A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

The Loved Ones

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  4w

Erica Murray

In this beautiful world premiere from Erica Murray, a situation as unlikely as it is inevitable will send these four lives reeling, leaving them questioning the true nature of love, loss and birds.

The Loved Ones

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary

In a remote renovated farmhouse, Nell prepares to scatter her son’s ashes with her grieving daughter-in-law, Orla, while Cheryl-Ann, a visitor from America, settles in for an idyllic break in the wilds of West Clare.

However, their weekend plans will be turned upside down when an unexpected guest arrives looking for shelter, solace and understanding. In this beautiful world premiere from Erica Murray, a situation as unlikely as it is inevitable will send these four lives reeling, leaving them questioning the true nature of love, loss and birds.

History
The Loved Ones received its world premiere in a co-production between Rough Magic and the Gate Theatre at the Gate Theatre, Dublin on 2 October 2023.
Cast Attributes
NELL – 60s, Irish, Robin’s mother. Old battered coat with a cashmere jumper underneath.
GABBY – early 20s, English. Seven months pregnant but not wearing maternity clothes.
CHERYL-ANN – 50s, American tourist, keen ornithologist. Wears a sweater that says “Expecto Patronum”.
ORLA – late 30s, Irish, Robin’s wife. Her clothes are always stylish and pristine.
  • Time Period Contemporary, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting An open plan kitchen-living space in a renovated farmhouse in West Clare, Ireland.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“Murray's characters are irresistible.” — The Arts Review

“Murray’s crisply structured dialogue.” — Financial Times

“[Murray's] writing is perfectly accomplished.” — Irish Examiner

“[A] glorious personality clash extravaganza.” — Irish Independent

“Complex, uncomfortable stories brought to life in a refreshing, deceptively simple way.” — The Irish Times

“It is a play that deals with loss with a tender touch and much humour.” — No More Workhorse

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.


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Scripts

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Authors

Erica Murray

Erica Murray
Erica Murray is a playwright originally from County Limerick. She has a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an MFA in Playwriting from The Lir Academy. She is a previous member of the Six in the Attic scheme with the Irish Theatre Institute, the ...
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