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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

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The Blackwater Lightship

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    David Horan 

  • Adapted / Translated From

    Colm Tóibín

  • Adapted From Notes

    Adapted from Colm Tóibín's 1999 novel of the same name.

  • Synopsis

    In 1990s' Ireland, where HIV/AIDS is still a terminal diagnosis, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, and two gay friends, have come together to tend to 29-year-old Declan, who has the disease. Can this makeshift family unit face up to the illness and each other? Adapted from Colm Tóibín’s novel of the same name, this is a play about a broken family, making a family of your own, and the cost of caring for each other.

  • Play Type

    Adaptation/Translation

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

    • Cast size

  • Male

    3

  • Female

    4

  • Total

    7

Original Production

Original Cast
Dora Ruth McCabe
Paul Will O'Connell
Essie Billie Traynor
Larry Donncha O'Dea
Declan David Rawle
Lily Karen Ardiff
Helen Rachel O'Byrne (2)
Understudy (Helen/Lily) Niamh McAllister
Understudy (Declan/Larry/Paul) Darragh Feehely
Understudy (Dora) Billie Traynor
Production Team
Director David Horan
Set Designer Maree Kearns
Costume Designer Maree Kearns
Lighting Designer Kevin Smith
Composer Tom Lane
Sound Designer Tom Lane
Hair & Make-Up Val Sherlock
Costume Associate Lauren Murphy
Wardrobe Supervisor Lauren Murphy
Production Manager George Gallagher
Stage Director Niamh Cummins
Stage Manager Aaron Kennedy
Set Construction Set 4 Stage
Chief LX Ronan O'Shea
Scenic Painter Sue Crawford
Scenic Painter Victoria Herzig
Assistant Set Designer Clara Cohen
Assistant Lighting Designer Pedro Pacheco
Programme photography Patrick Redmond
Publicity Sinead O'Doherty
PR Sinead O'Doherty
Publicity Sabrina Sheehan
PR Sabrina Sheehan
Poster and Programme Design Patrick McKay
Production Coordinator Kerry Power
Producer Donal Shiels

Published Scripts

Rights Information

Source Of Information

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