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The Gap Year

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  4w, 3m

Clare McMahon

Newly widowed Kate, childminder-in-chief Roisin and their best friend Oonagh have decided enough is enough. Life is too short – they’re going to follow in their children’s footsteps and take a Gap Year. Thailand? Europe? Down Under? No, they're visiting every county in Ireland, sure there’s a few they’ve never even heard of! It's time for castles, coffee and craic as three women in their 60s go on the adventure of a lifetime.

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The Gap Year

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adventure
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

“They’ll be digging us out of the turf in two hundred years, trying to figure out why three women in their sixties were camping in Donegal.”

Newly widowed Kate, childminder-in-chief Roisin and their best friend Oonagh have decided enough is enough. Life is too short – they're going to follow in their children’s footsteps and take a Gap Year. Thailand? Europe? Down Under? No, they’re visiting every county in Ireland, sure there’s a few they’ve never even heard of! It's time for castles, coffee and craic as three women in their 60s go on the adventure of a lifetime.

This play is about new beginnings, that it’s never too late to start again, and the power of female friendship.

History
The Gap Year was first produced and performed at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, on 3 September 2022.
Performing Groups
KATE MULGREW – 63
OONAGH MADDEN – 61
ROISIN MCANESPIE – 62
FR DONNELLY – 50s, local priest
KIERAN – 30s, camp activities manager
CAOIMHE – Young mother
PAT – 50s, recovering from a stroke
JOSIE – Nurse, Pat’s daughter
CAMPERVAN MAN – Late 20s
SISTER THOMASINA – Young nun
FIONNTAN – 30s, hitch-hiker
EDDIE – 60s, Oonagh’s ex
ALISON – 24, drunk partier
PAUL – 60s, Roisin’s husband
ETHAN – 20s, drag artist
TOURIST – 30s
CATHERINE – 30, Kate’s daughter
TANGO-DANCER
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    Ireland. The present.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“The Gap Year will have you laughing and crying in equal measure, but the writing genius of McMahon adds a sparkle of light through the production’s dark themes.” – Belfast Media

“Buoyant.” – The Stage

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Clare McMahon

Clare McMahon

Clare McMahon is a playwright and actor based in Belfast and is Co-Creative of Commedia of Errors. A graduate of the Lir Academy’s MFA Playwriting she is currently under commission with Lyric Theatre, Kabosh Theatre, Commedia of Errors and is one of the Abbey Theatre’s Cente ...

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