The Fabulous Doctor Singer Image

The Fabulous Doctor Singer

13 October 2020 - 47 mins
Podcast Series Drama on Newstalk

Written by Niall Murphy The Fabulous Doctor Singer is based on true events from 1950s Ireland & brings to life the main players involved in a scandalous stamp collection scam that lead to one of the lengthiest court cases in the history of the Irish state. It tells the story of the most unlikely pyramid scheme of the 20th century and the flamboyant huckster, who masterminded it Dr. Paul Singer.

Starring Steve Furst, Colin Murphy & Phelim Drew and an ensemble cast featuring Cillian O'Dee, Janet Phillips, Peter Campion, Maurice O'Donoghue, Donagh Deeney, Michelle Read, Marcus Lamb, Liam Heffernan, Gráinne Bleasdale and Sean T Ó Meallaigh this black comedy recounts the tale of an outrageous sc...

47 mins

Series Episodes

The Man Who Talks To Statues

The Man Who Talks To Statues

Drama on Newstalk presents “The Man Who Talks To Statues”. An original radio drama that tells the story of Darryl, a thirty-year-old Corkonian. Darryl crashes his father’s car, following which he goes on a magic realist road trip to Limerick and Dublin, encountering characters ranging from suspicious locals to deceased celebrities and historical figures. Darryl has a unique capacity for speaking to statues and during the story he interacts with characters such as Richard Harris, Phil Lynott and Molly Malone. Darryl’s road trip includes acts of hedonism, aggression, denial and punch-drunk self-reflection. He is more than a little bit lost and we’re never quite sure what’s real or what’s imagined or, indeed, if it’s salvation or an escape route he’s looking for. Written and performed by Shane Casey (The Young Offenders) and produced by Ruth Hayes (Whispers) The Man Who Talks To Statues is a contemporary story of a young man lost. Reflecting a sense of disconnect and disenfranchisement which is so often present in young men in today’s Irish culture. According to the report by the Men’s Health forum published in 2020 by Dr Paula Devine and Dr Erin Early under the title Men’s Health in Numbers (MHFI pg 16.) ‘The mental health of males in the Republic of Ireland and NI is of increasing concern.’ Though mental health is one of the underlying themes, The Man Who talks to Statues aims to bring us on an entertaining and energetic journey with the main character DARRYL. ‘The Man Who Talks To Statues’ was written and performed by Shane Casey. Produced by Ruth Hayes. Directed by Brian Desmond. Sound Design and Sound Engineer Cormac O Connor. Additional Cast Michael Sands and Ruth Hayes The programme was produced with funding from the Coimisiún na Meán Sound and Vision scheme.

47 mins

19 November 2023 Finished

The Murder Of Mark Clinton

The Murder Of Mark Clinton

‘Murdered while ploughing a field in Meath, belonging to his uncle, Mark Clinton was the victim of a widespread campaign by ex-British soldiers to grab land and re-divide it before the dawn of the Irish Free State. A group of local volunteers spent the next three months (and beyond) avenging his death.’   Synopsis:  This is based on a true story from May 1920 (ending in 1923) that shows the chaotic social landscape in Ireland at the time. This is a commemorative piece to remember some of the atrocities that happened in the lead up to the inception of the Irish Free State. It’s a glimpse into a country caught in a ‘leadership vacuum’, where law and order were a lot different than today. The story starts in 1920, but ends on the 6th of January, 1923, when the volunteers who avenged Mark’s death, finally got a land governed by their ‘own’.  'The Murder Of Mark Clinton’ was Produced by Jonathan Farrelly and was funded by Coimisiún Na Meán with the Television Licence Fee.   Acting Credits: Stephen Gillick, John Grant, Dara Swaine, Mark Smyth, Seamus Waters, Mark Coffee, Gary Kenna, Amrit Sandhu and Michael Ryan.

45 mins

16 October 2023 Finished

#ANTIGONE

#ANTIGONE

Playwright Colin Murphy brings an ancient classic right up the present day in Antigone, the story of a plague, a refugee crisis, a coup, and a body too dangerous to be buried.  A plague. A refugee crisis. A coup. This is #ANTIGONE - a dystopian alternative Ireland in which the worst fears of the pandemic have been realised, social order has collapsed, and a military government is attempting to restore order by setting a brutal example. Antigone is the classic account of the conflict between the individual and the State. It is the story of a body too toxic to be buried, a State afraid of a funeral, a people under siege, a city under curfew, a collapse in political authority, and a conflict between loyalty to family and duty to state. In this new version, General Críon, the first female head of the armed forces, has seized power in a coup, in a bid to defend the State both from the plague that is ravaging Europe and from the influx of refugees that are desperately trying to escape the plague. Críon has given her troops licence to turn back refugee boats at sea and shoot new migrants arriving on our shores, under the pretext that they may be carrying contagion, and ordered that the dead bodies not be touched, for fear of infection. Meanwhile, her son, Éamonn, an aid worker in the refugee camp, has fallen in love with a refugee, Antigone. When Antigone’s brother's body washes up on the beach, Antigone flouts Críon's edict against burial, risking both infection and punishment. Críon fears not merely the spread of the literal contagion, but a moral contagion arising from Antigone’s disobedience, and sentences Antigone, her would-be daughter-in-law, to death. Funded by Coimisiún na Meán, #ANTIGONE is a new version of the 2,500-year-old Sophocles play by Colin Murphy, written in response to the pandemic. It draws out these contemporary resonances, provoking insight into the socio-political fault lines of recent history: the trauma of not being able to properly mourn our dead; the extreme restriction of individual rights in the name of the greater good; the heightened fear of the other (both in the pandemic and in successive migration "crises"); the potential abuse of an emergency to consolidate state power. Colin Murphy is one of the country’s leading political dramatists. He has written numerous plays on Irish political history, most recently The Treaty for Fishamble: the New Play Company; his screenplays include The Guarantee and The Bailout. His new play, The United States Versus Ulysses, will premiere at the Pavilion Dun Laoghaire this November. Credits: Antigone was written and produced by Colin Murphy and directed by Aoife Spillane-Hinks. Incidental music, sound design, post-production and editing was by Simon Kenny. It was funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee, and with additional support from the Arts Council. Antigone was played by Leah Minto Críon was played by Derbhle Crotty Éamonn was played by Rowan Finken Ismene was played by Shauna Harris Traolach was played by Arthur Riordan Sophie Messenger was played by Karen Ardiff Theo Elder was played by Morgan Jones Professor Choragos was played by Jonathan White The Guard was played by Killian Scott  

46 mins

2 October 2023 Finished

Changing Coasts

Changing Coasts

Set in an Irish coastal town threatened by sea level rise, the story follows two researchers tasked with interviewing the remaining residents about the area's past, present and uncertain future. The researchers hold opposing views about the importance of their work and, as they learn more about the people they meet, their differences of opinion reach breaking point. It is a story set in the near future but very much drawing on the concerns of today, delving into contemporary debates around our relationship with nature, activism, migration and the challenges facing rural communities. Changing Coasts was performed by Kwaku Fortune (Normal People, Hidden Assets), Geraldine McAlinden (The Last Rifleman, Bad Sisters), Maria McDermottroe (The Dead, Glenroe), Paul Murphy (Aisha), Brian Mulvey (Foundation) and Aleesha Joe (Bad Sisters). Sound recording was by Stephen McHale, music by Emer Landers and editing by Rob Flynn. Changing Coasts is a Bear Print Media production funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the television license fee.

44 mins

2 May 2023 Finished

How I Murdered Lucrezia

How I Murdered Lucrezia

Newstalk presents a new radio drama, ‘How I Murdered Lucrezia’ adapted from a short story by Órfhlaith Foyle. Set in an Irish secondary school, outside Galway city, it is a meditation on lust, violence and obsession. A High School shooting has taken place with recently arrived student Lucrezia the victim. Her killer is a boy named Jones Maddox, who commits the act under coercion from Caitlin Purcell. Caitlin is a former friend of Lucrezia, who continues to harbour an infatuation with her. The story follows Caitlin and Jones’ descent into fury and the ultimate act of killing. This contemporary radio drama deals with pertinent themes of violence and racism in the school system. It skewers teen culture, bullying and social media throughout. Caitlin is a sociopath and Jones is under her spell. Her actions are prefaced by a disturbed home life and rejection by her friend Lucrezia. The tension builds as the play reaches its horrible denouement. The audience is asked to question its loyalties as the main characters go a step too far and commit the heinous crime in a thought provoking and entertaining drama. ‘How I Murdered Lucrezia’ was written and directed by Órfhlaith Foyle. Produced, recorded and edited by Alan Meaney. Script Editing by Gabrielle Fullam. Music composed and performed by Eamonn Bailey. The cast are Anais Rizzo, Shannon Martin, Shane McDonagh, Joan Gildea, Eimir Creedon, Austin Prior, Aoibhé Hopkins and Jimi McDonnell. The programme was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with the Televison Licence Fee. ‘How I Murdered Lucrezia' is adapted from Órfhlaith Foyle’s short story of same title and was first published in The Wales Arts Review then later published in her second short story collection 'Clemency Browne Dreams of Gin' (Arlen House) in 2015. She has adapted it for radio for this project.

46 mins

13 March 2023 Finished

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