Seanchaí
by Gavin Bradley
When Fionn, a young content creator, visits Siobhan, a retired Seanchaí (Irish Oral Storyteller, pronounced shawn-uh-key) to get some tips for his Irish mythology channel he gets more of a lesson than he bargained for. As the two trade tales of Irish heroes like Cú Chulainn and Fionn mac Cumhaill, they begin to explore the importance of stories in shaping what we remember, and in helping us come to terms with what we forget.
History
History
2024 — NEW MYTHIC WORKS SERIES (EDMONTON)
I first had the pleasure of meeting Gavin as part of the 2024 Thousand Faces Festival’s New Mythic Works Series (NMWS), an initiative which I created in 2022 that came out of a desire to see more new work opportunities for Edmonton playwrights. The Series asked playwrights to submit a new and original 10-20 minute play that centered around mythology. We then presented workshop productions of the selected plays to the public, with the following team:
Director: Jennifer Spencer
Stage Manager: Davis Shewchuk
Set, Lighting, & Costume Designer: Rebecca Cypher
Siobhan: Susan Sneath
Fionn: Mark Guerrero
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2025 — ADFA STAGE STRUCK! REGIONAL ONE ACT FESTIVAL (EDMONTON)
Following the New Mythic Works Series, Gavin asked if I would continue working on Seanchaí as dramaturg and producer; he had plans to expand the play and wanted to look for more production opportunities. I immediately suggested we enter it into the 2025 Stage Struck! One Act Festival here in Edmonton: a great, low-stakes way to test new plays in front of an audience.
The new 45-minute version of Seanchaí was received incredibly well at the One Act Festival, with the following team:
Director: Emma Ryan
Stage Manager: Davis Shewchuk
Set, Lighting, & Costume Designer: Rebecca Cypher
Head of Tech: Rhiannon Eldridge
Siobhan: Susan Sneath
Fionn: Mark Guerrero
Seanchaí received the following awards:
Best Production
Best New Work
Best Performance (Susan Sneath)
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2025 — ADFA PROVINCIAL ONE ACT FESTIVAL (MEDICINE HAT)
Because we received the award for Best Production at the Regional Festival, we traveled to Medicine Hat in May, 2025 to represent the Edmonton Region at the Provincial One Act Festival. The team was the same, except Rhiannon Eldridge stepped into the role of Stage Manager.
Seanchaí received the following awards:
Best Production
Best New Work
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2025 — THE BAILEY THEATRE (CAMROSE)
After the success of Seanchaí at the One Act Festivals, we were approached by the Bailey Theatre in Camrose—Alberta’s oldest purpose-built theatre—who commissioned us for a two-night run of the show in September, 2025. The team remained the same.
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2026 (UPCOMING) — EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL
Seanchaí has been selected for inclusion in Varscona Theatre’s curated lineup at the 2026 Edmonton Fringe: August 13-23.
Seanchaí: Bailey Theatre
Photos by Mike Taylor
Seanchaí: New Mythic Works Series
Photos by Stephanie Cragg Photography