The New Theatre Dublin presents: “The Sailor’s Dream” by Jack Harte

The ICC is delighted to welcome back Dublin’s “New Theatre”, who brings you another great play by the acclaimed Irish playwright Jack Harte. In 2022 the ICC presented Jack’s powerful play “The Laughing Boy”, about Brendan Behan. His new play “The Sailors Dream”, featuring a cast of five, promises to be equally riveting.

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.
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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.

Learn more about the show with Jack Harte on Dublin City FM.

Creative Team

Lady Jane Franklin: Darina Gallagher
Sophia Cracroft, Emily Tennyson: Gemma Allan
Kevin, Sir John Franklin, Captain William Coppin, Captain Leopold McClintock: Eoin O’Sullivan
Tom, Captain James Fitzjames, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Charles Dickens: TBC
Captain Francis Crozier, Dr John Rae: TBC

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.

About the Playwright Jack Harte: Jack Harte’s novels and short stories have been published in 13 languages. As a playwright, his debut play with ‘Language of the Mute’ ( New Theatre). ‘The Mysterious History of Things’ (Viking Theatre, 2016). ‘Lugh and Balor’, amphitheatre of Maroneia and Theatre of Komotini in Greece. ‘Killing Grandad’, ‘’The Pleasureometer’’, Outside the Club of Culture’, ‘Sing it Slantways’  and The Laughing Boy’,. all at The New Theatre; His most recent play was Vulture (The New Theatre, 2022). More info: www.jackharte.com