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THE SEAL-WOMAN

The Seal-Woman Act1.jpg

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The Seal-Woman

A Celtic Folk Opera in two acts 

By Marjory Kennedy-Fraser & Granville Bantock

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On an uninhabited islet in the Western Isles of the Scottish Hebrides, an old crone or 'Cailleach' sings of local legends of seals that turn into mortal women. The voices of a Seal-Woman and her Seal-Sister are heard. Fishermen approach the island. The Isleman recalls a Seal-Woman he has seen before, and when she and her sister appear he keeps hold of their sea-robes, without which they cannot reassume their marine form and will only return those of the sister. He declares his love for the Seal-Woman, and she agrees to go with him. Seven years later, the Seal-Woman has borne his child, Morag. The Cailleach visits them, and while she sleeps three prophetic swans arrive and predict that the Seal-Woman will be free only when she finds the sea-robe hidden in a peat stack. The Seal-Woman finds her sea robe and is instantly drawn back to the sea. As the Isleman returns he watches as his wife flings herself from the cliff into the sea.

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Cast

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The Cailleach - Ulrike Wutscher

www.ulrikewutscher.com


The Seal-Woman - Sioned Gwen Davies

www.sionedgwendavies.com


The Seal-Sister - Colleen Nicoll

www.colleennicoll.co.uk


The Islesman/Director - David Douglas

www.daviddouglasmusic.co.uk

 

Fisherman/Water-Kelpie - Michael Longden

www.michaellongden.wordpress.com

 

Pianist/Musical Director - Hebba Benyaghla

www.hebbabenyaghla.com

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Gaelic Coach - Joy Dunlop

www.joydunlop.com

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