Green Room raises the Jolly Roger on new site-specific pirate play

Published: 13 May 2024
Reporter: Michael Quinn

Poster image for Green Room Productions' Pirate Queen Credit: Green Room Productions
Pirate Queen writer Clare McMahon Credit: Green Room Productions
Cat Barter Credit: Green Room Productions
Adam Dougal Credit: Green Room Productions
Anna Keenan-Laverty Credit: Green Room Productions
Director Patsy Montgomery-Hughes Credit: Green Room Productions

Green Room Productions is to perform a new play about the 16th century Irish Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley on two municipal pirate ship play parks in June.

The daughter of an Irish Chieftain, O’Malley gained legendary status as Granuaile when she went to sea against her father’s wishes, repelled and captured, an hour after giving birth to her son, Algerian pirates who attempted to board her ship and later successfully negotiated with Elizabeth I for the release of her brother and son.

Written by Clare McMahon, Pirate Queen will be staged on the playground pirate ships in Ballywalter and Millisle, County Down, with a cast of three including Cat Barter, Adam Dougal and Anna Keenan-Laverty.

Specialising in outdoor theatre, Green Room was founded in 2022 by artistic director Patsy Montgomery-Hughes and has previously produced two shows: Belmont Road, a promenade performance on a popular Belfast high street, and Jubilee Jukebox, an interactive installation on the Eisenhower Pier in Bangor.

Pirate Queen will be staged at Ballywalter Pirate Ship Play Park on June 8–9; and at Millisle Pirate Ship Play Park on June 15–16.

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