Blue Elephant Theatre, Camberwell

On 27th October 1920, an estimated 30,000 mourners filed past Terence MacSwiney’s coffin reposing in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark two days after his death in Brixton Prison. Many more lined the streets as the coffin was brought through London on its return to Ireland.

The Lord Mayor of Cork’s hunger strike brought the cause for Irish self-rule into the heart of the capital. MacSwiney’s protest at his jail sentence was rarely out of the papers causing George V to worry about the effect that this could have on Britain’s reputation overseas. One story rarely told is what it might have been like for Muriel, his wife, who supported him throughout.

In this new play, Muriel MacSwiney, now in her sixties and living in Kent, looks back at her journey during the turbulent years of 1915 -1923 as she eschewed her wealthy background in favour of the cause of Irish freedom.

Green Curtain Theatre is dedicated to creating and producing new writing that tells the stories of Irish people living in Great Britain. Set up in 2011, they have staged eleven new plays, held many live events, workshops/writing callouts and produced work for the digital space. They have performed onsite at the Palace of Westminster and Wandsworth Prison.

A Legacy of Loss is supported by the Irish Embassy London Department of Foreign Affairs.

Praise for Green Curtain Theatre's previous work:
Green Curtain Theatre gets to the heart of the second generation of the Irish psyche and the often-troubled lives of our forefathers. Just Above Dogs is a 'must see' for Irish of all generations.
Fiona Audley, Irish Post

Powerful drama of 1930s Irish family at war in an East End threatened by fascism.
Mary Conway, Morning Star

Coming out of Ireland, the play helped me see more clearly what Ireland truly is.
Joe Horgan, Irish Post