Following a sell out run at The New Theatre…
Sir John Franklin set out in 1845 with the two best ships of the Royal Navy and 129 crew on a mission to discover the Northwest Passage, a sea route from Europe to Asia between the Arctic and the Canadian mainland. They disappeared without trace. Not a single survivor returned to tell what happened. Driven by the persistence of Franklin’s indomitable wife, search parties gathered fragments of evidence, but not enough to give a satisfactory explanation of what happened.
The Irish involvement in the expedition and the search was considerable and fascinating. Today a dedicated Irishman continues to search for Franklin’s grave, the last chance to throw light on his fate. Through story and song, history and speculation, Jack Harte brings this intriguing episode of polar exploration to life again and takes the audience on its own voyage of exploration, especially into the enigma of Lady Jane Franklin.
Creative Team
Writer – Jack Harte
Director – Andy Crook
Lighting Design – Cathy O’Carroll
Set Design- Martin Cahill
Costume Design – Toni Bailey
Stage Management- Eva Walsh
Inspired by Kevin Cronin’s book, The Search for Franklin: An Irish Connection.
Producer – Anthony Fox
Photos by Al Craig.
Presented By: The New Theatre
Duration: 75 mins. No interval
About Jack Harte
Jack Harte’s novels and short stories have been published in 13 languages. As a playwright, he made his debut in 2015 with Language of the Mute in The New Theatre, which toured the following year to many of the major theatres around Ireland. This was followed by The Mysterious History of Things (Viking Theatre, 2016). Lugh and Balor was performed in Greek translation at the amphitheatre of Maroneia and the Theatre of Komotini in Greece. Killing Grandad, The Pleasureometer, Outside the Club of Culture, and Sing it Slantways were all presented at The New Theatre, as was The Laughing Boy, his play based on Brendan Behan’s song of the same name which became the anthem of the Left in Greece – this was presented at The New Theatre in 2021 and revived in 2022, before moving to London. His most recent play was Vulture (The New Theatre, 2022). More info: www.jackharte.com
