Home | About | Contact Us

The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

Printer Friendly

Famine

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Tom Murphy (1) 

  • Setting

    Set during the Famine in Ireland, the village of Glenconnor, in 1846-1847.

  • Synopsis

    John Connor, head of the family, leader of the village, son of glorious forefathers, is surrounded by death, starvation and poverty. But his house stands and he will do the right thing - by himself, by God and by his dependents. When an offer of free emigration to Canada is made by the local landlords, some accept but most refuse. John Connor decides that the right thing to do is to stay. But the numbers of dead continue to rise.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

    • Cast size

  • Male

    24

  • Female

    8

  • Total

    32

Original Production

Original Cast  
Famine Figure David Byrne
Mr. Simmington Pat Layde
Dónaill Francis O'Gorman
First Policeman Seán Mac Philip
Second Policeman Séamus Brennan (2)
Clancy Patrick O'Callaghan
Parson Desmond Ellis
The Engineer John Richardson
Famine Figure Robert Browne
Famine Figure Gerald Woods
Famine Figure Biddy McGrath
Famine Figure Leslie Lawlor
Famine Figure Terry Farrelly
Famine Figure Mary Carlisle
Famine Figure Mairéad Rafferty
Famine Figure Eoin White
Brian Riordan Patrick Dawson
Mother, John Connor's Wife Geraldine Plunkett
Captain Shine John Kavanagh (1)
Liam Dougan Pat Laffan
Famine Figure Dearbhla Molloy
John Connor Niall Tóibín
Father Horan Joe Dowling
Mickeleen O'Leary Eamon Morrissey
Father Daly Peadar Lamb
Mark Dineen Niall Buggy
Malachy O'Leary Seamus Newham
Dan O'Dea's Wife Máire Ní Ghráinne
Justice of the Peace Harry Brogan
Dan O'Dea Micheál Ó Briain
Maeve Maire O'Neill (2)
Famine Figure Jack Kelly
Production Team  
Director Tomás Mac Anna
Set Designer Brian Collins
Sound Bríd Ní Shúilleabháin
Stage Director Celine Bright
Assistant Stage Director Bruce Deane
Stage Manager Tommy Woods

Published Scripts

  • Title

    Murphy Plays 1

  • Year

    1992

  • Published By

    Methuen

  • Address

    Head Office, 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road
    London SW1V 1EJ
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7798 1600

  • Website

    www.methuen.co.uk

  • ISBN

    0413665704

  • Purchase From Amazon...

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    Alexandra Cann Representation

  • Address

    Box 116, 4 Montpelier Street
    London SW7 1EE
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)7796954969

  • Email

    alex@alexandracann.co.uk

Source Of Information

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