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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

Plays

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Birthright

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    T.C. Murray 

  • Setting

    Rural Cork

  • Notes

    Originally titled 'The Tillers'

  • Synopsis

    In a modern retelling of the biblical story of Esau and Jacob, 'Birthright' is the story of brothers Hugh and Shane Morrisey. Hugh, the elder, is the heir to his father, Bat’s, farm. Shane will be forced to emigrate. Their mother, Maura, supports Hugh’s legal right to the inheritance. Bat begins to doubt Hugh’s ability to run the farm. He forces Hugh to emigrate in place of Shane. When Maura discovers the subterfuge, she confronts Shane, “I would see you to the gallows to have back my son.” In a rage the younger brother grabs a gun, rushes outdoors and murders his brother as he is walking away from the farm.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    5

  • Cast Size Female

    1

Original Production

Original Cast  
Hugh Morrissey Fred O'Donovan (1)
Maura Morrissey Eileen O'Doherty
Shane Morrissey Arthur Sinclair
Bat Morrissey Sydney J Morgan
Frank Harrington J M Kerrigan
Dan Hegarty J A O'Rourke
Production Team  
Produced by T.C. Murray

Published Scripts

Rights Information

  • Territory

    All Territories

  • Rights Type

    All Rights

  • Contact

    Colin Smythe Ltd.

  • Address

    P. O. Box 6, Gerrards Cross
    Buckinghamshire
    SL9 8XA
    England

  • Phone

    +44 (0) 1753 886000

  • Email

    cs@colinsmythe.co.uk

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from Ireland's Abbey Theatre: A History 1899-1951 by Lennox Robinson, with additional information from press cuttings of the time. The synopsis was provided by Martin Munroe.