Drama on Newstalk Newstalk

Newstalk presents a new radio drama, ‘How I Murdered Lucrezia’ adapted from a short story by Órfhlaith Foyle.

Set in an Irish secondary school, outside Galway city, it is a meditation on lust, violence and obsession. A High School shooting has taken place with recently arrived student Lucrezia the victim. Her killer is a boy named Jones Maddox, who commits the act under coercion from Caitlin Purcell. Caitlin is a former friend of Lucrezia, who continues to harbour an infatuation with her.

The story follows Caitlin and Jones’ descent into fury and the ultimate act of killing.

This contemporary radio drama deals with pertinent themes of violence and racism in the school system. It skewers teen culture, bullying and social media throughout. Caitlin is a sociopath and Jones is under her spell. Her actions are prefaced by a disturbed home life and rejection by her friend Lucrezia. The tension builds as the play reaches its horrible denouement. The audience is asked to question its loyalties as the main characters go a step too far and commit the heinous crime in a thought provoking and entertaining drama.

‘How I Murdered Lucrezia’ was written and directed by Órfhlaith Foyle. Produced, recorded and edited by Alan Meaney. Script Editing by Gabrielle Fullam. Music composed and performed by Eamonn Bailey.

The cast are Anais Rizzo, Shannon Martin, Shane McDonagh, Joan Gildea, Eimir Creedon, Austin Prior, Aoibhé Hopkins and Jimi McDonnell.

The programme was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with the Televison Licence Fee.

‘How I Murdered Lucrezia' is adapted from Órfhlaith Foyle’s short story of same title and was first published in The Wales Arts Review then later published in her second short story collection 'Clemency Browne Dreams of Gin' (Arlen House) in 2015. She has adapted it for radio for this project.

Drama on Newstalk presents the premiere of “HIGH DENSITY”, in which IMRO-nominated producer Brian Gallagher explores the tensions that arise in a community when one resident in a small cul-de-sac refuses to sell her home to a developer who wants to build apartments on the site.

Starring Marion O’Dwyer, Claudia Carroll, and Mark O’Regan, “HIGH DENSITY” was written and produced by Brian Gallagher. The programme was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television License Fee.

What happens when the stupidest man in Irish history is charged with expelling the British Empire from Ireland? Sniper Joe & Sister Jim answers this question and more in a new radio comedy drama for Newstalk.

As Ireland enters the final year of centenaries commemorating its ‘decade of change’, Sniper Joe & Sister Jim proposes an alternative account of the happenings a century ago, which changed Ireland forever. It reimagines some of the creation myths surrounding the foundation of the Irish state shining a light on the opportunism and misogyny that sneaked in after all the visionaries died fighting for Irish freedom.

Set against a cartooned backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, the play follows sniper gunner Joe Mahon on a heroic quest for the Irish Republican Motherhood, as he avenges the death of his ‘most probable’ father and protects the honour of his unfussy mother.

Guided by ‘a foul-mouthed spiritual advisor named ‘Sister Jim’ and a beginner’s guide to sniper gunning (presented by John McCormack himself), Joe becomes entangled in a web of paranoid British army officers along with Irish rebels who hate each other more than they hate the British. Worst of all, a pair of civil servants on overtime are overseeing the whole charade with forms to be filled before the British can be booted out of Ireland.

Sniper Joe’s arch-enemy is General Sir John Poulet, commander-in-chief of the British Army in Ireland. Poulet’s task of subduing the Irish is interrupted by a series of prank telephone calls from ‘Ramon Validera’ and ‘Colin Michaels’, both set on driving the occupier out of Ireland by driving them out of their minds.

Worse for Poulet is the unimaginable hardship of redecorating his office in a time of war, and the incompetence he faces from his own ranks, most notably the thorn in his side, Lt. Redmond Herring, an insufferable whining conscientious objector looking to somehow reconcile the differences between Britain and Ireland.

Sniper Joe & Sister Jim is a Maccana Teoranta radio production for Newstalk funded by the BAI Sound and Vision scheme.

This full-length radio play is performed by Tina Kellegher (Ballykissangel, Fair City), Mikel Murfi (Jimmy’s Hall, Barabas), Geri Maye (The Den, Winning Streak), Pat Deery (Exiled in Ireland) and Séamus McRory.

The play was penned by Seamus McRory who previously co-wrote and co-produced the Gumgoogly series for RTE as well as The Maroon Bros. Good Time Radio Show for Newstalk. This is the third time he has worked with Kevin McCann. McCann directed and produced Sniper Joe & Sister Jim, and previously wrote/ directed the award-winning radio series ‘Coma’ for Newstalk. Music is by Sophína NíCana.

Set in Waterford city, ‘An End of Term’ charts the decline of a marriage. Following a series of frustrating Counselling sessions and a series of uncomfortable telephone conversations, Michael , a school teacher and his wife Maura, a Hairdresser, attempt to reconnect their increasingly diverging lives. However, in doing so, all they reveal are milestones on the path of their declining relationship. When an ongoing illness adds further to their problems, attempts at a ‘last chance’ reconciliation may prove to be a final solution or a final straw…

‘An End of Term’ is one of a Trilogy of plays. IMRO Bronze Award winning ‘Terms and Conditions’(2017) and ‘Mid Term Break’(2021) were previously produced for Radio. Executive Producer, Michael Grant brings together a talented and widely experienced cast for the final play. Andrew Holden and Emma Walsh are two of Waterford’s finest actors.

Michael is played by Andrew Holden.
Maura is played by Emma Walsh.
Sound by Heather Troy-Whelan.
Executive Producer Michael Grant.
Recorded at Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford.

AN END OF TERM was written and produced by Noel Kelly and was supported by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, as part of the Sound and Vision scheme.

A modern reimagining of Samuel Beckett’s classic play, Waiting for Godot - as an unrelenting satire on the worldwide budget airline industry.

Waiting for Faro was written by Eoin Byrne, directed by Jennifer Griffin and produced by Sarah Eva Manson, with location sound recording and foley by Roger Gregg.
Edited by Sound Entertaining and produced by Purple.ie and was supported by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, as part of the Sound And Vision Scheme.

“The Piana Man” is a one episode drama/musical/comedy about a tourist town entertainer, Danny Boylan - referred to by the venue's owner, Nancy Crowley, as "Danny Boy - to appeal to the Irish Americans". To his face she calls him her "people magnet" and that he certainly is. All goes sweetly through the first season. They plan to do even better the following year but there is an unexplained breakdown in communication.
“The Piana Man” is written by Dezy Walls, directed by Ann Shanahan and features, Dezy Walls, Lisa Marie Murphy, Andrew "Skatz" Scattergood, Susan Hennessy, Michael Ryan, Sean Kelleher and Terry Gordon. It was produced at Creation Studios, County Kerry.
“The Piana Man”, by Dezy Walls, was funded by the BAI under the sound and vision scheme.