Audiobooks Narrated by Finbar Lynch

The Playboy of the Western World & The Well of Saints: Two Full-Cast BBC Radio Drama Productions

"Two of J M Synge’s remarkable plays and an exploration of the man, his work and his life on the Aran Islands J M Synge was one of the giants of Irish theatre, and a leading dramatist of the Irish Literary Renaissance. Together with W B Yeats and others, he co-founded Dublin’s famous Abbey Theatre in 1904, and was a director there until his death in 1909. He is best known for his comic masterpiece The Playboy of the Western World, which appears here alongside his dark comedy The Well of the Saints and the illuminating documentary Synge Song. The Playboy of the Western World – When handsome adventurer Christy Mahon walks into a pub in County Mayo, claiming to have killed his violent father, landlord’s daughter Pegeen is smitten. She’s not the only villager to be beguiled by his bravery and his tall tales, and Christy soon achieves the status of local hero – until another stranger arrives in town… Aisling O’Sullivan and Finbar Lynch star in this classic play, which caused riots during its opening run at the Abbey Theatre in 1907. The Well of the Saints – Set in a lonely, mountainous district of Ireland, this blackly comic play tells the story of Martin and Mary Doul, old, blind beggars who have been tricked by the local villagers into believing they are beautiful. A wandering saint restores their sight with water from a holy well, but this miracle cure brings more problems than it solves, as their eyes are opened to their own ugliness and the harsh realities of life. Starring Cyril Cusack and Marie Kean, this 1971 radio production was broadcast to mark the 100th anniversary of Synge's birth. Synge Song – Before he was a playwright, Synge was a talented composer, and a sense of music informs everything he wrote for the stage. Visiting the Aran Islands, where Synge spent several summers, musician and writer Ann Mann looks at the sights and sounds that inspired him, talking to Aran Islanders and Synge scholars about the source of his unique language – his ‘Synge song.’ Interspersed with their insights are extracts from his compositions for violin and piano, and readings from his work by Kate Binchy and Jim Norton. First published 1905 (The Well of the Saints), 1907 (The Playboy of the Western World) Cast and credits Written by J M Synge The Playboy of the Western World Pegeen Mike – Aisling O’Sullivan Christy Mahon – Finbar Lynch Sean Kheough – Lloyd Hutchinson Widow Quin – Dillie Keane Old Mahon – Michael Elphick Michael James – John Rowe Philly Cullan – David Bannerman Jimmy Farrell – Anthony Ofoegbu Sarah Tansey – Anne-Marie Duff Susan Braidy – Janet Maw Honor Blake – Tracy Ann Oberman Adapted for radio and produced by Peter Kavanagh First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 October 1997 The Well of the Saints Martin Doul – Cyril Cusack Mary Doul – Marie Kean Timmy – Kevin Flood Molly Byrne – Kate Binchy Bride – Rosalind Shanks Mat Simon – Alan Barry The Saint – Martin Dempsey Reader – Denys Hawthorne Produced by John Scotney First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 September 1971 Synge Song Presented by Ann Mann Music performed by Krysia Ostostowicz and Timothy Carey Readings by Kate Binchy and Jim Norton Produced by Piers Plowright First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 21 January 1994 © 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

J.M Synge (Author), Aisling O'Sullivan, Alan Barry, Cyril Cusack, Dillie Keane, Finbar Lynch, Full Cast, Kate Binchy, Kevin Flood, Marie Kean, Martin Dempsey, Michael Elphick, Rosalind Shanks (Narrator)

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The Dublin Trilogy & more: Six BBC Radio Full-Cast Productions including Shadow of a Gunman & Juno a

"An unparalleled collection of Full-Cast BBC Drama adaptations of Sean O’Casey’s powerful, poignant works One of Ireland’s foremost playwrights, Sean O’Casey is renowned for his groundbreaking plays depicting the lives of poor, working-class Dubliners struggling with social and political upheaval and revolutionary change. This is the first comprehensive audio collection of O'Casey's works, and includes the three masterpieces collectively known as the ‘Dublin Trilogy’, as well as the dark comic satire Cock-a-Doodle Dandy, the one-act Bedtime Story and the anti-war drama The Silver Tassie. The Shadow of a Gunman – Dublin, 1920. With the Irish War of Independence raging, poet Donal Davoren finds himself caught up in danger and violence when he is mistaken for an IRA gunman on the run. Bryan Murray, Alan Devlin and Marcella O’Riordan star in this Radio 4 production of Sean O’Casey’s breakthrough play. Juno and the Paycock – The slum-dwelling Boyle family are blighted by poverty, war and the alcoholism of its feckless patriarch 'Captain' Jack Boyle. Will a surprise legacy transform their lives? Adapted for Radio 3, O’Casey’s classic tragicomedy stars Sorcha Cusack and Stanley Townsend. The Plough and the Stars – Painting a stark portrait of a city and a nation in turmoil, this classic play tells the story of ordinary Dubliners during the Easter Rising of 1916. Introduced by the playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah and starring Elaine Cassidy, Padraic Delaney, Gabrielle Reidy, Finbar Lynch & Matthew McNulty. Cock-a-Doodle Dandy – Rich farmer Michael Marthraun tries to stamp out permissiveness in rural Ireland, but the appearance of a beautifully plumed rooster calls the villagers to love and liberty. Believing the bird to be demonic, Marthraun calls in the priest, Father Domineer… Joseph O’Conor, Stephen Brennan and T. P. McKenna star in this adaptation of O’Casey’s own favourite play. Bedtime Story – Pious young clerk John Joe Mulligan is known to be a pillar of the Church. So why has he invited the seductive Angela back to his room? A concise exploration of morality and religious hypocrisy, this farcical comedy stars John Lynch, Sorcha Cusack and Angela Dearden. The Silver Tassie – A tale of love and the bitter heroics of war, O’Casey’s moving Expressionist play follows young athlete Harry Heegan (Jim Norton) as he leaves the football field for the Western Front. Text copyright © Sean O’Casey 1923 (The Shadow of a Gunman), 1924 (Juno and the Paycock), 1926 (The Plough and the Stars), 1927 (The Silver Tassie), 1949 (Cock-a-Doodle Dandy), 1951 (Bedtime Story) Production credits Written by Sean O’Casey The Shadow of a Gunman Juno and the Paycock The Plough and the Stars Cock-a-Doodle Dandy Bedtime Story The Silver Tassie © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd"

Sean O'Casey (Author), Elaine Cassidy, Elizabeth Morgan, Finbar Lynch, Full Cast, Geoffrey Matthews, Jim Norton, John Hollis, John Kavanagh, John Lynch, Mary O'Farrell, Sorcha Cusack (Narrator)

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