‘Before You Go’, a new play from Kabosh Theatre, written by Laurence McKeown and directed by Paula McFetridge, which got its first showing online during the pandemic, is set to tour across the country including a night at the Ardhowen Theatre on Tuesday, March 29.

‘Before You Go’ is a play about the fragility of love, and explores the themes of love, loss and living.

Set in Carlingford in the present day, the play tells the story of 22-year-old Sorcha O’Hagan (Eimear Fearon), who is leaving for Australia, bags packed – only an overdue conversation with her father remains.

Sorcha’s mother (Lisa Duffy), died when she was only 18 months old, and she was raised by her father, Brendan (James Doran) and his family.

They had a strong relationship, but his regular absenteeism was never talked about. But the clock is ticking, and things need to be said ...

The Director of ‘Before You Go’, Paula McFetridge, said: “We initially presented ‘Before You Go’ online, right in the midst of the pandemic.

“The regulations at the time meant we had to rehearse via Zoom online meetings, and record in a ventilated studio in the middle of winter, with filming taking place remotely – we just had the three actors in the room.

“Despite the restrictions, the power of Laurence’s words and our cast’s performance remained in full force.

“A year later, we can’t wait to take this wonderful piece on tour across the country, and for audiences to experience the power of live theatre once again.”

The playwright behind ‘Before you Go’, Laurence McKeown, added: “ Before You Go looks at the difficulties of communicating with those who are closest to us and the consequences of not saying what we should while there is still time.

“I have two daughters who are around the same age as ‘Sorcha’, so I understand the need for intrafamily and cross-generational dialogue.

“Everyone has a past and I believe that the only way we ever move forward, whether as a family, a relationship, or as a society, is by people being prepared to speak openly about their past and others being prepared to listen.

“Memory is, by its very nature, subjective and we may never know the full truth about the past. We have to come to accept that. Only then will we be able to live in the moment, while letting the past exist.”

Caoileann Curry-Thompson, Acting Head of Drama and Dance at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “It is fantastic to see Kabosh out on the road this spring with a full cast and crew, touring regional venues.

“The experience of live theatre is something we’ve all very much missed over the past two years, so it is great to see them back, doing what they do best, using theatre as a tool to tell stories and create dialogue about society and our collective history.”

Kabosh is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, and the Garfield Weston Foundation, with funding from Arts Council Ireland’s Touring and Dissemination of Work Programme

The play is suitable for ages 14 and over and lasts for one hour.

For full details and booking, see www.kabosh.net/production/before-you-go, or the Ardhowen theatre’s website.