Play about court trial of a Traveller to open in Galway

A controversial play about a Traveller accused of murdering his father will open tomorrow in Galway "uncut" despite a Garda request…

A controversial play about a Traveller accused of murdering his father will open tomorrow in Galway "uncut" despite a Garda request to have the language toned down.

The Tinker's Blade by Abú Productions tells the story of 12 jurors from different social backgrounds locked in a jury room to decide on whether a Traveller is guilty of murder.

Director Liam Heffron has received a number of phone calls about the play's content.

Some venues were reluctant to host the production and two actors have turned down a role which involves the expression of anti-Traveller sentiment.

READ SOME MORE

Producer Dylan Quish was advised to "tone down" the content of the play when he met local gardaí.

Defending the production loosely based on the movies 12 Angry Men and Saw, Mr Heffron said he abhorred political correctness and the fact that people are afraid to air their real thoughts.

While he claimed the content is not anti-Traveller, he admits an extract taken out of context would look pretty horrendous.

"The jurors are made to face up to their own inner prejudices before they find the accused guilty or innocent," he said.

The Tinkers Blade opens in Leisureland, Salthill, Co Galway, tomorrow and runs until Saturday, May 6th. Tickets are available from 087-9311666.

Michelle McDonagh

Michelle McDonagh

Michelle McDonagh, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes about health and family