Showing results by narrator "The Red Dog Theatre Company" in All Categories

As the 19th century draws towards a close, Mary Ann Sate, an elderly maidservant, sets out to write her truth. She writes of the valleys that she loves, of the poisonous rivalry between her employer's two sons, and of a terrible choice which tore her world apart. Her haunting and poignant story brings to life a period of strife and rapid social change, and evokes the struggles of those who lived in poverty and have been forgotten by history. In this fictional found memoir, novelist Alice Jolly uses the astonishing voice of Mary Ann to recreate history from a woman's perspective.

The extraordinary range of work gathered here is united by a fascination with how everyday interactions can transform our lives in unpredictable ways. These are stories of lonely people, outcasts and misfits, and the ghosts that inhabit our intimate spaces. The result is a compelling, arresting and, at times, devastating collection – not least in the title story, which was inspired by the tragic true events of the 1943 Cavan orphanage fire.