Alone It Stands (2024)

Written by John Breen
Directed by Óran O'Rua

Performed in dlr Mill Theatre and the Drama Festival Circuit
between 14 February and 23 March 2024

Balally Players brought John Breen's play, Alone It Stands, back to dlr Mill Theatre in February. The last performance was four years ago in February 2020, just before everything shut down for COVID-19..

In this new 2024 production, director, Óran O'Rua, brought a new cast to the stage to give voice to this highly entertaining play.

Programme for the Mill Theatre (Feb 2024)

A PDF copy of the programme for the first Balally Players production of 'Alone It Stands', when it was presented in dlr Mill Theatre from 14 to 17 February 2024, is available here.

'Alone It Stands', written by John Breen and originally published in 2004, is a play about a famous 1978 rugby match at Thomond Park in Limerick. It tells the story of what happened when the Munster provincial team played the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks.

The title of the play, 'Alone It Stands', is taken from the anthem of the club in Shannon, 'There Is An Isle'. The significance of the match comes from the fact that the result, a 12-0 victory for Munster was the only time that any Irish team, national or provincial, had ever beaten the All Blacks.

A whole host of different fictional stories are woven into what actually happened on the day of the big match itself and the excitement and anticipation leading up to it. The play presents the personal stories of various characters and their connections to the game on that remarkable day in Irish sporting history.

A handful of actors play a wide range of roles including the Munster team, the New Zealanders playing on the All Blacks team, the two coaches, the referee, the crowd, the press, a pregnant woman, Bunratty singers, several children, a dog and even the ball itself.

'Alone It Stands' took to the road for a series of performances as part of our 2024 Festival Circuit run.

• 25 February - Kilmuckridge
• 8 March - Strabane
• 11 March - Newtownabbey
• 15 March - Claregalway
• 16 March - Ballyshannon
• 18 March - Newry
• 21 March - New Ross
• 23 March - Carnew

The cast of 'Alone It Stands' hard at work in rehearsal for the performances in dlr Mill Theatre.

Director, Óran O'Rua, wrote in the programme for the play that "Munster's victory over the All Blacks was a huge event in the life of the playwright, John Breen, who drew his inspiration for writing Alone It Stands when he learned that one of the Munster players' father passed away during the game against the All Blacks. From this piece of Irish sporting history tinged with tragedy, Breen has fashioned a funny, lively play in which both teams, plus fans, children, relatives and even a dog, are portrayed by a cast of six, with no props and only a half-time change of shirt. The very essence of life, triumph over adversity, runs throughout the play, from the opening words of the All Black's haka, Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! (It is death! It is death! It is life! It is life!) through to the ordinary people on the Munster team and their extraordinary achievement in defeating an otherwise all-conquering New Zealand side".

Pat McCarry had more to say about the play and this production in his article published in Joe.ie/News.