Conspiracy of Silence: The Magdalene Laundries at Powerstories Theatre

The harrowing drama, CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE: THE MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES tells the true story of young women in Ireland being sent to work in laundries of Catholic Churches. Powerstories Theatre is the first to debut this powerful play in the Tampa Bay area.The Magdalene Laundries, also known as Magdalene Asylums, operated from the 18th to the late 20th centuries. An estimated 30,000 women and girls were confined in these workhouse institutions in Ireland, many for most of their lives. In 1993, unmarked graves of 155 women were uncovered on the convent grounds of one of the laundries. In the play CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE, Rosemary is an unruly sixteen-year-old girl whose strict father fears is soiling the family's good name. She is abandoned at the Irish laundries under the pretense that he is taking her to a "strict" convent school to finish her high-school education. Instead, she finds herself a prisoner, overworked, underfed, and physically and mentally abused by the Magdalene Sisters. Directed by Fran Powers, the play features Elena Tarpley as Rosemary Healey, Elyse Mulholland as Chrissie Healey, Christine Kent as Mam, Chris Tarpley as Da, Faith House as Cath, Cara Percoco as Brogie, Michelle Chrein as Heather/Cassie/Paulie, Molly Dakota Ganong as Molly/Marie, and Eliany Figuerro as Patricia/Colleen/Fanny.CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE: THE MAGDALENE LAUNDRIES is at Powerstories Theatre, 2105 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, from April 28-May 15, Tuesday through Sunday. In-theatre tickets are $25 and $20 for seniors, students, and the military. Tickets are $20 for live-stream on Saturdays and final Sunday night. Learn more and purchase tickets at powerstories.com/season-of-shows.
Ages: High school to adult