In the Abbey Theatre’s new play Shush, award winning writer Elaine Murphy tests the   resilience of five women attempting to hold on to their sense of self against the ebb and flow of life.  

Shush, an entertaining and witty view on Irish women’s lives, receives its world premiere on the Abbey stage on Wednesday, 12 June. Jim Culleton directs a talented all female ensemble of Eva Bartley, Barbara Brennan, Niamh Daly, Deirdre Donnelly and Ruth Hegarty.

Creating work that connects with audiences is the driving force behind Elaine Murphy who sprung into the public eye with her debut monologue play Little Gem in 2008, delighting Irish and international audiences. Elaine’s relationship with the Abbey Theatre began in 2009 with a commission to write a script for The Fairer Sex short play reading series. Recently the Abbey Theatre featured a full production of Ribbons as part of a double bill in the Short Play Season at the Peacock Theatre.  

Speaking about Elaine Murphy, Abbey Theatre’s Literary Director Aideen Howard says: 

“As a writer Elaine has a great gift for characterisation and an amazing ear for comedy. I know with Jim as director of this wonderful cast, he will bring out all the humanity, hilarity and wit in Shush. It is very exciting to give Elaine Murphy her debut on the Abbey stage alongside an exciting new generation of playwrights such as Nancy Harris, Stacey Gregg and Carmel Winters whose work we have premiered at the Abbey Theatre.”

Shush is about Breda, a woman losing everything familiar and solid in her life and being forced to let go of the life she thought she had.  Friends Marie, Ursula, Breda and Irene attempt to rescue her from physical and emotional chaos only to reveal the many demons lurking under the surface of their lives. Shush shows us how our friends prop us up when we become overwhelmed and is a funny and insightful portrayal of how women deal with adversity.

To book tickets to Shush, see www.abbeytheatre.ie, or call 01 878 7222. Or of course you could win them, right here!

Irish women have a unique ability to turn a phrase, whether it’s a comment on the weather or passing on words of wisdom, nothing is as distinctive as what Irish Women Say.

So to honour that, we want to know what the women in your life say. The two best responses will each win a pair of tickets to Shush for Friday 14^th June . You can email your answers to info@her.ie, with Shush in the subject line. Good luck!