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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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Peer Gynt

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Frank McGuinness 

  • Adapted / Translated From

    Henrik Ibsen

  • Author Notes

    A new version of the original play by Henrik Ibsen from a literal translation by Anne Bamborough.
  • Setting

    Parts One and three - Norway. Part Two - Morocco, The Desert, Egypt.

  • Synopsis

    Peer Gynt is a young man who has great potential as an artist but who is constantly at war with his physical desires. Despite his quest for absolute purity he repeatedly falls for the fleshy temptations of compromise, as he swaggers and seduces his way from the fjords of Norway to the deserts of Africa and back. Along the way, he has a number of trials and adventures. He meets a young woman and they fall in love; he helps a bride escape from her wedding; he considers joining the Trolls; he becomes a successful businessman, loses it all, pretends to be an Arab prophet, and winds up in a lunatic asylum. Finally, he returns home to confront a creature called the Shadow, who has always been watching him and trying to teach him what it is to be human. It is the Shadow who forces Peer to consider returning to the woman he fell in love with so much earlier in the story, and pursue a career as an artist.

  • Play Type

    Adaptation/Translation

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast size

  • Male

    43

  • Female

    26

  • Total

    69

  • Cast Notes

    Cast doubling is possible. In the original production three different actors played Peer Gynt and all cast members played additional minor roles. See original production for details.

Original Production

Original Cast  
Able Seaman Dermod Moore
Groom's Mother Liz Davis
Two-headed Troll Liz Davis
Mourner Liz Davis
Ballon Jonathan Ryan
Aslak Jonathan Ryan
Auctioneer Anthony Newfield
Captain Anthony Newfield
Cotton Anthony Newfield
Master of Ceremonies Anthony Newfield
Old Troll Anthony Newfield
Buttonmoulder Kate Flynn
Kari Kate Flynn
Ase Doreen Hepburn
Bosun Tony Coleman
Shafmann Tony Coleman
Priest Scott Fredericks
Solveig's father Scott Fredericks
Von Eberkopf Scott Fredericks
First Horseman Dermod Moore
Fellah Dermod Moore
Ship's Mate Duncan Hamilton
Second Guard Duncan Hamilton
Thief Duncan Hamilton
Look Out Peter Holmes
Third Guard Peter Holmes
Receiver Peter Holmes
Boy Peter Holmes
Strange Traveller Gabrielle Reidy
Green Woman Gabrielle Reidy
Ingrid Gabrielle Reidy
Widow Joan Brosnan Walsh
Two-headed Troll Joan Brosnan Walsh
Solveig's Mother Joan Brosnan Walsh
Third Horseman Tony Coleman
Reindeer Man Tony Coleman
Troll King Alan Stanford
Bride's father Alan Stanford
Anitra Olwen Fouéré
Solveig Olwen Fouéré
Monkey Lynn Cahill
Harpies Lynn Cahill
Upland girl Lynn Cahill
Sheriff Garrett Keogh
Peer Gynt Garrett Keogh
Thin Man David Heap
Trumpeterstrale David Heap
Hussein David Heap
Groom's father David Heap
Monkey Noelle Brown (1)
Harpies Noelle Brown (1)
Begriffenfeldt Alan Stanford
Helga Michèle Forbes
Old Monkey Michèle Forbes
Pig Tony Coleman
Cook Jonathan Sharpe
Second Horseman Jonathan Sharpe
First Guard Jonathan Sharpe
Brat Jonathan Sharpe
Youth Barry Lynch
Peer Gynt Barry Lynch
Peer Gynt Joe Dowling
Monkey Hilary Fannin
Village Woman Hilary Fannin
Harpies Hilary Fannin
Upland girl Hilary Fannin
Huhu Mark O'Regan
Mads Moen Mark O'Regan
Shooting Star Michèle Forbes
Upland girl Noelle Brown (1)
Production Team  
Director Patrick Mason
Designer Joe Vanek
Lighting Designer Mick Hughes
Costume Assistant Joan O'Clery
Music by Shaun Davey
Musician Sean Keane
Musician Fergus O'Carroll
Production Manager Trevor Dawson
Stage Director Lita O'Connell
Assistant Stage Manager Susan Church
Assistant Stage Manager Catherine Walsh (1)
Assistant Stage Manager George Heslin
Set Construction Arena Construction
Stage Carpenter Fred West
Scenic Artist Jack Kirwan
Dresser Malva McCabe
Wardrobe Mistress Alicia Hanney
Costume Construction The Costume Shop
Chief Electrician Sean Burke
Prop Maker Gabby Dowling
Recording engineered by Brian Masterson
Assistant Prop Maker Charles Jacobs
Assistant Prop Maker Bairbre Murray
Company Director Michael Colgan (1)
Company Deputy Director Marie Rooney
Company Deputy Director Anne Clarke

Published Scripts

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    Adaptation rights

  • Contact

    Mel Kenyon, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Ltd

  • Address

    Waverley House, 7-12 Noel Street
    London W1F 8GQ
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7287 4450

  • Email

    info@casarotto.co.uk

Source Of Information

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