WINNER OF THE EAMON KEANE FULL LENGTH PLAY AWARD 2022 AT LISTOWEL WRITERS’ WEEK, IRELAND

ABOUT

Search + Rescue is a contemporary retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Sumerian epic poem that tells of a cruel and reckless young king’s quest to rescue his friend from death. In present-day Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, trawler captain Gillen refuses to accept the loss at sea of his first mate.

PLACE

The action takes place initially in a pub near Dún Laoghaire, a harbour town to the south of Dublin City, before moving to the deck and wheelhouse of the semi-pelagic fishing trawler Ishtar.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

GILLEN, late 30s, volatile skipper of the fishing trawler Ishtar.

ESSAM, mid-30s, Iraqi-Irish first mate of the Ishtar.

DR. UNA PITKIN, middle-aged psychiatrist treating Gillen.

SAOIRSE, late-20s, manager of the local pub.

CHARLIE, mid-50s, the Ishtar‘s grizzled engineer.

TOMO, early 20s, browbeaten deckhand.

SCAIRP, 30s, client of the local methadone clinic. Also DEBORAH, Irish Coast Guard member.

ANTO, 30s, Scairp’s boyfriend. Also COLM, Irish Coast Guard member.