Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer
A Play On Words Theatre Production, Written & Performed by Aidan Dooley
Following its sold out run here in 2018, Aidan Dooley’s brilliant production of Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer comes back to the ICC by public demand!
See the multi-award winning theatre show about one of Ireland’s unsung heroes – featuring riveting true stories of serving with Captains Scott and Shackleton on 3 famous Arctic expeditions: Discovery, Terra Nova and Endurance.
Crean’s story is a testament of human fortitude against all the elements of the Antarctic. His 36 mile solitary trek during the Terra Nova expedition to rescue two comrades has been described by Antarctic historians, as “the finest feat of individual heroism from the entire age of exploration”. He was subsequently awarded the Albert Medal for his bravery.
In this stunning performance, intrepid Antarctic explorer Crean is dramatically and humorously brought to life by leading actor Aidan Dooley.
Watch a preview from Play on Words Theatre below:
Doors: 7.00pm; Starts: 7.30pm
Tickets: £15/13
ABOUT THE PLAY:
Tom Crean, the intrepid Antarctic explorer and one of Ireland’s unsung heroes, is brought to life in this dramatic and humorous solo performance by Aidan Dooley.
Hear the riveting true stories of Crean’s Antarctic explorations as one of the few men to serve with both Scott and Shackleton and survive the three famous expeditions: Discovery, (1901 – 1904); Terra Nova (1910 – 1913); and Endurance (1914 – 1916).
Crean’s story is a testament of human fortitude against all the elements of the Antarctic. His 36 mile solitary trek to base camp during the Terra Nova expedition to rescue his comrades Teddy Evans and William Lashly has been described by Antarctic historians, as “the finest feat of individual heroism from the entire age of exploration”. He was subsequently awarded the Albert Medal for his bravery.
This multi-award winning show has now played critically acclaimed sell-out performances throughout Ireland, USA, Australia, Europe and the UK.
ABOUT THE REAL TOM CREAN:
Thomas Crean (Irish: Tomás Ó Cuirín; c. 16 February 1877 – 27 July 1938) was an Irish seaman and Antarctic explorer who was awarded the Albert Medal for Lifesaving (AM).
Crean was a member of three major expeditions to Antarctica during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, including Robert Falcon Scott’s 1911–1913 Terra Nova Expedition. This saw the race to reach the South Pole lost to Roald Amundsen and ended in the deaths of Scott and his party. During the expedition, Crean’s 35-statute-mile (56 km) solo walk across the Ross Ice Shelf to save the life of Edward Evans led to him receiving the Albert Medal.
Crean left the family farm near Annascaul, in County Kerry, to enlist in the Royal Navy at age 16. In 1901, while serving on Ringarooma in New Zealand, he volunteered to join Scott’s 1901–1904 Discovery Expedition to Antarctica, thus beginning his exploring career.
After his experience on the Terra Nova, Crean’s third and final Antarctic venture was as second officer on Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. After the ship Endurance became beset in the pack ice and sank, Crean and the ship’s company spent 492 days drifting on the ice before undertaking a journey in the ship’s lifeboats to Elephant Island. He was a member of the crew which made a small-boat journey of 800 nautical miles (1,500 km) from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island to seek aid for the stranded party.
After retiring from the navy on health grounds in 1920, Crean ran his pub the South Pole Inn in County Kerry with his wife and daughters. He died in 1938.
ABOUT AIDAN DOOLEY:
Aidan is from Galway. He trained at Guilford School of Acting and works as a freelance actor, writer and director in London. Highlights of his career as an actor include ‘Philadelphia Here I Come’ – Wyndhams Theatre London. ‘Elegies for Angels’ – Criterion Theatre London. ‘DA’ – White Bear Theatre London. ‘Players and Painted Stage’, ‘Last Apache Reunion’ – SOS Theatre Bristol. National Tours of ‘Tales of the Lost Formicans’ – Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company, ‘Julius Caesar’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ .
He first performed ‘Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer’ ten years ago at Siamsa Tire, Tralee for Tom Crean’s family and then at the Medway Fuse Festival followed by The New York International Fringe Festival (Best Solo Show Award Winner). He has also been nominated for awards at The Dublin Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival and The Elliot Norton Theatre Critics Award Boston and in 2006 won the prestigious Fringe First at Edinburgh. He was seen in Galway Girl and Melody (Celctic Coupling) in the UK Fuse Festival. He has toured his new solo show O’Sullivan Beara – The Last Gaelic Chieftain in April / July this year. He has worked for many years developing various performance pieces and historical characters for all the National Museums in England including the National Maritime Museum Greenwich where the idea of a performance on Tom Crean originated.
He is a Co-Director of Play On Words Theatre Company and after this tour Aidan has worked for many years developing various performance pieces and historical characters for all the National Museums in England including the National Maritime Museum. He is an Associate Lecturer in drama at Canterbury Christ Church University. He lives in Rochester with his wife Miriam and has two children Liam and Nancy.
More information: www.tomcreanshow.com
PRESS REVIEWS:
“a remarkable and uplifting piece of theatre, gives everything and asks nothing.” – Emer O’Kelly, Sunday Independent Dublin
“This magnificent revelation of a fascinating character simply compels a standing ovation.” – Gerry Colgan, The Irish Times Dublin
“You will go to then end of the earth to find theatre this rewarding.” – Murray Bramwell, The Australian
“An unparalleled portrayal.” – Gina Bellafante New York Times
More information: www.tomcreanshow.com
Awards & Accolades for Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer
Fringe First Award Winner – Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006
Best Solo Performance Award Winner – New York International Fringe Festival 2003
Outstanding Performance Award nomination – Elliot Norton Theatre Critics Award Boston 2006
Best Actor nomination – Dublin Fringe Festival 2003
Adelaide Fringe Award nomination – Best Theatre Work by Established Artiste 2007
