Once Upon a Bridge - (Modern Plays) by Sonya Kelly (Paperback)

About the Book

Described as a 'fairy tale for a modern age' this is a powerful three-person play by acclaimed Irish writer Sonya Kelly, written in response to a real event that led three strangers to cross paths in a viral mystery that shook the country.

Book Synopsis

He was like a rugby man,
He hit her like a rugby man,
Straight into her shoulder,
The momentum of the crash,
Dragging her beyond the kerb,
Towards the front tyre of my bus.

Early one morning on Putney Bridge, three strangers' lives collided for one fleeting second.

Inspired by real events, Once Upon a Bridge weaves a tale about human triumph and frailty, about the power of destiny and chance, and why sometimes we choose to hate and other times we choose to dance.

Commissioned by Ireland's Druid Theatre and live-streamed from Mick Lally theatre in Galway, Sonya Kelly's latest play received a string of excellent reviews for its bold intimacy and engaging story telling.

Review Quotes

"Has a clever, teasing quality, especially in its ambiguous ending. Described as a fairytale, it is one that can accommodate commentary on issues of race, postcolonial identities and the assumptions we make about status and social class." --Guardian

"Absorbing ... Sonya Kelly's fascinating new drama is an insightful exploration of unchecked aggression and its regretful aftermath." --Irish Times

About the Author

Sonya Kelly is an Irish writer and actor. She has performed with all the major Irish companies including the Gate Theatre, Druid Theatre and The Corn Exchange and Fishamble: the new play company. She is a cast member of RTE's hugely successful, sketch show, The Savage Eye. Her debut solo show, The Wheelchair on My Face: a look back at a myopic childhood, won a Scotsman Fringe First Award for new writing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2012. The show played 150 performances in over 50 venues and toured to Paris and New York where it received a Critic's Pick in the New York Times.