Synopsis

A surreal landscape where reality and fantasy blur, populated by characters who drift between identities and timelines with the fluidity of a fever dream

Tom Doheny, a figure of Irish folklore, embarks on a phantasmagorical journey through a series of increasingly absurd and darkly comic vignettes. As Tom navigates this dreamlike world, he encounters a cast of peculiar characters including his long-suffering wife Nellie, a mysterious Dry Man, and various incarnations of friends, family, and adversaries. The play follows Tom’s attempts to find meaning and purpose, all while grappling with his own shifting identity and the consequences of his actions.

Gregory Motton’s The Terrible Voice of Satan is a kaleidoscopic exploration of identity, guilt, and the nature of storytelling itself. Through its non-linear structure and constantly morphing characters, the play challenges conventional notions of narrative and reality. As Tom’s journey unfolds, the play delves into themes of national identity, personal responsibility, and the power of myth in shaping both individual and collective consciousness. The result is a deeply unsettling yet darkly funny meditation on the human condition and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of an often chaotic and incomprehensible world.