'A Day in May' tours to Draiocht

‘A Day In May’ is the story of the long fight that led to marriage equality – the story of how a country that was one of the most conservative in the West became the first in the world where the people voted for marriage equality.

It’s a story of politics, campaigning and in-fighting. It’s also the story of ordinary people whose lives were caught up in the struggle, drawn from Charlie Bird’s landmark collection of interviews. 

There’s music, slapstick, Irish mammies, tragedy, tears and a lot of laughter.

The play takes us from the dark days of 1982 and the murder of Declan Flynn, through decriminalisation and the split in the movement over civil partnership, up to the campaign for marriage equality and #hometovote. 

It debuted to standing ovations at the Olympia last June and returns now for a short Irish tour.

It’s written by Colin Murphy (Haughey/Gregory, Inside The GPO, The Bailout) and directed by Gerard Stembridge (Ordinary Decent Criminal, Black Day At Blackrock, About Adam, Scrap Saturday). It’s based on the book of personal testimony, A Day in May, by Charlie Bird and Kevin Rafter.

Featuring a host of Ireland’s leading actors, Norma Sheahan (Bridget & Eamon, Rebellion, Foyle’s War, Mary Murray (Love/Hate, Bridget and Eamon, Holy Mary), Mark O’Regan (Blood, Sweeney Todd, The Commitments), Arthur Riordan (From Under The Bed, The Field, The Kings of the Kilburn High Road), Amy Conroy (I (Heart) Alice (Heart) I, The Gist of It, The Matchmaker), The Constant Wife), Clodagh Mooney Duggan (Tryst, The Snow Queen, Stella Full of Storms), Anthony Kinahan (Red Rock, Vikings, This Lime Tree Bower) and Conor Gormally (The Ferryman, Lady Windemere’s Fan, World Mad). 

Conor says: “It’s an honour to create characters based on real people from the extraordinary campaign for marriage equality in the Republic. When we performed it in Dublin last June, the atmosphere was a celebration of triumph."

 

A DAY IN MAY TRUST IN ASSOCIATION WITH PAT MOYLAN PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

A DAY IN MAY

BY COLIN MUPRHY

DIRECTED BY GERARD STEMBRIDGE

BASED ON THE BOOK BY CHARLIE BIRD AND KEVIN RAFTER
at
DRAÍOCHT BLANCHARDSTOWN, DUBLIN 15
Thursday 18 April 2019, 8pm