfriend, has become a Buddhist and prefers to meditate in his room than eat the lovingly prepared turkey. The play explores how the intrusion of one stranger into the ritual of Christmas can challenge a family's cosy sense of who they are and lead to the hidden cancer of unspoken family secrets finally having to be addressed. It depicts the thin veneer of unconscious racism within people whose outwardly comfortable lives allowed them the luxury of never having to confront such prejudices before.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    5

  • Cast Size Female

    4

Original Production

Original Cast  
Tara Mary O'Driscoll
Jimmy Des Nealon
Edie Ruth Hegarty
Sean John Olohan
John Niall Cleary
Rai Mojisola Adebayo
Kathleen Anne Brogan
Edward Conor Delaney
DJ Johnny Ward
Production Team  
Director Jim Culleton
Set Designer Fiona Cunningham
Producer Jo Mangan
Lighting Designer Debbie Behan
Costume Designer Leonore McDonagh
Sound Designer Paul Brennan (2)
Administration Assistant Boo Killebrew
Production Manager Marie Tierney
Stage Director Miriam Duffy
Stage Manager Pamela McQueen
Assistant Stage Manager Bairbre Sexton
Assistant Stage Manager Christopher Swift
PR Breege Brennan
PR Cerstin Mudiwa
Photography Colm Hogan
Administrator Breege Brennan
Administrator Cerstin Mudiwa

Published Scripts

  • Title

    Fishamble Firsts: An Anthology of First Plays by New Playwrights

  • Year

    2008

  • Published By

    New Island Books

  • Address

    2 Brookside, Dundrum Road
    Dublin 14
    Republic of Ireland

  • Phone

    + 353 (0)1 298 9937

  • Email

    nibsales@brookside.ie

  • ISBN

    978-1848400207

  • Purchase From Amazon...

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    Ken McReddie

  • Address

    91 Regent Street
    London W1R 7TB
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7439 1456

  • Email

    roger@kenmcreddie.com

Source Of Information

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