Seven Letters comes to Mayo stage following acclaimed tour

AFTER a widely praised national and UK tour in 2022, Seven Letters will make its debut at the Linenhall Theatre in Castlebar this week.

The play - which draws its power from honesty, memory and music - was met with full houses across Ireland and earned standing ovations in London venues including the Noel Coward Studio and the Tabard Theatre.

Written and directed by Rian Flatley, originally from Knock, Seven Letters centres on the lives of three women living in a care home. Between shared cups of tea, crosswords and conversations, they revisit the joy and pain of their pasts, revealing stories that are rich with humour, longing, regret and hope.

“This play is a tribute to women whose stories don’t always get heard,” Ms. Flatley said. “They’re not the loudest voices in the room, but they’ve lived full lives - often quietly heroic ones.

“Seven Letters is about what they’ve carried with them. And what they’re still trying to let go of.”

What sets the production apart is its intimate structure - a careful weave of monologue, flashback and song. Each of the characters brings something unique to the stage: the mischievous and unpredictable Faye, the guarded Tempie, and the quietly haunted Lena. Their friendship is the play’s foundation, and through their interactions, audiences are offered glimpses into long-buried secrets and unfulfilled dreams.

Teresa Jennings gives a captivating performance as Faye, blending sharp wit with moments of deep pathos. One reviewer described her as “mercurial” and “commanding the stage with every line.” Clare Gollop brings warmth and texture to the role of Tempie, and Kate Winder’s Lena is rendered with great tenderness. Linny Bushey adds quiet resonance as the forgetful Hannah, a character who says little but whose presence is deeply felt.

The music directed by Lindsay Bridgwater is integral to the story, entering like a breeze, sometimes lifting the audience and other times chilling it. The voice of Stacey Leigh on the soundtrack is exquisite and soulful.

Stacey Leigh, playing the younger version of Faye, was singled out for her “exquisite, soulful” singing voice. Her performances were described by Spectrum Irish Radio as “superb… holding the audience in thrall.”

Flatley acknowledges that while Seven Letters deals with ageing and mortality, the play is never bleak. “There’s a lot of laughter in it,” she says. “These women have been through things - but they’re still funny, still sharp. There’s dignity in that. There’s survival.”

The play also explores how we see older people or fail to.

Rian Flatley is particularly pleased to bring the play to the west of Ireland again. Although living in London she refers to the west as her home.

And, she said: “Mayo audiences are known for their love of language and music, I think they will connect with this story, its humour, its grief and its truth.”

As Seven Letters prepares to take to the stage once more it offers a powerful reminder of the resilience found in everyday life, the beauty of a story simply told.

Seven Letters plays at Linenhall Theatre, Castlebar, on this Friday, May 9. Early booking online is advised here.