The Shaughraun, written by Dion Boucicault (1820-1890) was first performed in New York in 1874. The play was a huge success and earned Boucicault a small fortune. He not only wrote and produced the play, but also starred in the role of Conn, leading him to be given the title of the best stage Irishman, but Boucicault was far from perpetuating stage Irish stereotypes, he actual undermines them: Conn the Shaughraun is no cap-donning peasant, but a quick witted strategist while Molineux, the stiff upper-lipped English captain is mocked for his "You Irish" attitude.
The play is a fast-paced romp, a comedy of wit, wedded to melodrama and set on the wild Irish coast of Sligo. The grim echoes of famine and the centuries of English domination are ever present.
The plot is intricate as it is farcical, nothing is what it seems and within it Bocicault explores the complexities and misunderstandings of English/Irish relations.
The themes of faith, hope, and love are set against greed, betrayal and deception. Required themes of melodrama and Boucciault deploys them to cut across national and class boundaries to give his characters depth and colour
“Boucicault’s writing needs performers to play up to the melodramatic possibilities without descending into farce, and this latest production has lined up and excellent cast, directed by Clare Maguire”
Irish Mail on Sunday “Lack of female autonomy, a housing crisis, intercultural differences, particularly between the British and Irish, bubble underneath the comedy and as director Clare Maguire shows are as relevant today as they were when they were first penned”
The Reviews Hub 
Juliette Crosbie, Martha Dunlea, David Fennelly, Martha Grant, Aron Hegarty, Liam Heslin, David O’Meara, Deirdre Monaghan, Jack Mullarkey
Creative Producer- Cliona Dukes, Director- Clare Maguire, Lighting Design- Shane Gill, Set Design- Ger Clancy, Costume Design- Miriam Duffy, Composer & Sound Design- Jack Crawley, Hair & Make-Up- Stacey Regan, Production Manager- Aisling Mooney, Stage Manager- Rachel Bergin, Assistant Stage Manager- Ellie Hendry, Fight Director- Ciaran O’Grady, Movement Director- Kitty Randle, Lighting Operator- Hannah Reid, Photography & Graphic Design- Ste Murray, Videography- Fergal Costello
