Biography:

Miriam Gallagher, playwright, novelist & screenwriter, was born in Waterford and studied Drama in London (LAMDA). Since 1983, over twenty plays have been performed in Ireland, Europe, USA & Canada and work translated into Irish, Dutch, Finnish and Russian. Her Selected Plays are published: Fancy Footwork (Soc. Irish Playwrights, 1997, 2nd Edition) and include Fancy Footwork, The Sealwoman & The Fisher, Dreamkeeper, Just Desserts & Shyllag. Rté has broadcast her radio plays, her essays on Sunday Miscellany, and her film Gypsies, screened in New York's Lincoln Center & San Francisco.

Miriam has received awards from the Arts Council, EU Theatre Award, MHA (Mental Health Association) Tv Script Award and a Writer's Exchange to Finland. She has also received awards from The Cultural Committee of Dpt. of Foreign Affairs, most recently in 2000, to present work at the 5th International Women's Playwrights Conference in Athens & Delphi. Her full length screenplay Girls in Silk Kimonos (celebrating the Gore Booth sisters) received Arts Council and European Script Fund Awards.

She has given readings, creative writing courses and lectures at universities in Dublin, New York, Boston & Pretoria. She has given scriptwriting courses for Rté Training Unit, creative writing courses for prisoners and has worked in professional, prison & community theatre. The Ring of Mont de Balison, commissioned for Ranelagh Millennium Project, was performed by professional and community actors, young and old. Fancy Footwork, commissioned for 1983 Dublin Theatre Festival, was performed by Mountjoy Prisoners at Focus Theatre, Dublin: a unique occasion, being the only time in the history of the State that prisoners were released to perform in a professional theatre.

Recently two plays were performed in California. In 2001 Kalahari Blues, commissioned by Galloglass Theatre Co., toured nationwide while The Mighty Oak of Riverwood, commissioned to celebrate 40 years of Betty Ann Norton Theatre School, was performed at the Gate Theatre. Her fiction is published in anthologies of Irish Writing & literary journals; essays in film & arts journals. Her mss are in the National Library and film work in the Irish Film Archive

A member of Irish PEN, Miriam has served on its committee and as vice president. She has also served on the executive council of the Society of Irish Playwrights and as a judge for the O.Z. Whitehead Play Competition. A member of Irish Writers Union, she has served on the committee. She works for Arts & Disability Forum as a member of the Awards Panel.

She is currently writing a commissioned community play for Clare Co. Council. Previously she worked in Clare giving workshops for Bealtaine (to foster creative in older people) Author of Fancy Footwork (Selected plays) and Let’s Help Our children Talk (non fiction), her novel Song for Salamander is published in 2004

Productions:

‘The Gold of Tradaree’ (commissioned by Clare Co. Council)
2001 'Kalahari Blues', Galloglass Theatre Co. Commissison + National Tour.
2001 'The Mighty Oak of Riverwood', Gate Theatre,Dublin.
(commissioned to celebrate 4oth year of Betty Ann Norton Theatre Academy)
2000 'Midhir & The Firefly' (Hollister, California, USA)
1999 'The Nude Who Painted Back' (Moving Spirale) Dublin & Paris.
1994 ' Gypsies', Rté, IFC, Cinemagic, Lincoln Center, New York, San Francisco
1993 'Shyllag', Andrews Lane Theatre, Rté.
1990 'Just Desserts', Andrews Lane Theatre.
1989 'Fights of Angels' : Community Drama Programme + Tour.
1989 'Bohemians': National Concert Hall, Garter Lane, Waterford.
1988 'Nocturne', National Concert Hall, Arts Centres.
1988 'The Ring of Mont de Balison' , Millennium Commission.
1987 'Dusty Bluebells', Damer Hall, Samuel Beckett Centre + Tour.
1986 'William Vincent Wallace', Rté.
1986 'Carolan's Cap', Rté, National Concert Hall, Helsinki, Estonia.
1985 'Labels', Dublin Theatre Festival.
1985 'Omlettes', Pentameters Hampstead, Andrews Lane Th. Dublin, Drama Fests.
1985 'Lemon Soufflé', Pentameters Hampstead, Andrews Lane Th. Dublin, Dr. Fests
1984 'Dreamkeeper', ContemporEire'84 and USA, Drama Festivals
1984 'The Sealwoman and the Fisher', ContemporEire'84, Canada + Drama Fests
1983 'Fancy Footwork', Dublin Theatre Festival, King's Head, London, Drama Fests

Publications:

Song for Salamander [novel] (2004, Trafford,Victoria, BC, Canada)
Fancy Footwork (1997 Second Edition ) Soc. Irish Playwrights.
Let's Help Our Children Talk (1977 O'Brien Press. Paperback '79)
Leer Uw Kind Praten (Dutch Tr.: Maria Brandt Buys)
Drama + Short Stories in Anthologies of Irish Writing and in Arts Journals.
Essays: commissioned by British Film Institute, Irish Theatre Forum (UCD), Irish Times.
Dramatists in Education, Communication Through Drama. (LEARN Journal)
World Cinema- Diary of a Day (1994 BFI)
Overview'95 Films For Children and Young people (CIFEJ Montreal),
Published Irish Women Writers of Literature (1992 Attic Press)
Contemporary Irish Women Playwrights (1990 Oxford Uni. Press)
Contemporary Irish Women Writers (forthcoming publication New York 2005)

By the same author:

Plays
Fancy Footwork
Dreamkeeper
The Sealwoman & The Fisher
Labels
Dusty Bluebells
The Ring of Mont de Balison
Fight of Angels
Omlettes
Lemon Soufflé
Easter Eggs
Carolan's Cap; 'Nocturne'; Bohemians (Celebrating Irish Composers)
Shyllag
William Vincent Wallace
The Mighty Oak of Riverwood
Chance and The Elixir
Witch Hayzel of Muddling Manor
Kalahari Blues
Nasturtiums and Cherry Buns
The Nude Who Painted Back (in collaboration with Mia Gallagher + N. Rafal)

Screenplays
Gypsies
Kevin
Girls in Silk Kimonos
Desire
From Ehkaterina With Love

Publications

Drama
Fancy Footwork (Selected Plays. 1991/'97. Soc. Ir Playwrights)

Fiction
Song for Salamander [novel] (2004, Trafford, Victoria, BC, Canada)
Short Stories published in Anthologies of Irish Writing.

Non Fiction
Let's Help Our Children Talk (1977/'79 , O' Brien Press, hdbk, ppbk)
Leer Uw Kind Praten (1979 Dutch Translation by Maria Brandt Buys)
Essays published in literary, film, educational and Arts journals.

Plays:

FANCY FOOTWORK (Published)

Performed: Dublin Theatre Festival/ King's Head,London/Macra Fests

One act comedy with a stylised boxing fight between Tornado Tom, King of the Ring and the newcomer Champion Joe.

Cast: 1 F - 4 M ( No set)

THE SEALWOMAN & THE FISHER(Published)

Performed : ContemporEire'84/ Macra & Am. Dr. Circuit/ Slogadh + Canada

One act play (dance/music) The God of Christianity and the old Seagod struggle for a fisherman's soul.

Cast: 1 F - 1 M, Sea, Chorus (M or F) ( No set)

DREAMKEEPER(Published)

Performed : ContemporÉire'84 & Am. Drama Fests + Hollister , California , USA .

One act play. A girl's world is changed by a hermit who carries the dreams of the world in a sack.

Cast: 1 F- 1 M ( No set)  

JUST DESSERTS (Omlettes, Lemon Soufflé, Easter Eggs)

(3 Published & Performed . Plays performed as one full length or separately)

 1. OMLETTES (Published)

Performed: : Pentamaters,London/Dublin Theatre Fest./Am. Drama Fests.

One act black comedy, set in a restaurant. A sardonic commentary on the illusion of choice.

Cast: 3 Waiters (M or F) + 2F +3M

2. LEMON SOUFFLÉ (Published)

Performed : Pentamaters, London/Andrews Lane Theatre, Dublin .

One act dreamlike play, set in an old abbey where an engagement party causes friction.

Cast: 3 F - 4 M

3. EASTER EGGS (Published)

Performed : Andrews Lane Theatre .

One act comedy in blank verse. Lucy 's magic birthday party is full of strange surprises.

Cast: Magician (F or M) + 4 F +2 M

LABELS (Published)

Performed : Dublin Theatre Festival.

Full length play (surrealist tragi comedy, partly inspired by the death of Elvis) A crisis for a middleaged doctor, accused of overprescribing.

Cast: 4 F - 4 M

 DUSTY BLUEBELLS (Published)

Performed : Damer/Samuel Beckett Centre/ Community & VEC.

Full length play uses women's prison as microcosm (+ mime/music) Prisoners perform Mikado as foreign investors threaten action.

Cast: 8 F- 3 M

 SHYLLAG (Published)

Performed : Andrews Lane Theatre , Rté Radio. Presented at 4th Int. Women Playwrights' Conference, University of Galway , 1997. RTE Radio version 1999.

Full length play. A Travelling Player (Everywoman) waiting for her train, opens a Pandora's box of love, struggle and confusion.

Cast:1 F (Can be played by a group - as broadcast by Rté radio)

 THE RING OF MONT de BALISON (Published)

Performed : : Ranelagh Millenium Project (Ranelagh & Rathmines) + video

One act play, tracing the fate of lovers through the ages, who wear a ring found near Mont de Balison ( Norman garrison in Ranelagh)

Cast: Myriads (+ mime/dance/music)

 CAROLAN'S CAP (Published)

Performed : Nat. Concert Hall, RTÉ, Carolan Fest, Keadue, Helsinki , Turku + Estonia .

One Act Interlude, celebrating Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) the great Irish Harper Composer. CAROLAN entertains with wit, laughter and delicious conviviality, through all of which flows the genius of his MUSIC, making a seamless tapestry of dramatic colour.

Cast: 1M + Musicians

 BOHEMIANS (Published)

Performed: National Concert Hall, RTÉ, Garter Lane & Dundalk Arts Centres.

One Act Interlude, celebrating William W. WALLACE (1812-1865) and Michael W. BALFE (1808 -1870) Composers are conjured up by ZIGEUNERIN, a hopeful soprano who wants to commission an opera. Highly comic & colourful joust.

Cast: 2M 1F + Pianist

 NOCTURNE (Published)

Performed: National Concert Hall, Dublin Millenium "Field Days".

One Act Interlude, celebrating John Field (1782- 1837) creator of the Nocturne. The Composer's father, Robert Field , chances upon Ehkaterina Karaminskova , a capricous beauty, in love with John Field . Dreamy and enigmatic.

Cast: 1M 1F + Pianist

MIDHIR & THE FIREFLY

Performed : Martin Murphy High School , Hollister , California

One act play inspired by old Celtic tale of Midhir and Etain.

Cast: 2F -3M + CHORUS (F or M) + Dancers (music/dance)

 THE NUDE WHO PAINTED BACK

(Based on an original idea by Mia Gallagher )

Performed: Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College , Dublin & Le Petit Hébertôt Theatre, Paris , France . Presented at University of Athens , 5th Int. Women Playwrights' Conference 2000.

Full length play inspired by the life and work of Suzanne Valadon , painter & model who lived and worked in Paris at the turn of the 1900s.

Cast: 2 F + chanteuse.

 THE MIGHTY OAK OF RIVERWOOD

(Commissioned to celebrate 40 yrs of Betty Ann Norton Theatre Academy )

Performed: Gate Theatre Dublin , and Crypt Arts Centre, Dublin Castle .

One Act play for Children. When woodland creatures discover that the Mighty Oak is suffering from a mysterious sickness, the Wise Woman of the Wood helps them solve the mystery.

Cast: mighty oak, wind, voices & oak leaves, branches, roots. wise woman of the wood, brid badger, breffni badger, oisin owl, fiacra deer, ferdia fox, roisin rabbit, grainne wren, malachi robin, fish. mayor, aldermen.

KALAHARI BLUES

(Commissioned by Galloglass Theatre Co. for National Tour 2001)

Performances in Civic Theatre, Dublin , Waterford , Sligo , Wexford etc.

One act play. When Liam , a dishevelled would be author, meets Afric in his dilapidated lodgings, he discovers that the house is to become the latest dream machine on the world wide web by rightmove@dreamsite.com

Cast: 2F. 2 M.

 CHANCE & THE ELIXIR

New Play

Full length play. St ron gly visual with folkoric/mythic elements. Edward Chance , an explorer, is accused of killing a native girl from a Rain Forest tribe. He stands trial in French Ghiana. Colourful with mime/dance/music/magic.

Cast: 7F 7M (Actors can double on parts if needed)

 NASTURTIUMS & CHERRY BUNS

New Play

One act comedy. Three women meet by chance in a Dublin café with comic and startling results.

Cast: 3 F

AWF Magazine Articles:

Shyllag, A short story by Miriam Galagher