Everyman Cork: Mary Coughlan ‘Woman Undone’ 22-24 October

Woman Undone is a re-imagining of the extraordinary early life of one of Ireland’s best-loved singers, Mary Coughlan, created by award-winning Irish theatre company, Brokentalkers, and Mary Coughlan, in collaboration with renowned Icelandic composer and music producer, Valgeir Sigurðsson, and movement director, Eddie Kaye. Woman Undone is on tour, starting with performances at The Everyman, Cork, from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 next, before proceeding to the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, 29 October, and the Black Box Theatre Galway, 1 and 2 November.

A profoundly moving, brave, and beautiful fusion of theatre, music, and dance, Woman Undone explores the shocking story of a young girl who endured physical and sexual abuse, addiction, and mental illness.

The production boasts an all-female cast, including Mary Coughlan herself; dancer, Erin O’Reilly; Ailbhe Dunne and Molly O’Mahoney from Dublin-based folk-pop quartet, Mongoose, and actors, Ciara Ivie and Jade O’Connor, and features striking visuals, design by Sabine Dargent, lighting by Sarah Jane Shiels, and projections by Jack Phelan.

Following on from Brokentalkers previous works, such as The Blue Boy, Have I No Mouth, The Circus Animals’ Desertion, and The Examination, Woman Undone combines biography, socio-political discourse, and breath-taking theatricality, with the extraordinary voice of Mary Coughlan and Valgeir Sigurðsson’s haunting score, to create a production that is both emotional and powerful, haunting, and visceral.

See this outstanding production at The Everyman from Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 October, 8pm.

Tickets €20, €18 concession, and €9 students, are available from The Everyman Box Office, phone 021 4501 673, or online www.everymancork.com

For audiences aged 14+/12+ with parental guidance

Woman Undone is written by Gary Keegan and Feidlim Canon (Brokentalkers), and

Mary Coughlan

Direction Gary Keegan and Feidlim Canon

Music composition and production Valgeir Sigurðsson

Performed by Mary Coughlan, Ailbhe Dunne, Ciara Ivie, Jade O’Connor, Molly O’Mahoney, and Erin O’Reilly

Movement direction Eddie Kaye

Lighting Sarah Jane Shiels

Design Sabine Dargent

Costume Sarah Foley

Dramaturgy Bjarni Jonsson

Woman Undone was created with funding from Arts Council Ireland and is a Co-Production between Brokentalkers, Project Arts Centre (Dublin), Mermaid Arts Centre (Bray) and Lókal Performing Arts (Reykjavík). Brokentalkers are Project Artists, an initiative of Project Arts Centre.

EILE Magazine