OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Jimmy McAleavey 

• Setting

  Belfast, 1977.

• Synopsis

  Belfast 1977. Dermy, a headline writer neurotically compelled to remember every victim of violence, is on the brink of a breakdown. Tony, a Belfast teenager, is meanwhile on the brink of life amid a conflict that might never end.

  Into their world of violent stalemate sails something preposterous, absurd and magical. A killer whale is seen in Belfast Lough. Has it come to be butchered, bring luck or bring further disaster to the city?

  When the whale suddenly disappears, tragic circumstances bring Dermy and Tony together in a search to find it. Maimed by experience, their search becomes much more than for a hunt for the whale.

  It’s their search for a future.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  10

• Female

  4

• Total

  14

• Cast Notes

  Cast doubling possible. See original production for details.

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  12 March 2010

• Producer

  Produced by Tinderbox Theatre Company

• Original Venue

  Grand Opera House
  

Source Of Information

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