One late night Fuzzy and Shasu, two middle-aged men who have seen better days, stagger home to a rundown council house in Belfast. This is a nightly ritual where they are often joined by other residents of the estate, the only prerequisite is that those who enter must come bearing gifts; drink or weed preferred! Tonight however the caller at the door bearing gifts is a stranger.
As the three men drink and smoke into the early hours we are entertained with hilarious stories about their lives, loves, regrets and dark deeds. Amid the banter the reason for the stranger’s appearance slowly becomes apparent and those dark deeds are violently brought to light as the truth is commissioned and buried lives are resurrected from the sand.
Directed by: John Paul McSharry
Designed by: Niall Rea
Lighting Designed by: James C McFetridge
Producer: Jacqueline O'Hagan
Stage Manager: Siobhán Barbour
Assistant Stage Manager: Megan Magill
Costume Supervisor: Roisin McNamee
Reviews
“Elliot’s writing is a refreshing look at issues that are all too often at the heart of Belfast theatre, rather than covering old ground he is finding a way to enlighten his audiences to aspects of social problems in a way that is simultaneously entertaining and hard-hitting.”
“Very gradually the comedy turns to the tragedy of past deeds and as the three men stand motionless, forming a triangle on stage, the truth comes out, we understand what the title means and As The Tide Ebbs becomes a gripping piece of drama.”
“This may not be new ground, but Elliott explores it in a refreshing and entertaining way, balancing the many laughs with a hard-hitting truth that while ‘the land…it changes’, much more stays the same.”
“As The Tide Ebbs is unrelentingly masculine. The dark post-Troubles play is at times more tragedy than comedy, but it succeeds in shining a light on a cadre of activists who society leaves in the company of their consciences while surviving family members still crave for closure on the fate of their loved ones.”
