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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.

The Gap Year

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 3m
  • 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, co ee 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
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, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting Ireland
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes

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: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.


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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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