Over the Bridge
AUTHOR
Sam Thompson
Notes
Cast also featured Members of the Lord Carson Memorial Flute Band.
Setting
The action of the play takes place in the Belfast shipyard, and in a small kitchen house in Ballymacarrett.
Synopsis
A group of trade union officials face a dilemma when there is an outbreak of sectarianism amongst their fellow workers at a shipyard. In the aftermath of a sub-station explosion, blamed on the IRA, tensions are heightened, and Catholic workers in general stay away from the yard. Only one, Peter O'Boyle, turns up, and as a mob gathers, he refuses an offer to leave peacefully stating that he will not be forced from his work. A fellow trade-unionist, Protestant Davy Mitchell, makes the decision to stand together with his workmate, and they begin work knowing that tragedy may result.
PLAY TYPE
Plays General
Number of Acts
Full-Length
Cast Size Male
12
Cast Size Female
3
Casting Notes
Date of First Production
26 January 1960
Production
Produced by Ulster Bridge Productions Ltd.
ORIGINAL VENUE
Empire Theatre (1894-1961)
Original Cast
Peter O'BoyleRay Alcorn
First WorkmanBill Bentley
Martha WhiteIrene Bingham
Mr. FoxJames Boyce
Rabbie WhiteJ.G. Devlin
Mob LeaderJames Ellis
Marian MitchellKathleen Feenan
Nellie MItchellCatherine Gibson
Second WorkmanVincent Kelly
Billy MorganJohn McBride
Ephraim SmartDerek Nicholl
Archie KerrSam Thompson
Davy MitchellJoseph Tomelty
Warren BaxterHarry Towb
George MitchellCharles Witherspoon
Production Team
Decor byHenry Lynch-Robinson
LightingHenry Lynch-Robinson
Front gauze designed byJ. Kenneth Jamison
Special EffectsPhilip Thompson
Production byJames Ellis
Assistant Stage ManagerPat McAuley
Scaffolding byP.F. Kerr Ltd.
Plumbing to Office byH. McAteer & Co. Ltd.
Electrical work to office byS.G. O'Kane
Ferrograph Tape RecorderRadio Development Ltd.
Set ConstructionA. Fitzpatrick & Son
Set PainterCharles Mallon
Set PainterRobin Wylie
Set PainterGeorge McCann
Publicity PhotographsLeslie Stuart
Production secretaryDoreen Hepburn
Scripts & Rights Information
CLICK HERE for information on script availability, production rights and translations for this play
Source of Information
Information for this entry was taken from Sam Hanna Bell's 'The Theatre in Ulster', from the published script, and from the original production programme, press cuttings and material held at the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast.
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