OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Tommy McArdle  Eugene McCabe 

• Author Notes

  Adapted by Tommy McArdle from two television plays, 'Cancer' and 'Heritage', by Eugene McCabe.

• Setting

  The border area of Co Fermanagh.

• Synopsis

  The Thompsons are a Protestant family whose Catholic neighbours include the McMahons. Joady McMahon is dying of cancer. The Thompsons' son Gordon is cajoled by his mother into joining the UDR, and is put on an IRA deathlist, drawn up on information probably supplied by neighbours. Five civilians die in an explosion meant for the army. The brother and father of Gordon's girlfriend are murdered, and two innocent Catholics are killed in retaliation. Finally Gordon himself is killed.

• Play Type

  Adaptation/Translation
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

• Cast Size Male

  15

• Cast Size Female

  4

• Cast Notes

  Cast doubling is possible. See original production for details.

ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

• Date of First Production

  18 November 1980

• Producer

  Produced by Lyric Theatre

• Original Venue

  Lyric Theatre
  

SOURCE OF INFORMATION

Information for this entry was taken from the original production programme and from contemporary press cuttings.