A Cry from Heaven
Encyclopedia
A Cry from Heaven is a play by Irish playwright Vincent Woods
. It retells the story of the beautiful Deirdre
and the Sons of Usna
which is one of the great tragedies of Irish myth. The birth of a girl heralded by omens of a vulture-shrouded sky begins the drama of King Conchobar mac Nessa
and his obsession with Deirdre which led to a land divided. When Deirdre unites with her lover Naoise
and goes into exile with the Sons of Usna, the stage is set for betrayal and bloodthirsty revenge that will plunge all Ulster
into darkness. The play is drawn from material in the Ulster Cycle
. Woods's poetic retelling of the myth of Deirdre transforms this timeless story into a compelling contemporary drama.
The play had its world premiere at the Abbey Theatre
, Dublin, in June 2005. It was directed by Olivier Py
, and designed by Pierre-André Weitz. The cast featured Kelly Campbell as Deirdre
, Alan Turkington as Naoise
, Olwen Fouéré
as Ness
, Denis Conway as Fergus
, Bosco Hogan as Felim
, Gabrielle Reidy as Leabharcham
, Barry McGovern
as Cathbad
the druid, Ciarán Taylor as Conor
, Peter Gaynor as Ainle, Aidan Turner
as Ardán
, Tony McKenna as White Bull
, Charlie Kranz as Black Bull
, and Shane Gately as Red Branch Soldier
.
Vincent Woods
Vincent Woods is an Irish poet and playwright. He currently hosts The Arts Show on RTÉ Radio 1.-His life:Woods was born in County Leitrim. Woods lived in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia and worked as a journalist with Raidió Teilifís Éireann until 1989. Woods' radio play, The...
. It retells the story of the beautiful Deirdre
Deirdre
Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology and probably its best-known figure in modern times. She is often called "Deirdre of the Sorrows." Her story is part of the Ulster Cycle, the best-known stories of pre-Christian Ireland.-Legendary Biography:Deirdre was the...
and the Sons of Usna
USNA
USNA may refer to:* United States Naval Academy* United States of North America. A fictional country including the modern USA as well as Canada in the 1985 computer game A Mind Forever Voyaging...
which is one of the great tragedies of Irish myth. The birth of a girl heralded by omens of a vulture-shrouded sky begins the drama of King Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He ruled from Emain Macha .-Birth:...
and his obsession with Deirdre which led to a land divided. When Deirdre unites with her lover Naoise
Naoise
In Irish mythology, Noíse or Noisiu was the nephew of King Conchobar mac Nessa of Ulster, and a son of Usnech , in the Ulster Cycle....
and goes into exile with the Sons of Usna, the stage is set for betrayal and bloodthirsty revenge that will plunge all Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
into darkness. The play is drawn from material in the Ulster Cycle
Ulster Cycle
The Ulster Cycle , formerly known as the Red Branch Cycle, one of the four great cycles of Irish mythology, is a body of medieval Irish heroic legends and sagas of the traditional heroes of the Ulaid in what is now eastern Ulster and northern Leinster, particularly counties Armagh, Down and...
. Woods's poetic retelling of the myth of Deirdre transforms this timeless story into a compelling contemporary drama.
The play had its world premiere at the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
, Dublin, in June 2005. It was directed by Olivier Py
Olivier Py
Olivier Py is a French stage director, actor and writer.In 1997, Py became director of the Centre Dramatique National d'Orléans. In 2007, he became director of the Théâtre de l'Odéon....
, and designed by Pierre-André Weitz. The cast featured Kelly Campbell as Deirdre
Deirdre
Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology and probably its best-known figure in modern times. She is often called "Deirdre of the Sorrows." Her story is part of the Ulster Cycle, the best-known stories of pre-Christian Ireland.-Legendary Biography:Deirdre was the...
, Alan Turkington as Naoise
Naoise
In Irish mythology, Noíse or Noisiu was the nephew of King Conchobar mac Nessa of Ulster, and a son of Usnech , in the Ulster Cycle....
, Olwen Fouéré
Olwen Fouéré
Olwen Fouéré, born in Ireland of Breton parents, is an Irish/French actress and theatre artist whose work occupies a central position in contemporary Irish theatre and crosses the boundaries of many art forms. She has performed with most major theatre companies in Ireland and the United Kingdom...
as Ness
Ness (Irish mythology)
Ness , also called Nessa, is a princess of the Ulaid and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Her father is Eochaid Sálbuide, king of the Ulaid....
, Denis Conway as Fergus
Fergus mac Róich
Fergus mac Róich is a character of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
, Bosco Hogan as Felim
Fedlimid mac Daill
Fedlimid mac Daill was a harper and the chief-storyteller in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology. He was the father of Deirdre....
, Gabrielle Reidy as Leabharcham
Leabharcham
Leabharcham was a wise old woman of Emain Macha in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She raised and educated Deirdre. Before Deirdre was born, Cathbad, the chief druid of King Conchobar mac Nessa's court, prophesied that she would become the most beautiful woman in the world, and that "she would...
, Barry McGovern
Barry McGovern
Barry McGovern is an Irish stage, film and television actor. He was educated at Castleknock College, Dublin.-Background:McGovern is a former member of the RTÉ Players and the Abbey Theatre Company. He has worked in theatre, film, radio and television, as well as written music for many shows, and...
as Cathbad
Cathbad
Cathbad or Cathbhadh is the chief druid in the court of Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle of Irish Mythology.In his younger days he was a warrior, leading a landless band of twenty-seven men. Once he led a raid on the house where the Ulster princess Ness was brought up, killing all twelve...
the druid, Ciarán Taylor as Conor
Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He ruled from Emain Macha .-Birth:...
, Peter Gaynor as Ainle, Aidan Turner
Aidan Turner
Aidan Turner is an Irish actor. He is best known for playing Dante Gabriel Rossetti on Desperate Romantics, Ruairí McGowan on The Clinic, and John Mitchell on the supernatural drama series Being Human. He will be playing Kíli in the upcoming two-part fantasy film The Hobbit.-Early life:Aidan...
as Ardán
Ardán
Ardán is a weekly Irish language chat show produced by RTÉ for TG4. It is presented by Páidí Ó Lionáird and is broadcast on Sundays at 20:30. Ardán is also the name of 211 Limited companies.- Overview :...
, Tony McKenna as White Bull
Finnbhennach
In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, Finnbhennach was an extremely fertile stud bull owned by king Ailill of Connacht....
, Charlie Kranz as Black Bull
Donn Cuailnge
In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology Donn Cúailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley, was an extremely fertile stud bull over whom the Táin Bó Cúailnge was fought....
, and Shane Gately as Red Branch Soldier
Red Branch
The Red Branch is the name of two of the three royal houses of the king of Ulster, Conchobar mac Nessa, at his capital Emain Macha , in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
.