Unseen Plays is a collection of audio experiences exploring the work of unheralded Irish plays.

Engaging with the Irish canon and curated by Professor Christopher Morash, these nine plays will be released on a weekly basis from November via Spotify, Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud.

Featuring a collection of works that have been seldom seen (or not seen at all) on Irish stages, Unseen Plays will be presented in audio form. Distinct from radio drama, in that there is no intention to create the full auditory world of the play, with its footsteps and offstage traffic; instead, these performances are presented as readings.

Recorded at Windmill Lane Recording Studios, each play includes an acclaimed director with a full ensemble cast. The plays presented are listed below with their broadcast date included: 

1. The Image by Lady Gregory and The Words Upon the Window Pane by W.B. Yeats, directed by Sarah Jane Scaife – broadcast date Monday 1st November
2. Light Falling by Teresa Deevy, directed by Caroline Byrne – broadcast date Monday 8th November
3. Liffey Lane by Maura Laverty, directed by Lelia Doolan – broadcast date Monday 15th November
4. The Wood of the Whispering by M.J. Molloy, directed by Maisie Lee – broadcast date Monday 22nd November
5. The Evidence I Shall Give by Richard Johnson, directed by Conall Morrison – broadcast date Monday 29th November
6. An Triail by Máiréad Ní Ghrada, directed by Darach Ó Tuairisg  – broadcast date Monday 6th December
7. Did You Hear the One About the Irishman? by Christina Reid, directed by Emma Jordan – broadcast date Monday 13th December
8. The Pentagonal Dream Under Snow by Sebastian Barry, created in collaboration with Olwen Fouéré, Roger Doyle and David Heap – broadcast date Monday 20th December

#UnseenPlays

Unseen Plays Podcast Playlist 

Company 

The Image

 

Writer  : Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory

Director  : Sarah Jane Scaife

Costello : Bryan Burroughs

Hosty : Declan Conlon

Stage Directions : Fionnuala Gygax

Thomas Coppinger : Marcus Lamb

Mrs. Coppinger & composed the melody of the song : Fiona Lucia McGarry

Peggy : Máire Ní Ghráinne

Mannion : Ian O’Reilly

Malachi : Don Wycherley

 

The Words Upon the Window Pane

 

Writer  : William Butler Yeats

Director  : Sarah Jane Scaife

Cornelius Patterson : Bryan Burroughs

Abraham Johnson : Declan Conlon

Miss McKenna : Fionnuala Gygax

Stage Directions : Fiona Lucia McGarry

Mr. Mallett : Máire Ní Ghráinne

Mrs. Henderson : Helen Norton

John Corbett : Ian O’Reilly

Dr. Trench : Don Wycherley

 

Light Falling

 

Writer  : Teresa Deevy

Director  : Caroline Byrne

Kenneth : Peter Campion

Mary : Zara Devlin

Ismay : Maria Guiver

Pat Scully : Philip Judge

Stage Directions : Claire O’Donovan

John : Cillian Ó Gairbhí

Music : Brenndán O’ Beaglaoich

 

Liffey Lane

 

Writer  : Maura Laverty

Director  : Lelia Doolan

Mrs. Buckley  : Neili Conroy

Bridie  : Charleigh Bailey

Mrs. Doyle  : Ruth McCabe

Billy Quinlan / Lookout Man  : Phelim Drew

Chrissie  : Jordanne Jones

Cut-The-Rasher  : Mary Murray

Lar Doyle  : Tony Doyle

Jim Sweeney / Ringman / Guard / Gambler 1  : Robbie O’Connor

Nannie  : Ciara Ivie

 

The Wood of the Whispering

 

Writer  : Michael J. Molloy

Director  : Maisie Lee

Sanbatch Daly : Steve Blount

Sheila Lanigan : Venetia Bowe

Jimmy King : Brendan Conroy

Sadie Tubridy/Stage Directions : Eavan Gaffney

Paddy King : Raymond Keane

Kitty Wallace : Megan McDonnell

Con Kinsella : Matthew Malone

Hotha Flynn : Michael Glenn Murphy

Stephen Lanigan : Arthur Riordan

Mark  Tristnan : Darragh Shannon

 

The Evidence I Shall Give

 

Writer :  Richard Johnson   

Director  : Conall Morrison   

Mrs. Brown / Mother General  : Deirdre Donnelly   

Justice District McHenry : Philip O’Sullivan   

Polly O’Grady / Sister Mary  : Kate Gilmore   

O’Flanagan / Patrick Sinnott / Mr. Burk  : Luke Griffin   

Sergeant Bornican / Garda O’Driscoll / McClane  : David Herlihy   

Mother Cecilia : Jane Brennan   

Jerry Verity  : Jonathan White   

Margaret Raffigan / Miss O’Byrne  : Amilia Stewart-Keating   

Jeremiah Brown / Mr. Green / Maguire  : Peter Coonan   

Stage Directions  : Katie McCann   

O’Sullivan / Jean Omer  : Mark Lambert  

 

An Triail

 

Writer: Máiréad Ní Ghráda

Director: Darach Ó Tuairisg

Bean Uí Chinsealaigh / Pailí / Bean 2 / Bean Oibre : Orlaith Ní Chearra

Seán Ó Cathasaigh / Colm Ó Sé / Fear Nuachtán / Garsúin :  Eoin O Dubhghaill

Liam Ó Cathasaigh / Seanín an Mhótair: Mícheál Ó Dubhgháill

Aturnae 2 : Garrett Keogh

Bean Uí Chathasaigh : Caitríona Ní Chonaola

Máire Ní Chathasaigh / Bean 4 : Caitríona Ní Dhomnaill

Áine Ní Bhreasail / Nábla / Bean on Lóistín : Michelle Beamish

Pádraig Mac Cárthaigh : Eoin Geoghegan

Beití / Mailí / Bean 1 : Hilary Bowen-Walsh

Aturnae 1 : Peadar Cox

Cléireach na Cúirte / An Sagart / Bainisteoir na Monarchan :  Edward Murphy

Treoracha : Hannah O’Reilly

Dailí / Bean 3 / Bean Oibre 2 : Neasa Ní Chuanaigh

 

Did You Hear the One About the Irishman?

 

Writer  : Christina Reid

Director  : Emma Jordan

Alison Clarke : Ruby Campbell

Brian Rafferty :  Desmond Eastwood

Mrs. Clarke/Bernie Cassidy : Andrea Irvine

The Comedian : Aonghus Óg McAnally

Mrs. Boyd : Eleanor Methven

Joe Rafferty : Conor O’Donnell

Stage Directions/Hughie : Barry Simpson

Mr. Clarke/Irishman/Newsreader : Dan Gordon

Marie :  Jolene O’Hara

 

The Pentagonal Dream Under Snow

 

Creators : Sebastian Barry and Operating Theatre

Writer : Sebastian Barry

Performer : Olwen Fouéré

Composer : Roger Doyle

Director : David Heap