Classic Irish myth of revenge and betrayal in poetic retelling

The story of Deirdre and the Sons of Usna ... a story of love, hatred and revenge

The story of the beautiful Deirdre and the Sons of Usna is one of the great tragedies of Irish myth. The birth of a girl heralded by omens of a vulture-shrouded sky begins the drama of a King's obsession and a land divided. When Deirdre unites with her lover Naoise and goes into exile with the Sons of Usna, the stage is set for betrayal and bloodthirsty revenge that will plunge all Ulster into darkness.

Vincent Woods's poetic retelling of the myth of Deirdre transforms this timeless story into a compelling contemporary drama.

Published to tie in with the world premiere at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in June 2005

Vincent Woods was born in Co. Leitrim in 1960. His plays include At The Black Pig's Dyke (Druid Theatre Company,1992); Song of the Yellow Bluern (Druid 1994), and On the Way Out (Skehana Theatre Company, 2002). His work has been staged in Ireland, the US, England, Canada and Australia and has been translated into French, German and Irish. He worked as a journalist and broadcaster before becoming a full-time writer. He adapted Ignazio Silone's novel Fontamara for stage and has written a version of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi; two plays for children: The Brown Man and The Donkey Prince; and radio plays, including The Leitrim Hotel and The Gospels of Aughuinore.