Play based on best-selling novel comes to Esker Arts

‘My Name is Lucy Barton’ by beloved American author Elizabeth Strout was a New York Times best-seller in 2016 and was shortlisted for the 2018 International Dublin Literary Award. It was adapted for the stage by Rona Munro and has been performed on the West End and Broadway with Laura Linnery in the titular role.

The play comes to Esker Arts, Tullamore on May 2, courtesy of local theatre company, Nomad Players, whose calling card is great plays about complex, invisible or misinterpreted women.

The play tells the story of Lucy Barton, an emerging writer, who wakes up after an operation in a New York hospital to find her estranged mother at the foot of her bed. During this unexpected visit, Lucy tries to come to an understanding of her past, the complicated and complex love between herself and her mother and how much she has gained and lost to become a writer.

Nomad Players are Maeve O’Donovan and Eilish Rafferty, two theatre makers from the Midlands who specialise in telling the stories of ordinary women who do bad things or make bad choices. Previous productions include Laughing Wild by Christopher Durang, Without Apology, a double bill of the Neil LaBute monologues Medea Redux and All The Ways to Say I Love You, and Invisible Women, a double bill of the Alan Bennett monologues Her Big Chance and Bed Among the Lentils. In this production, directed by Eilish Rafferty, Maeve O’Donovan plays Lucy Barton.

“Lucy fears she may be betraying her parents by telling the story of her impoverished and traumatic childhood,” said Rafferty, who directs this production. “The play is about coming to terms with your family, as an adult, and realising the importance of telling your story.”

This production is by permission of Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

Tickets: €18/€16