Presented by DAYMS (World Premiere)

Thursday, 12th May - Saturday, 14th May (by Emma Donoghue, Director: Philippa Alford) T@36 Teachers Club - Irish Shorts at 8pm + 3pm Saturday. Tickets 10 euro (2 plays)

This one-act comedy is about an irreverent emigrant Saoirse Allen who comes home to her small Irish town and takes a job as a chef. When she is fired for being a lesbian, she stages a one-woman picket to get her job back, and the policeman who is most reluctantly assigned to protect her turns out to be an old school friend …. 'Don't Die Wondering' was broadcast in a different form on BBC Radio 4 - this is the world premiere of the stage version.

"I couldn't be happier that Don't Die Wondering is receiving its world premiere at the Second International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. My comedy's themes of emigrants-come-home, the ins and outs of the closet, and change vs. tradition in Irish culture could hardly find a better context than this one. I wish good luck to everyone involved in this ambitious Festival." : Emma Donoghue.

About The Company

DAYMS - The Musical Workshop was established in 1984 to stage new and innovative musical works. To date DAYMS, affiliated to the Association of Irish Musical Societies, has presented 30 major productions, and provided channels for young people to develop their theatrical skills on stage and in the technical area. A multi award winning musical society in its early years, it developed a professional side to the company - The Musical Workshop in the 1990's. DAYMS has staged Irish and World premiers of musicals including La Cage Aux Folles, The Hired Man, Zorba, Anything Goes, Larkin The Musical, A Chelsea Affair, A Chorus Line, Follies, Christopher Columbus, and Into The Woods. Further details can be obtained from Michelle Kavanagh, 8 Prospect Avenue, Stoking Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Membership is now open. DAYMS - the Musical Workshop is delighted to mark its 21st anniversary year by staging 'Euro Vision For Asia'.

Cast And Crew

Saoirse Allen - a chef in her twenties - AIMEE SHIELDS
Barbara Connolly - a Garda in her twenties - JENNIFER MCGANN
Ger Allen - Saoirse's mother - CAROLE COOPER
Kneezer Grogan - owner of a sleazy video shop - DAVE LYONS
John Doheny - owner of a bar - KARL CASSELLS
The Sergeant - BRIAN MERRIMAN
The Reporter - RYAN SHERIDAN
Crew
Director - PHILIPPA ALFORD
Stage Manager - MICHELLE KAVANAGH
Lighting Designer - Dave O'Leary
Lighting Operator - Marc Murphy

Show Reviews

"The new play by Emma Donoghue had its world stage premiere by DAYMS the Musical Workshop, directed by Philippa Alford. This play was originally written for radio and I am not convinced that it has, in its structure, fully successfully made the transition from that medium to the theatre. Alford was certainly up to the challenge as the short scenes which were more like snapshots were carried off skilfully by her cast with a mix of youth and experience. There are some great one liners, and those of us who remember the Donna Mc Enellan case, where she was dismissed from her employment in a leisure centre because she was a lesbian in the early 1990s, were in on the plot from the start. It was a groundbreaking case. O Donoghue's sharp dialogue was well delivered with flashes of real tongue in cheek comedy. Young leads Aimee Sheils and Jennifer McGann acquitted themselves very well as the chef who lost her job and the ban gharda with more ambition to get on in her job. McGann in particular played with great depth, but the naievity of Sheils was most appropriate and endearing. Cameos were all strong including a bumptuous Niall O Dwyer (Sergeant) a warm, strong Carole Cooper (Mother) and a delightful cameo from Ryan Sheridan (Reporter). The "baddies" were convincingly played with chauvinistic style by Karl Cassells (Doheny) and David Lyons (Kneezer). A refreshing and theatrically challenging brief comic piece staged with considerable success." - Gordon Farrell, Scene City - June 2005