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"...
poignant ... well-written; raises plenty of issues and
there are heart-warming characters to explore."
Jo Morrell, Teaching
Drama (Spring Term 2, 2006/7) |
The Magdalen Laundries were set up in collaboration
between the Church and the State in Ireland
and were still going until the late 1990's.
They were attached to convents and girls were
signed in by their families. Once in there,
they could not leave until their families
came to get them out- which in some cases
meant a lifetime of washing and virtual imprisonment.
 What
was their crime? Pregnancy, in most cases;
but some girls were transferred there from
orphanages, some were deemed to be a threat,
or at risk of falling prey to lust.
The play focuses on eight of these 'Maggies',
their stories, and their attempts to leave
the laundry. In their dealings with the few
men they encounter within the steamy walls-
priests and delivery men, and in their contact
with their relatives, we see them through
the eyes of the 'free'.
Robbed of their lives because of events beyond
their control, they were branded as 'sinners'
and locked away to 'wash away the stain'.
How do they cope with the gruelling toil,
and the stigma , the abandonment by their
families and the sense of the passing years
with no hope of reprieve? And how did they
cope with the agony of losing their babies?
This play which is ideal for youth theatre,
is fictional only in the sense that the girls
depicted are not based on actual women known
to the author. However, any similarity to
real persons, living or dead, is regrettable,
but all too likely. |
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| Girl/Nancy
- 16 years old. Self-assured. American. |
| Mary (old)
- 28 years old. Institutionalised and resigned
to her fate. |
| Mary (young)
- Nearly 13, a bit of an 'eejit'. lived alone
with her father. |
| Sister Ignatia
- About 40 years old. fairly kind natured. |
| Bernadette
- A resident at the laundry for about 10 yrs.
A natural poet. The identity of her child's
father has been kept a secret. |
| Martha - Made
pregnant by a married man. Resident for about
2 years. |
| Assumpta -
Bitter. About 20 years old. Has only just
had her baby. The father refused to marry
her, and went off to England. |
| Angela - Had
her baby a month ago. Is still hopeful about
leaving. Her cousin got her pregnant. |
| Marie - Aged
64. Resident for about 50 yrs. |
| Pauline -
The joker. 15 years old and nearly due. The
boy has now married a rich widow. |
| Father Doyle
- Early 30's, Very 'Stephen Tompkinson'. Believes
in the sins and the penance. Tries to help
the girls. Sincere. |
| Sister Margaret
- A bit dithery. New to the Magdalen. |
| Father O'Connell
- Mid-50's. A nasty, perverted type. |
| Jim - A delivery
man. |
| Donal - Another
delivery man. |
| Sister Gabriel
- About 30 years old. Very cold and strict. |
| Mother Superior
- Aged 60 plus. Distant and unyielding. |
| Mrs Doolan
- Pauline's Mother. |
| Patricia -
A 10 yr old orphan |
| Waitress |
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| Notes : |
| 1) Some of the roles can be doubled |
| 2) If a larger cast is available they could
be cast as singers, other girls, café customers
etc |
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Royalties
Royalty fees are payable for each
performance given to an audience.
Obtain a quotation by either completing
the Application at the Credit Card payment
Checkout, or this Online
Application Form or mail-in our
printed Application
Form. |
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Amateur Groups : |
£ 45.00 |
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Schools
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£
35.00 |
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