Background: Grace O’Malley has seen the stage many times. A Broadway show in New York and Japan, a spattering of plays and even dance concerts. One script loosely based on her life dates from the late 1800s. Despite being a relatively unknown historical figure, her story is out there. But these pieces never seemed to be true to who Grace was. Her story overshadowed her motivations. There was more to Grace then just her romances, pirating and clan status. There was her passion for her family, for the preservation of her way of life, and above all, for the sea. Bold Grace seeks to portray the often forgotten side of the Pirate Queen.
- Synopsis: Bold Grace follows the life and times of real life 16th-century Irish pirate, Grace O’Malley, also known as Granuaile or simply Grania. Beginning with her first voyage with her father at the age of nine, Grace re-lives the key points throughout her life all the way until her death in 1603. Two marriages, one divorce, four children (one of which was born while Grace was at sea), pirating up and down the Irish coast, an army of 200 loyal fighting men, her own fleet of ships and even a documented face to face meeting with Queen Elizabeth I. Grace lived a full life with a long and torrid love affair with the sea, well documented within the English state documents of the time as attacks on English ships all over the region. But as a female pirate, Grace was completely written out of history. This is her story.
- Length: 9 Scenes in 2 Acts with Intermission
- Casting: Bold Grace is written for one actress, has been read with a total of five actresses splitting the aged roles with one as the narrating role of GRANIA, but can be performed with as many actresses deemed necessary.
- Roles: Grania, Young Grace, Grace 16, Grace 25, Grace 34, Grace 37, Grace 47, Grace 55, Grace 63, Grace 73.
Production History: Reading at Pacific University, March ’10. Produced at Burien Little Theatre as One-Act winner for the Bill and Peggy Hunt Playwrights Festival, April ’11. Scheduled performance with Auburn BRAVO Series May 5.
[...] who rebelled against the English by, among other things, piracy. As young playwright Ashley Schalow writes about the script, the story she is telling is a personal one, with Grace O’Malley explaining what brought her [...]