An 24m (80ft) barge floating on the Shannon is the unique setting for an evocative piece of theatre inspired by stories about the country’s longest river.
Built in 1895 as a cargo ship, the Spero in Deo (hope in God) has been transformed into an intimate theatre space for The River – a play based on real stories about the Shannon, making its debut in Limerick.
Written and performed by local playwright Helena Enright, the City of Culture supported play, is the culmination of two years of work gathering stories and memories out the Shannon from people from New York to Malaysia.
Life jackets will be worn
“The stories you hear in
The River
are rare glimpses into the lives of generations of people who have been touched by the Shannon,” says Enright, who is no stranger to performing in intimate settings, having sat at a table with five play-goers for her last work
Walking Away
.
With room for an audience of just 15, the Dutch barge is certainly an intimate venue.
Life jackets are provided as audience members are carefully guided down the gangway leading to the boat at Custom House Quay behind the Hunt Museum for the 36-show run.
Theatre-goers are advised to wear appropriate footwear, but once settled inside there is nothing uncomfortable about the surroundings, which have been carefully transformed to help the audience enter the world of the storyteller.
“The venue is fantastic and I just loved the play and listening to all the stories about the Shannon, which was such a big part of my life,” says Brian Hogan who was among those at yesterday’s lunch-time performance.
The 69-year-old was born in Castle Barracks, one of the houses formerly on the grounds of King John’s castle. “I learned to swim just down from here in what used to be known as the Long Dock. The fishing stories really struck a chord with me too, as I swam and fished in the Shannon all my life.”
Contributors included Limerick-born broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan who recalls cycling to school over Sarsfield Bridge and the “huge, wide, wonderful Shannon”.
Cultural spine
Musician Micheál Ó Súilleabháin describes the river as Ireland’s “cultural spine”, which touches all four provinces.
Poignant contributions include stories from Limerick Marine Search and Rescue, while there is a delightful romantic tale about a Malaysian woman who became pen pals with a Limerick man who she married decades later.
On August 21st American- born contributor Mary Farren, whose father left Limerick at 16, will watch The River in Coogan's Bar in New York when the play is screened live at midnight from Limerick.
“My hope is the play will inspire other communities to tell their own stories,” said Enright. Tickets at eventbrite.ie