by Ciarán Ruby - September 2008
Six by Sundown
Six By Sundown
By Ciaran Ruby
A site-specific performance, presented as part of National Heritage Week, August 2008
A magical journey through the past, present and future of the Callan Workhouse, re-imagined through the eyes of a child…
What happens to childhood in a place where survival itself is a struggle?
A site-specific performance, presented as part of National Heritage Week, with support from Kilkenny Arts Office, Kilkenny County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland.
Co-produced with Camphill Communities of Ireland
"Who are ye talkin' to?"
"Dead boy from the famine….I said, are you hungry?"
"I am."
"Bet you are."
A magical journey through the past, present and future of the Callan Workhouse, re-imagined through the eyes of a child…
Asylum and Camphill marked the re-birth of this historic site through this unique theatrical event. Part celebration, part exorcism, Sundown combined professional and local community cast of all ages, guiding the audience through the Workhouse grounds, and it’s history.
Jack Coffee, a child of the 1950’s, a dreamer, a troubled soul, an outsider, takes a journey into an imagined past, while trying to cope with a worrying and unimaginable future.
‘Bones’ Kerwick, a famine child, who has coped with worse and still survived, leads Jack through a hyper-real depiction of this world of horror.
What happens to childhood in a place where survival itself is a struggle?
Cast in order of appearance:
Dignitary – Jim Carroll
Photographer – Donie Ryan
Historian – Jack Healy
Bishop – Ciaran Bermingham
Jack - Ben Moylan
Betty – Jacqui Purcell
Mary – Aine Keegan
Pad – Jamie Kennedy
Billy – Adrian Scanlon
Twomey – Tom Barry
Cait – Dervla O’Malley
Dad – Cormac Costelloe
Mrs Kearney – Etaoin Holohan
Bones – Michael Keane
Blind Woman – Medb Lambert
Porter – Niall Sheehy
Master – Cormac Costelloe
Teacher – Adrian Scanlon
Lady Clifden – Hillary O’Shaughnessy
Society of Friends Lady One – Jacqui Purcell
Society of Friends Lady Two – Aine Keegan
Eyes – Jacqui Purcell
Tongue – Jake Moylan
Mad People (A) – Eoin Barry
Shane Byrne
Jim Rohan
Tom Barry
Jamie Kennedy
Niall Sheehy
Mad People (B) – Sighile Hennessy
Anna Lyons
Caitriona Cody
Aine Keegan
Bernie Brennan
Penny Man – David Lambert
Bridget – Charlotte Hatt / Orla Moloney
Pirates - Eoin Barry
Shane Byrne
Jim Rohan
Niall Sheehy
Shighile Hennessy
Anna Lyons
Brid Lyons
Caitriona Cody
Bernie Brennan
Jake Moylan
Written by Ciaran Ruby
Directed by Donal Gallagher
Produced by Anja Terpstra
Set Design - David Lambert
Medb Lambert
Sound Design - Cormac O’Connor
Costume Design - Lisa Zagone
Production Manager – Tim Feehily
Stage Manager – Elaine Walsh
Assistant Stage Manager – Jacqui Purcell
Richard Coghlan
Make-up – Jean Conroy
Maria Speck
Ushers – Senan Gardiner
Andrew Pike
Helena
Daniel
Chaperone – Deirdre Lyons
Visual Installations – Saturio Alonso
Helen Comerford
Patrick O’Connor
Richard Coghlan
Etaoin Holohan
Alan Counihan
Set Construction – Norbert Lisik
David Lambert
Sound Operation - Sam Moylan
Site Preparation – Camphill Callan
Project Initiator – Patrick Lydon
Artist Initiator – Alan Counihan
Aural Historian – Etaoin Holohan
Script Development – Ciaran Ruby
Donal Gallagher
Medb Lambert
Alan Counihan
Dramaturg – Medb Lambert
Advisor – Thomas Kilroy
Supported and Sponsored by –
The Arts Council of Ireland
Camphill Communites of Ireland
The National Heritage Council
Kilkenny County Council
KCAT Art and Study Centre
Thanks to – Endangered Artist’s Studios, Callan Parish, Barnstorm Theatre Company, Castalia Hall Ballytobin, Riversdale B&B, Kilbride Lodge B&B, Moonarch B&B
Barbara Wheeler-Connolly, St Brigid’s College, John Kilroy, Joe Kennedy, Sr. Assumpta, Mary Holden, Tony Walsh, Edmund Rice Centre, Mary Moylan, Maisie Condon, Breda Somers, John Walsh, Mary Butler, Billy Gardiner, Callan Co-op, Brigid O’Brien, Mike Davies, Caitriona O’Malley, Nynke Folkertsma