Cloughjordan playwright appeals for assistance to stage 'Children of Lir'

 

Cloughjordan playwright Joanna Ryan-Purcell is appealing for public donations to help stage her adaptation of 'Children of Lir'.

Joanna is currently setting up her take on the Irish legend as a touring production, planning to commence in August 2017 for outdoor and indoor theatre.

“This adaption not only tells the story of the 'Children of Lir' but it captures that rich, cultural, Irish identity that we all take pride in,” she said. “I have become so passionate about Ireland and about Irish mythology. I believe that Irish mythology is a subject that is slowly fading away from our lives and I think it is sad because it is such an amazing subject and it defines who we are as Irish people.

“It's part of our culture, part of our heritage and part of who we are. I want to bring Irish mythology back to the younger generation and I want to make it great again.”

Joanna studied theatre and describes theatre as her passion. She wants to bring Irish mythology back through the medium of theatre.

“My play recaptures the essence of the magical, mythological world that has long been lost,” she said. “For this play I focus on the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Tuatha Dé Danann are an amazing race. They focus on the feminine; the feminine is their leader, the feminine is who they worship and this connects hugely with Women's Rights campaigns across the world in today's society.

“The Tuatha Dé Danann worship the land, the land is their mother, their mother goddess, their provider, their protector, and they dare not harm the land for there would be consequences, and this connects hugely with environmental issues in today's society.

“So not only is this a play about an old Irish myth, it connects with issues present in today's society, and what better time to bring a race like the Tuatha Dé Danann to the fore, a race that may teach a lesson or two, a race that have high morals and a race that are kind to each other.” 

Joanna is currently running a crowdfunding campaign in order to get this show off the ground, because without the funds it will prove very difficult. “It is a very ambitious project but I believe it is something society needs right now,” she commented.

The crowdfunding campaign can be accessed online at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/children-of-lir/x/15346852#/

See accompanying QR code for those who have a QR scanner to easily access the page. 

See also Joanna's website, www.banbatheatrecompany.com