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DRAMA ON ONE: Quartet by Thomas McLaughlin

Quartet Image Name: Quartet

QUARTET by Thomas McLaughlin
The future of the New Ireland String Quartet seems fragile. – Elizabeth [first violin], still not knowing, after a year, how to cope with the death of Aisling, co-founder of the quartet. Rachel [second violin], the latest new girl trying to meet Elizabeth’s standards as Aisling’s replacement and struggling with a secret drink problem. Claire [viola] guilty that she is avoiding her husband’s increasing dementia and worried over the possible break-up of the quartet. Amy [cello] seeking distraction with casual “on tour” sex. And now, because of a fall of volcanic ash and the grounding of flights, the quartet have to make the journey from Istanbul to Dublin by train, and the four women are forced together, far longer and far closer than they are used and conflict, both personal and musical, threatens to tear them apart. Will they make it to their concert in Dublin on time – will they even still exist by the time this train ride is over?
Starring Caoilfhionn Dunne, Bronagh Gallagher, Caitriona Ni Mhurchu, Tara Lynne O’Neill, Ernis Avdic, Frankie McCafferty, Robert O’Mahoney, and Jonathan Ryan. With original recordings by the RTÉ Contempo Quartet.
Sound supervision: Mark McGrath

Producer : Kevin Brew
Series Producer : Kevin Reynolds

RTÉ Radio 1, Sunday 4 May, 8.02pm