Plays

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Deirdre of the Sorrows

A Play in Three Acts

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    John Millington (J.M.) Synge 

  • Setting

    ACT I. Lavarcham's house on Slieve Fuadh.
    ACT II. Alban. Early morning in the beginning of winter. Outside the tent of Deirdre and Naisi.
    ACT III. Tent below Emain Macha.

  • Synopsis

    Based on the tragic tale of Deirdre from the Ulster Cycle. Before her birth it is prophesied by a druid that Deirdre will ruin the Son of Usna and bring about the destruction of the great city of Emain. Deirdre is brought up in secret by her nurse, Lavarcham, with money provided by the King of Ulster, Conchubor, who intends to marry her when she comes of age. However Deirdre falls in love with Naisi the Son of Usna, and they flee to Alban. Fergus, an emissary sent from Conchubor, tracks them down and offers them the chance to return to Emain in peace, though treachery and death ensue.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

    • Cast size

  • Male

    8

  • Female

    3

  • Total

    11

Original Production

Original Cast  
Soldier Ambrose Power
Soldier Harry Young
Lavarcham Sara Allgood
Owen J A O'Rourke
Ainnle J M Kerrigan
Fergus Sydney J Morgan
Conchobar King of Ulster Arthur Sinclair
Deirdre Máire O'Neill (1)
Old Woman Eileen O'Doherty
Naisi Fred O'Donovan (1)
Ardan John Carrick
Production Team  
Director Máire O'Neill (1)
Settings by Robert Gregory

Published Scripts

  • Title

    The Playboy of the Western World: And Other Plays by JM Synge

  • Year

    2006

  • Published By

    Penguin

  • Address

    80 Strand Street
    London WC2R 0RL
    England

  • Email

    customer.services@penguin.co.uk

  • Website

    www.penguin.co.uk

  • ISBN

    0451530071

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  • Title

    Deirdre an Bhróin

  • Year

    1932

  • Published By

    Foilseacháin an Rialtais

  • Address

    Baile Átha Cliath
    Republic of Ireland

  • Title

    Théâtre complet : Cavaliers de la mer ; L'Ombre de la vallée ; La Fontaine aux saints ; Les Noces du rétameur ; Le Baladin du monde occidental ; Deirdre des douleurs. Traduit par Françoise Morvan

  • Year

    2005

  • Published By

    Éditions Les Solitaires Intempestifs

  • Address

    1 Rue Gay Lussac -
    25000 Besançon
    France

  • Website

    www.solitairesintempestifs.com

  • ISBN

    2-84681-123-7

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  • Title

    Sorgens Deirdre: J. M. Synge ; paa dansk ved A. Monrad-Frantzen

  • Year

    1955

  • Published By

    Publisher not found

  • Address

    England

Rights Information

  • Copyright Expired

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme and Ireland's Abbey Theatre: A History 1899-1951 by Lennox Robinson, with additional information from press cuttings of the time.