The Abbey Theatre commission 14 Voices from the Bloodied Field to mark 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday

The Abbey Theatre is joining forces with the Gaelic Games Association (G.A.A.) to create a streamed performance of 14 Voices from the Bloodied Field, alongside 14 writers, 14 directors and 14 actors.

Streaming online on November 20, 2020, 14 Voices from the Bloodied Field aims to give a voice to the men, woman, and children who were killed in Croke Park on 21 November 1920.

The play will commemorate the 100th anniversary of that painful day in Irish history, when Jane Boyle, James Burke, Daniel Carroll, Michael Feery, Tom Hogan, Michael Hogan, James Matthews, Patrick O’Dowd, Jerome O’Leary, William Robinson, Thomas Ryan, John William Scott, James Teehan and Joe Traynor were killed.

The Abbey Theatre commissioned 14 writers to write 14 monologues and, with 14 directors and 14 actors, create a 14-minute play for a solo performer.

These 14 stories, each centred around one of the victims of that day, will be filmed in Croke Park.

“The world premiere of 14 Voices from the Bloodied Field sees two of Ireland’s leading institutions coming together to mark a tragic moment in Ireland’s history," Graham McLaren and Neil Murray, Directors of the Abbey Theatre, comment.

"When we conceived of this project, our aim was to honour these 14 people, with a historic partnership with the GAA. Theatre has always provided Ireland with a place to reflect and process. We invite audiences in Ireland and abroad to join us as we pay tribute to those who lost their lives 100 years ago.”

The writers include Deirdre Kinahan, Fionn Foley, Timmy Creed, Billy Roche, Jo Egan, Stephen Brennan, Jimmy Smallhorne, Lynda Radley, Tracy Martin, Paul Howard, Barbara Bergin, Thomas Kilroy, Colin Murphy and Jimmy Murphy.

"From the outset, our work around the commemoration of this hugely significant event in Irish and GAA history has been to put people first," GAA President John Horan said.

"Our goal at all times has been to remember and pay respect to the people who went to a match and tragically never came home.We are delighted that the Abbey have also shared that vision, have given it their full support and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their creative talents, with Croke Park no doubt providing a perfect stage for their performances."

Jo Mangan, Jeda de Brí, Tom Creed, Raymond Keane, Maisie Lee, Jane Brennan, Emma Jordan, Dan Colley, Sarah Jane Scaife, Ben Barnes, Ronan Phelan, Stephen Rea, Eoghan Carrick and Veronica Coburn will each direct one storyline.

Caitriona Ennis, Ian O’Reilly, Alex Murphy, Moe Dunford, Shane O’Reilly, Liam Heslin, Steve Blount, Jack Galvin, Bryan Burroughs, Frank Blake, Jake Verrecchia, Laurence Kinlan, Marty Rea and Callan Cummins will be the actors onstage for 14 Voices from the Bloodied Field.

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to support this new initiative from the Abbey Theatre," Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said.

"Creative endeavours, such as this, have a very important role as we remember the difficult and often deeply personal events that defined the Struggle for Independence. It is important that our history is faithfully presented, even when the historical record is distressing, and that we acknowledge the great tragedy of the lives that were lost or irrevocably altered during those divisive and traumatic years.

"The work of artists encourages us to revisit painful memories and engage with the difficult legacies of our past – this form of respectful public discourse is essential for any honest and authentic exploration of our history.”

On the eve of the centenary, at 7pm, this commemorative performance will be streamed on the Abbey Theatre’s YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels, and on abbeytheatre.ie.

14 Voices from the Bloodied Field will be available to watch for 48 hours.

On 21 November 1920, Michael Hogan stepped onto the field to play match in Croke Park. He never left. Michael Hogan was one of 14 people, and the only player who was killed on Bloody Sunday.#B100dySunday - the GAA remembers.
Learn more at https://t.co/0YyrIyygwQ pic.twitter.com/4NSKXHkq4k

— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 4, 2020