Blind since infancy, Molly Sweeney is persuaded to have an operation to restore her sight. Her husband Frank is convinced she has nothing to lose; her ophthalmologist Mr Rice is not so sure. The play charts their expectations and fantasies of how the operation will change everything, not just for Molly, but for all three of them.

Brian Friel’s rarely performed poetic tale weaves together all three characters’ perspectives. Through a journey of memory, hope and despair, the play begs us to not only see, but also understand other people’s points of view.

Brian Friel is an Irish playwright, theatre director and author. His principal works for theatre include Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1964), Faith Healer (1979), Aristocrats (1979 – Winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best Play and the New York Critics’ Circle Award for Best Foreign Play), Translations (1980), Dancing at Lughnasa (1990 – Olivier, Tony and New York Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Play), Molly Sweeney (1996 – New York Critics’ Circle Award for Best Foreign Play) and Afterplay (2002).

First presented 27 March – 27 April 2013