“Even watching rehearsals I’ve been almost reduced to tears, and I’ve already read the script! Sanctuary is a truly moving and impacting piece of theatre. A Halloween event like no other,” explains producer, Claire McAlister.
Inspired by the harrowing lives once lived in the Kilmacthomas Workhouse, Sanctuary is the creative interpretation of this environment and its history. What makes this particularly exciting is that the audience will be sat within the very walls where a similar experience may have once occurred.
The talented, Waterford based, writer behind the script, Alan Cliff speaks of his inspiration:
“When Stagemad’s James Power approached me in July this year to write a play for Kilmacthomas’ Workhouse Studios I was overjoyed for two reasons. The first being that Stagemad is renowned for nurturing new writers and takes audiences on a dramatic journey through their choices of scripts. The second was the subject matter that Kilmacthomas Workhouse holds.
As for the play, to begin with, I initially thought of two characters, one that wanted to make their way out and one wishing to make their way into the Workhouse. Using this contrast, I believed, would give me a foundation to cook up the drama required under harrowing circumstances. I stayed with this foundation, and the script and characters developed at a rapid pace.
It has been a pleasure discovering the history and legend of the workhouse building that you will be sitting in on the night of the play.
I will not go into all the historical detail of the documents that I have explored here, but some facts do exist in the play and I will leave it up to you to decide which are true and which are false! I did not wish to weigh the play down with facts and statistics and turn the piece into some warped docu-drama, for I believe drama, as raw as it can be and some elements of fantasy (as it is Halloween after all), should prevail when it comes to theatre.
I want to take you on a journey, to engage your imaginations, to take you into a different world. I hope you enjoy. Happy Halloween.”
Alan Cliff
There will only be 3 performances of Sanctuary, opening Halloween Night, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd November. Don’t miss the chance to feel the experience within the walls of the Kilmacthomas Workhouse. And who knows, you might not be alone!
More information about the play or the Halloween workshops at Workhouse Studios contact 0857751488 or info@workhousestudios.com and be sure to tune into RTE1’s Nationwide to see us on Halloween night!
