KATS, Kilkenny Amateur Theatre Society present Eclipsed

Written by Patricia Burke Brogan, this powerful play is about the Magdelene Laundries and follows the life of four women within.

It runs from Thursday, August 31 to Saturday, September 2 at 7.30pm each evening. Tickets can be obtained from the Watergate Theatre website.

Eclipsed was first staged in 1992 by Galway’s Punchbag Theatre Company when it won a Fringe First at Edinburgh. Since then it has received over 80 productions on three continents.

GALLERY: Pictures of Kilkenny courtesy of Kilkenny County Library

For even more pictures visit Kilkenny Digital Archive (digital-archive.kilkenny.ie)

The play is set in 1963 in a convent laundry at St Paul’s Home for Penitent Women in Killmacha, Ireland. Eclipsed explores the old practice of making pregnant and unwed Irish mothers work as ‘penitents’ in Church-run laundries.

Supervised by nuns whos opinions were subjective, but who often regarded these women as mindless vessels of evil. The women were treated as virtual slaves and their infants were forcibly put up for adoption. Though this presents an abysmal background, the play proves the tenacity and strength of women. Their ability to find fun and laughter together, despite their situation.

Eclipsed provides a glimpse into a hidden chapter of this nation’s rich history. The laundresses in this play struggle to be reunited with their children and to survive the drudgery and oppression of their suffocating, colourless environment. They try to help each other cope with their misery by sharing the few happy memories they have of the sights, tastes and smells of the outside world, while keeping hope that they will see that same world and their children again.

KATS presentation of Eclipsed has a stellar cast with Paula Drohan playing the strict, cold, religious Mother Victoria. Linda Beale playing the virtuous, empathic postulant nun, Sister Virginia. The penitent Magedeles are played by Sarah Walsh (Brigid), Rosey Hayes (Cathy), Megan Kelly (Young Nellie Nora) and Edwina Cummins (Mandy). They are joined by Covent orphan Juliet, played by Katie Monahan. In opening of the play we meet old Nellie Nora, played by Geraldine Roantree and orphan Caroline seeking information on her mother, played by Claire Sheehan.

The play is directed by Delia Lowery, whose stage experience extends back to the late 1990s with GUMS and Dramasoc in NUI, Galway.

watergatetheatre.com