Warrior of the Táin
Writer/Director




Quintessence Theatre
An Táin Arts Centre
Photography: Genevieve Girling
“Behind every great man is a greater woman. I gave birth to the great Cúchulainn: I am the true Warrior of the Táin”
For jealousy of her husband’s prize bull, and in a vengeful bid to right old wrongs, Maeve, Queen of Connacht, takes her people to war with Ulster to steal the legendary Brown Bull Cúailnge. With the Ulstermen stricken by a curse her victory seems ensured – until Cúchulainn enters the fray, and brutally disassembles her army, her sanity, and all she has ever loved.
Stylised and expressionistic in both performance and design with a multi-rolling ensemble cast, Quintessence use their dazzling physical theatre techniques to take this epic of ancient Irish literature and breathe vivid new life into it on the An Táin stage by telling the untold side of this infamous story: through the eyes of the warrior Queen Maeve.
CAST
Fiona Keenan O'Brien
Anthony Kinahan
Leah Rossiter
Karen Kelly
James Wilson
CREATIVES & CREW
Directed by Anna Simpson
Set and Costume Design by Sophie Barlow
Dramaturgy by Paul Hayes & Anthony Kinahan
Choreographty by Anna Simpson
Additional Choreography by Fiona Keenan O'Brien
Technical Design by Anthony Quinn
Sound Design by Anna Simpson
Audio recordings, editing, & theatrical trailer by Steven Larkin
Executive Producer Paul Hayes