''Ballyturk'' is a play by

Enda Walsh Enda Walsh (born 1967) is an Irish playwright. Biography Enda Walsh was born in Kilbarrack, North Dublin on February 7, 1967. His father ran a furniture shop and his mother had been an actress. He is the second youngest of six children. Wal ...

. Walsh states that ''Ballyturk'' should
‘bypass the intellect and go straight to the bones.’"
The play was first performed at the Black Box Theatre, Galway on July 14, 2014 in a co-production between

Landmark Productions Landmark Productions is a theatre production company in Dublin, Ireland. Established in 2003 by Anne Clarke, Landmark produces plays in Ireland and tours Irish work abroad. The company has an association with a number of Irish writers including E ...

and the

Galway International Arts Festival The Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF), founded in 1978, is a cultural organization that produces an annual arts festival in Galway, Ireland. It also produces new work that tours nationally and internationally, in addition to presenting ...

. and subsequently at the

Olympia Theatre, Dublin The Olympia Theatre, known for sponsorship and advertising purposes as the 3Olympia Theatre, is a concert hall and theatre venue in Dublin, Ireland, located on Dame Street. In addition to Irish acts, the venue has played host to many well-known ...

Cork Opera House Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in Ireland. The first venue opened in 1855 on Emmet Place (then known as Nelson's Place) to the rear of the Crawford Art Gallery. This original building was destroyed by fire in 1955, and a ...

and National Theatre in London. It was the winner of the award for Best Production at the 2015

Irish Times Theatre Awards The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards recognise outstanding achievements in Irish theatre. History The awards were founded in 1997 by ''The Irish Times''. Awards were established in numerous categories, ranging from design, to acting, to overall ...

In 2017, the play was revived at the

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...

and in early 2018 played at

St. Ann's Warehouse St. Ann's Warehouse is a performing arts institution in Brooklyn, New York City. Formerly the Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity on Montague Street, in 1980 the site was converted into a venue for classical music. Initially known as ''Arts a ...

in Brooklyn, NY. In this revival - again produced by Landmark Productions and

- Tadhg Murphy played 1, Mikel Murfi returned as 2 and

Olwen Fouere In Welsh mythology, Olwen (or Olwyn) is the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden and cousin of Goreu. She is the heroine of the story ''Culhwch and Olwen'' in the Mabinogion. Her father is fated to die if she ever marries, so when Culhwch (sometimes ...

played 3.

Synopsis

Two unnamed male characters (1, in his late 30s, and 2, in his mid-40s)Ballyturk, NHB Modern Plays, live in a single-room dwelling and discuss an imaginary town in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

called Ballyturk. Later, the rear wall of the dwelling opens to reveal the outside world. A third, older, unnamed male (3) enters from the outside and explains that one must stay and the other leave. The wall closes with 3 outside. After deliberation, 1 leaves to join 3 and 2 stays. The wall reopens and 1 leaves. 2 stays and 1 is replaced in the dwelling by a seven-year-old girl.

Original cast

Cillian Murphy Cillian Murphy (; born 25 May 1976) is an Irish actor. Originally the lead singer, guitarist, and lyricist of the rock band The Sons of Mr. Green Genes, he turned down a record deal in the late 1990s and began acting on stage and in short and ...

as 1 * Mikel Murfi as 2 *

Stephen Rea Stephen Rea ( ; born 31 October 1946) is an Irish film and stage actor. Rea has appeared in films such as ''V for Vendetta'', ''Michael Collins'', ''Interview with the Vampire'' and ''Breakfast on Pluto''. Rea was nominated for the Academy Award ...

as 3 and others

References

{{Reflist 2010 plays Plays by Enda Walsh