Plays

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Town Is Dead

A play within music.

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Phillip McMahon 

  • Author Notes

    Originally conceived and developed by Phillip McMahon and Raymond Scannell.
  • Notes

    Note from the published script: "Town Is Dead is written to be performed within or without music. In its premier production, the play was presented 'within music', which is to say that much of the text, as written, was sung to Raymond Scannell's score. In this edition, blocks of text and various lines which appear italicised indicate repeats, refrains and harmonies which are sung. These should be omitted when the play is presented without music."

  • Synopsis

    Ellen thought she’d end her life where it began – in a rundown flat in Dublin’s north inner city. Now her building is sold, and she’s being moved into a box room in her snooty sister’s house in the suburbs. When an unexpected visitor lands in her front room, Ellen is forced to delve into the past in order to lay some ghosts to rest.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    1

  • Cast Size Female

    3

Original Production

Original Cast  
Ellen Barbara Brennan
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Conor Sheil
Will Conall Keating
Katarina Kate Gilmore
Band Leader/Keyboards Danny Forde
Rachel Fia Houston-Hamilton
Harp Christiane O'Mahony
Production Team  
Director Phillip McMahon
Set Designer Paul O'Mahony
Lighting Designer Sarah Jane Shiels
Costume Designer Saileóg O'Halloran
Sound Designer Ben Delaney
Voice Director Andrea Ainsworth
Movement Director Megan Kennedy
Music by Raymond Scannell
Musical Director Cathal Synnott
Production Manager Cliff Barragry
Stage Manager Bronagh Doherty
Deputy Stage Manager Jean Hally
Graphic Design Mandy Horton
Poster Photography Aidan Kelly
Production Photography Ros Kavanagh
Literary Manager Jessica Traynor
Sign Language Interpreter Amanda Coogan
Voice Artist Gerard Kelly
Casting Director Kelly Phelan
Hair & Make-Up Val Sherlock

Published Scripts

Rights Information

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the play's original production programme.