The Weir

by Conor McPherson

196th Production. The Weir was written by Conor McPherson in 1997. It won the Laurence Olivier Award for best play of 1997/8 and was voted one of the 100 most significant plays of the 20th Century in a poll by the Royal National Theatre. Michael Billington listed it as one of the 101 greatest plays of all time.

Set in a small pub in a remote part of Ireland, over the course of one evening we meet BRENDAN the pub owner, JACK the local garage owner, JIM a labourer, FINBAR a local boy ‘made good’ and VALERIE a young woman who has moved from Dublin. There is some antagonism between Jack and Finbar. The latter moved away and made his fortune and it is Finbar who brings Valerie into the pub to meet the locals, also Finbar is the only married man in the group.

As the drink flows the men banter with each other and start to tell stories with a supernatural theme. They are trying to impress Valerie. But when Valerie tells her story which is true and also has a ghostly element the atmosphere changes, the men become more genuine and in the end we are left with a possible redemption for two of the characters.

The actors will need to make the characters live and be natural but also hold the audience, particularly when they tell their stories. There are subtleties in the relationships and shifts and changes in mood which need to be explored and conveyed. Each Character has a back story and their actions in the pub are coloured by their lives outside.

The Weir Audition Pieces

Brendan. Pages 48 and 49 Jack. Page 45 ‘Oh sure’ to 46 ‘and I was all that it was her fault..’ Finbar Page 27 top to end of story Jim Page 32 ‘And I was like, fuck this’ to end of story Valerie Page 38 ‘But then in March’ to Page 39 ‘Just months of this’

Whole cast Page 27 from the end of Finbar’s story to top of page 30 – Jim ‘poor Declan’

Application pdf

Auditioning on the 9th of January 2024?

Click here to download a copy of our guide to this production.

Brendan

Brendan. (30/40’s) Owns the bar and the farm. Unmarried he is good natured and has a strong moral compass.

Jack

Jack. ( 50’s) Local garage owner. Unmarried. He is resentful of Finbar. We learn late in the play that he wasted his chance for happiness.

Jim

Jim. (40’s) Unmarried. A labourer who looks after his mother. Still waters run deep. He is a successful gambler on the horses because he studies the form.

Finbar

Finbar. (40’s/50’s) Local boy made good. He left the village and made a success of his life. He is married with children. He is resented particularly by Jack.

Valerie

Valerie. (30’s) Has moved from Dublin following the tragic death of her daughter and break up of her marriage. She is equal to the men’s banter. She is clearly a good person whose honesty changes the atmosphere.

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Director - Paul Foster

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Set Design and Construction - John Godliman