New version of play takes centre stage

THE first version of

‘The Locker Room’ was based in a Dublin factory with the action set against events surrounding the 1983 Abortion Referendum, mass emigration and the dire economic situation of that time.

Playwright Henry Hudson, from Raheny, has now rewritten the script and brought it up to 2013 when, yet again, Ireland is racked by division over abortion, emigration and unemployment.

In Henry’s version, the nephew of one of the men who worked in the factory revisits the derelict shell of the factory building on the night before it is to be demolished.

His idea is to read aloud from a diary his uncle kept on the events of 30 years before. His reading is to be his farewell tribute to those who worked in the place. As he reads the audience is brought back to 1983 to see the characters and events of that time and to realise, like the reader, that in 30 years only the props have changed, the script remains the same.

As a mature student, Henry went to Trinity College from where he graduated with a BA in Drama Studies & English. He is a former winner of:

?¢ RTE’s PJ O’ Connor Radio Drama Awards (Best Play 1988/ Best Writer 1990).

?¢ The Heinrich Boll Award for Literature in 1993

?¢ Listowel Writers’ Week Full-Length Playwright’s Award in 1999.

?¢ Cork Arts Club One-Act Playwright’s Award 2013

Several of his plays have been produced by local drama groups including Raheny Variety and Drama Group and Northside Drama Circle. A radio play,

‘Playing For Time’, will be broadcast shortly on NEAR FM.

‘The Locker Room’ will be staged in Sean O’Casey Theatre, St Mary’s Road, East Wall, from Wednesday to Saturday, September 11 to 14 at 8pm. Tickets cost

?¬10. For more information phone 01-8509000 or visit www.seanocaseycommunitycentre.ie