This is a play set in rural Ireland in an area of Wicklow with a diminishing population. The characters have a number of tales to tell. The principal character Nicholas Farquhar is a bachelor farmer living alone, content to have sheep, cattle and dogs for company. His memories include songs by Elvis and JFK’s visit to Wexford. His young friend Evans, son of his neighbour, comes to him seeking advice. Evans’s father Andrew Stafford asks Nicholas about what was spoken of that resulted in Evans’s confusion. Tania, older sister of Nicholas, calls to ask him if anything untoward was said during Evans’s visit that could have led to such devastating consequences. Nicholas calls up in his mind how he sees things, including the story of a young girl, who died in the parish many years before. This is a play of extraordinary beauty in its rhythmic language, imagery, description of the seasons and how they impact on nature.

The author Sebastian Barry is a master storyteller. As a novelist, he has been shortlisted twice for the Man Booker prize in 2005 and 2008 and longlisted in 2011. His novel A Long Long Way was selected for Dublin’s ‘One City, One Book’ event in 2007. His many plays include The Steward of Christendom, Boss Grady’s Boys and The Pride of Parnell Street. We are privileged to have been granted permission by the author to perform this work.