Sacred Play: Soul-Journeys in Contemporary Irish Theatre

This is a book of insight and imagination. It is a literary tour de force, where 28 Irish plays are examined and their rich cultural context exposed in a way that educates and excites. To read Anne O'Reilly’s analysis leaves one longing to return to theatre and to play. While the text is utterly readable, the ideas shared are profound.

The theme ‘journey’ is common in every play but it is explored from different angles; we glimpse understandings of the journey in search of soul, of self, of healing, of sacred meaning, of the possible, even of transformation.

One of the captivating aspects of this book is that, while it’s about plays and their stories, it also challenges the reader to rethink and re-imagine his/her own story. It is indeed a literary work of art. -Ann Louise Gilligan