OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Austin Clarke 

• Setting

  Cletty, by the River Boyne; November 3, 534.

• Synopsis

  Two monks dig a grave for the high king, Muireadach Mac Erca, who is ill and being nursed by his mistress, Osna, for whom he has cast out his wife and children. The king rejects the commands of the local abbot to abandon Osna. In delerium, he rushes out and is killed by falling into his own grave. His spirit rises triumphantly and takes Osna into the supernatural realm.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  One Act

Cast size

• Male

  14

• Female

  3

• Total

  17

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  1943

• Original Venue

  Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach
  

• Irish Premiere Notes

  Performed on the Peacock Stage by the Dublin Verse-Speaking Society. Repeated by the Lyric Theatre Company at the Abbey Theatre in 1944.

Source Of Information