Roger McHugh Bursary Award
Allie P. O'Neill is the inaugural recipient of the Roger McHugh Bursary!
The Lir Academy is delighted to announce Allie P. O’Neill as the inaugural recipient of our Roger McHugh Bursary, an award of €5,000 for Lir alumni to support the development of theatre new works.
The bursary theme this year is "Adaptation," with applicant’s proposals of new works being inspired by a real-life or historical event. O’Neill’s play, Alice, is based on the life of Alice Morton, a woman who fled Ireland after being accused of adultery in the early 20th century.
“I am absolutely overjoyed to be chosen as the recipient of the Roger McHugh Bursary, it is a true honour. I am deeply grateful to The Lir Academy and all involved for this support for the opportunity to create new work,” O’Neill said.
Lir CEO / Director Gemma Bodinetz outlined that, “The Roger McHugh bursary provides an exceptional opportunity for one of our graduates to research and develop an historical event with a view to developing it into a fully realised production. Amongst stiff competition, the judges were very impressed by Allie's passion for her subject and her desire to throw light on a story that has remained in the shadows for too long. As one of our Bachelor in Acting graduates, Allie has demonstrated her skill at climbing inside characters and bringing them to life, whether fictional or devised and based on real people. We can't wait to see how she brings Alice Morton to life."
Explaining the inspiration behind her work, O’Neill said, “When I researched this case, I immediately knew it had to come to life in a play as it asks us what happens when a woman refuses to be shamed? What does it cost to disappear and how do we, at last, listen to those the world tried to forget? I am planning on using this bursary to help the development of this work and putting it forward for theatre festivals in the new year.”
The Roger McHugh Bursary is made possible by the support of The Colm O'Briain Endowment Fund and the support and generosity of the O'Briain family.
Roger McHugh (1908-1987) was a writer and historian, and father of Muireann O'Briain. In 1965 he became Professor of English at UCD and in 1966 he was appointed the first Professor of Anglo–Irish Literature and Drama. The plays he wrote included Trial at Green Street Courthouse, (Abbey, 1941), Rossa (Abbey 1945, revived in Skibbereen and Rossmore, Tipperary 2015), and Casement (with Alfred Noyes, 1958, Dublin, Waterford and Liverpool). He also has a number of other writings, papers and plays which are held in the archives of UCD.