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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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Workers

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Thomas Carnduff 

  • Setting

    The Sandy Row district of Belfast

  • Notes

    The extant script is incomplete, with Act I missing. Hence, the cast and character lists for this entry are drawn from reviews of the premiere production. As such, cast size details should be taken as approximate.

  • Synopsis

    Susan, a working-class girl, endures a difficult marriage to shipyard worker John Waddell, an alcoholic wife-beater. After much persuasion, she decides to leave him for Jim Bowman, her former sweetheart and Waddell's fellow-worker. At her point of departure, Waddell is seriously injured at the shipyard and Susan decides her ultimate duty is to stay by his side.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    7

  • Cast Size Female

    2

  • Cast Notes

    9

Original Production

  • Date of First Production

    14 October 1932

  • Producer

    Produced by Belfast Repertory Theatre Company

  • Original Venue

    Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach

  • Irish Premiere Notes

    Though premiered at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, as indicated here, the play was subsequently given a Belfast premiere almost immediately afterwards at the Empire Theatre, on November 22 1932, and was thoroughly reviewed by the local press in both locations.

Original Cast  
Unspecified Character(s) Charles Fagan
Alec Bradshaw William Crean
Susan Waddell Elma Hayward
Unspecified Character(s) Dan Fitzpatrick
John Waddell Richard Hayward
Unspecified Character(s) Charles E. Owens
Mrs. Lowry Nancy Cullen
Sam Hagan J.R. Mageean
Jim Bowman Rodney Malcolmson

Unpublished Scripts

  • Contact

    Theatre and Performing Arts Archive of Northern Ireland

  • Address

    The Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North
    Belfast BT1 5GB
    Northern Ireland

Rights Information

  • Not Found

Source Of Information

Information for this entry has come from the play typescript, and from press cuttings held at the Linen Hall Library Theatre and Performing Arts Archive, Belfast.