Helena Close and Marie Boylan are the writing team behind Red Army. This brand new play – a flagship production for the Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick – focuses on four women and their intersecting lives. They are drawn to each other by a shared love of Munster rugby, and the tragedy of the sudden death of Munster coach, Axel Foley.

In the October episode of the Limerick Lady podcast, our hosts Ann Blake and Emma Langford meet with the playwrights to look at the on-stage visibility and representation of women over the age of 50, especially in the world of sports. They explore how tragedy touches and affects us all differently. They discuss the collaborative process and how it makes us better at what we do, through what we learn from each other. Above all, they discuss the highs and lows, the craic and the buzz that draws Munster rugby fans together.

Helena Close and Marie Boylan said: “As die-hard Munster Rugby fans, Red Army is a play we felt compelled to write. It’s a tribute to the club, the fans, the city of Limerick, and the late Anthony Foley. Bringing this story to life has been a team effort. From the crew at the Lime Tree Theatre; our director Pat Kiernan who understood our vision for the play implicitly; the stellar cast; and an incredible creative team. We began writing in 2017, and like a dogged Munster team, we persevered and are thrilled to finally share Red Army with audiences as the first in-house production at the Lime Tree Theatre.”

Listen to Helena Close & Marie Boylan: We Make Each Other Better here.

Tickets for Red Army at the Lime Tree Theatre are available here.

Image: Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable present Red Army with Frances Healy, Cora Fenton, Joan Sheehy and Claudia Carroll. Photo by Darren Ryan ©