A Night in November
Encyclopedia
A Night in November is a 1994 monodrama
written by Marie Jones
about one man's struggle with national identity during The Troubles
in Northern Ireland.
working in Belfast
, Northern Ireland. He has "cleanly discriminated" against Catholics throughout his life, and indeed he gains much pleasure when he gets accepted into the golf club ahead of his Catholic boss. This continues until he witnesses the hatred directed towards the Catholic supporters of the Republic of Ireland at the world cup qualifier match
between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which causes him to question his beliefs and his identity as a British Protestant in Northern Ireland. The play shows how Kenneth deals with his identity crisis through monologue
s and soliloquies
as well as introducing numerous other characters for Kenneth to interact with, all played by the one actor. By the end of the play Kenneth travels to New York to support the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup finals, and he has come to terms with his identity as an Irish Protestant. "I am a free man, I am a Protestant man, I am an Irish man"
, directed by Pam Brighton, with a design by Robert Ballagh. This production toured widely, including a transfer to the Tricycle Theatre
, London and to the Douglas Fairbanks Theater in New York City. It won the Theatrical Management Association's award for Best Touring Production in 1995. Dan Gordon then reprised the role for the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in 2002 and toured to the Perth Festival in 2003.
In 2001 Marty Maguire took on the role of Kenneth McCallister at the Celtic Arts Theater and Falcon Theatre, Los Angeles. This production then toured to the Tricycle Theatre in London, the Edinburgh Fringe, and to the Gaiety Theatre and Liberty Hall in Dublin. It was staged again, at the Tricycle and the Irish Arts Centre, New York, in 2006.
In August 2007 Patrick Kielty
starred in a production directed by Ian McElhinney in Belfast's Grand Opera House
, which also played in Trafalgar Studios
The play was staged in the ADC Theatre
in Cambridge
in November 2010 starring and directed by Michael Campbell
This show is running in the Tivoli Theatre, Dublin from 3rd - 14th May, starring William Lyons.
Monodrama
A monodrama is a theatrical or operatic piece played by a single actor or singer, usually portraying one character.- Monodrama in opera :...
written by Marie Jones
Marie Jones
Sarah Marie Jones is a Belfast-based actress and playwright. Born into a working class family, Jones was an actress for several years before turning her hand to writing.-Charabanc/DubbelJoint:...
about one man's struggle with national identity during The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in Northern Ireland.
Plot summary
A Night in November follows Kenneth Norman McCallister, a Protestant dole clerkDepartment for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...
working in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland. He has "cleanly discriminated" against Catholics throughout his life, and indeed he gains much pleasure when he gets accepted into the golf club ahead of his Catholic boss. This continues until he witnesses the hatred directed towards the Catholic supporters of the Republic of Ireland at the world cup qualifier match
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 3)
Listed below are the dates and results for Group 3 of the European zone of the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament. For an overview of the entire European zone, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification ; for an overview of the entire qualification tournament, see the article 1994...
between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which causes him to question his beliefs and his identity as a British Protestant in Northern Ireland. The play shows how Kenneth deals with his identity crisis through monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
s and soliloquies
Soliloquy
A soliloquy is a device often used in drama whereby a character relates his or her thoughts and feelings to him/herself and to the audience without addressing any of the other characters, and is delivered often when they are alone or think they are alone. Soliloquy is distinct from monologue and...
as well as introducing numerous other characters for Kenneth to interact with, all played by the one actor. By the end of the play Kenneth travels to New York to support the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup finals, and he has come to terms with his identity as an Irish Protestant. "I am a free man, I am a Protestant man, I am an Irish man"
Productions
On 8 August 1994 A Night in November was opened by DubbelJoint Productions in The Rock Theatre as part of the West Belfast Festival, starring Dan GordonDan Gordon (actor)
Dan Gordon is a Northern Irish actor, director and playwright.Gordon was born in Belfast and is best known in Northern Ireland for his portrayal of Red Hand Luke in the BBC Northern Ireland sitcom Give My Head Peace. He starred in the Marie Jones monodrama A Night in November in the tricycle...
, directed by Pam Brighton, with a design by Robert Ballagh. This production toured widely, including a transfer to the Tricycle Theatre
Tricycle Theatre
The Tricycle Theatre is located on Kilburn High Road in Kilburn in the London Borough of Brent, England. During the last 30 years, the Tricycle has been presenting plays reflecting the cultural diversity of its community; in particular Black, Irish, Jewish, Asian and South African works, as well as...
, London and to the Douglas Fairbanks Theater in New York City. It won the Theatrical Management Association's award for Best Touring Production in 1995. Dan Gordon then reprised the role for the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in 2002 and toured to the Perth Festival in 2003.
In 2001 Marty Maguire took on the role of Kenneth McCallister at the Celtic Arts Theater and Falcon Theatre, Los Angeles. This production then toured to the Tricycle Theatre in London, the Edinburgh Fringe, and to the Gaiety Theatre and Liberty Hall in Dublin. It was staged again, at the Tricycle and the Irish Arts Centre, New York, in 2006.
In August 2007 Patrick Kielty
Patrick Kielty
Patrick Kielty is an Irish comedian and television personality from Dundrum, Northern Ireland.-Background:He was affected by The Troubles in Northern Ireland. On 25 January 1988 his father, businessman Jack Kielty, was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Association /"Ulster Freedom Fighters" , a...
starred in a production directed by Ian McElhinney in Belfast's Grand Opera House
Grand Opera House (Belfast)
The Grand Opera House is a theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, designed by the most prolific theatre architect of the period, Frank Matcham. It opened on 23 December 1895....
, which also played in Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios, formerly The Whitehall Theatre until 2004, is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London....
The play was staged in the ADC Theatre
ADC Theatre
The ADC Theatre is a theatre in Cambridge, England and also a department of the University of Cambridge. It is located in Park Street, north off Jesus Lane. The theatre is owned by the Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club , but is currently run as the smallest department of the university,...
in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
in November 2010 starring and directed by Michael Campbell
This show is running in the Tivoli Theatre, Dublin from 3rd - 14th May, starring William Lyons.