The Dorothy Macardle Archive and Performance Project is an arts initiative established in 2017 by actor and academic researcher Sharon McArdle and writer-director Declan Gorman, with inputs from other artists, academics and historians, examining the legacy of the Dundalk-born revolutionary and writer, Dorothy Macardle.
This page has a few resources for anyone interested in the work.
THEATRE PERFORMANCES: Scattered through are a few photos of the live theatrical production “Dorothy Macardle: Prison Notebooks” (2002) at An Táin, Kilmainham Gaol and Smock Alley. The playscript was written by Declan Gorman based on workshops, research and constant collaborative devising with Sharon McArdle. It was a 90 minute solo work drawing entirely from Dorothy’s diaries, capturing the grimy realities of everyday prison life, set against the extraordinary resilience of the women political prisoners, their songs and humour; and distinct from any other known prison writing in the almost clairvoyant descriptions of her dreams that pepper Dorothy’s daily journals. Sophie Coyle was the voice artist (singer) and Ella Clarke collaborated as movement director. A copy of the script can be requested for research purposes (only) by using the contact details on this website.
RADIO DOCUMENTARY: A 45-minute radio doumentary of the five year process leading to the production was broadcast in November 2022 on RTE Lyric FM, and can be accessed in a separate tab via this link.
FILM BY COLM MULLEN: Furthermore this link will bring you to an exquisite 2023 short film by Com Mullen, “Before me in the Dream”. Colm worked closely with Sharon – who once again performed Dorothy – delving specifically into the dream content of Dorothy’s prison journal. (I had an advisory dramaturgical role).
MIDTERM REPORT: An illustrated report with colour photos on the project’s work at mid-point (2019) as well as indications of future plans, as intended in 2019, is just below. It includes biographical information on Dorothy, who went on after the Civil War to become a major Gothic novelist and Hollywood screenwriter and later a human rights rapporteur. Click on the link below the image to open the report in a new tab.
Dorothy Macardle Project – images and text
Photos above by Tim Shearwood: SMOCK ALLEY / Photos below by Bill Sven: KILMAINHAM GAOL
Declan Gorman 