The Search for Sives

John B. Keane began writing Sive in 1959 when he returned to live in Listowel after a period working in the UK. Settling by the fire of his pub in the wee hours, he crafted what would become one of the country’s most loved plays.  It has long won a place in the country’s literary history, cited in The Irish Times’ ‘Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks’ in 2015. The play has remained very popular with amateur drama groups and over the decades many productions of Sive have been performed around the country.  

To mark our new production of Sive, which opened yesterday at the Gaiety Theatre, Druid and the Gaiety are gathering as many people as possible who have played the iconic role of Sive, for a special Gathering of Sives on the stage of the theatre.  

If you played the role of Sive, you are invited to come along to the Gaiety Theatre on Sunday 11th February at 1.30pm. Please bring something from the production - a photo or programme with your name in it. You will not only meet other people who played the role, over a cup of tea in John B’s bar at the Gaiety, but be brought onto the stage of the theatre for a photo of this once-in-a-lifetime Gathering of Sives. The photo will be hung in the theatre and placed in the Gaiety archive, marking this historic event.  

Also in attendance on the day will be Margaret Ward who played Sive in that very first production, Gráinne Good who plays the role in Druid’s new production, John B Keane’s son Billy Keane and director Garry Hynes.  All the Sives who attend on the 11^th Feb at 1.30pm will be put into a draw to be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets to the production on Sat 24^thFebruary at 2:30pm  

The Druid production of Sive runs at the Gaiety Theatre until 3^rd March. Cast includes: Gráinne Good (Sive), Andrea Irvine (Mena) Barbara Brennan (Nana), Tommy Tiernan (Thomasheen Seán), Brian Doherty (Mike Glavin), Seán Doyle (Liam Scuab), Bosco Hogan (Seán Dóta), Marie Mullen (Pats Bocock) and Radie Peat (Carthalawn).