'A homage to Anthony Foley'
New play highlights women’s devotion to Munster rugby
Four friends are in Paris looking forward with excitement to Munster's clash with Racing 92 in the opening game of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Then they learn the shocking news that manager Anthony Foley has died. The four, all women and all diehard Munster supporters, make their way back to a grieving Limerick with a new perspective on life and death.
So sets the scene for ‘Red Army’, a new play created by Limerick writer Helena Close and Marie Boylan, ready to be staged for the first time at the Lime Tree Theatre later this month. Both lifelong Munster fans, who have followed the province all over Europe, they were inspired in the months after Foley's death to write a play about it from the largely unexplored viewpoint of middle-aged female rugby supporters.
“Both of us are huge Munster fans,” said Helena of when she and Marie first spoke about the play. “We were talking about the match the weekend before and we were analysing and predicting, and doing our usual. We just kind of felt: ‘there's a play in this...’
“We kind of based on it on women whom we met over the years on the terraces. They really knew their rugby inside out. They could commentate on any [TV or radio] programme
“But we don't see women represented like that,” she said of trying to redress the balance through the medium of arts. “We decided that, right, it's time! Women can be other things as well and it's not a male-dominated area, sports in general. It's great to see the changes that are happening within sporting bodies. The women's game in rugby and soccer is getting more attention. They should be equal, but we'll get there eventually.”
STAGECRAFT
Helena and Marie spent five years developing their idea and honing it for the stage. It was a very new departure for Helena, a full-time novel-writer for more than 20 years, who last month led a creative writing workshop with the TY students at Nenagh College; last year she did similar with the girls of St Mary's Secondary School.
The Carnegie Medal-nominated author worked with Marie in adapting one of her novels for the stage as part of the 2014 Limerick City of Culture series. That piqued her interest in stagecraft.
“Once you hear your writing being spoken and alive, it's completely different. I think that's when it kicked in,” Helena said of her newfound love of writing theatre. “It's a very different art form than writing novels. It's a different craft.”
She spent about a year working on the basics of playwriting with the Fishamble theatre company. Pat Kiernan, whom Helena also worked with on her 2014 project, came aboard as director and ‘Red Army’ began to take a definitive shape.
REMEMBERING AXEL
She was visiting Auschwitz in Poland when she found out that Foley was dead. It was a moment of profound sadness for Helena and the members of her family with her, already emotional after their experience of the former Nazi concentration camp. Most Munster fans will remember with similar clarity where they were on the day they heard the news, and this is a feeling that Helena tries to capture in ‘Red Army’.
“Axel's death acts as a catalyst for the four women to really assess their lives,” the playwright said. “When something so shocking happens, you kind of realise that we never know what's going to happen; you never know the day or the time it could be us...
“I absolutely loved him as a player. He had such great qualities and leadership, and a kind of gentle quietness about him. In some ways, although I didn't know him personally, I feel as if I do.”
Helena lives opposite St Munchin's College in Limerick, and she was part of the crowd that lined the road to watch Foley's funeral cortege pass by his alma mater. “We just cried our hearts out. It was such an incredibly moving and sad moment. I loved the way the people of Limerick came together for their rugby brother.”
‘STAND UP AND FIGHT’
That last reflection on strength of unity is another theme that shines through ‘Red Army’, which culminates in one of the most important matches at Thomond Park as Munster took on Glasgow Warriors just a day after Axel's funeral in Killaloe. The ‘Stand Up and Fight’ maxim is central to a play that also has plenty of lighthearted sequences to carry it through.
“Even in our darkest moments, there is light, there is fun and there is laughter,” Helena said. “That's just the way we are as humans, and particularly with the women [in the play] in their friendships and how close they are.”
This, she hoped, would widen the appeal of ‘Red Army’ well beyond rugby fans, as there is indeed something for most people to savour in this new and unique theatrical piece.
“Ultimately, it's a homage to Anthony Foley and Munster Rugby, and what he gave us and what they gave us as fans. I say it every year when I'm renewing my season ticket - and I'm in the supporters club since 2002 or 2003 - I say it every year that's it's the best money I ever spent. And, you know, it's not always about winning for me at this stage; I love the cut and thrust of the game.”
A 75-minute show, ‘Red Army’ is the Lime Tree Theatre's first in-house production. It will preview on Saturday, October 22 and run from October 24 to 29 nightly at 8pm, except for last (Saturday 29) show, which will have the slightly later kickoff of 8.15pm (because the writers will be at the Munster v Ulster game!).
The play may in future be taken on the road, depending on the success of its opening shows. These can be booked now (tickets from €25) at www.limetreetheatre.ie or box office, 061 953400.