The Specialist & Faint Voices

The Specialist
A comedy drama set in the Appalacian Mountains in 1929, Richard Hurst plays the title role of carpenter Lem Putt, who specialises in the art of outside toilet building. In the drama, Lem gives us an amusing, and passionate DIY account of the intricacies of his specialised job. ‘I’m a carpenter by trade. At one time I could build a house, barn, church or chicken coop. But I seen a need for a specialist in my line… ‘ Lem Putt, Sagamon County, Illinois, 1929.

The Specialist was written by Charles Sale, a successful Vaudeville comedian who performed across America in the 1930’s. The publication became a bestseller and his Lem Putt character was referenced by the Marx Brothers in a number of their films.

Faint Voices

Faint Voices portrays the doomed relationship between World War I soldier-poet Francis Ledwidge and his lover, Ellie Vaughey and the impact of his death on her, his family and his friends. Ledwidge, known as the Poet of The Blackbird, was born near Slane, County Meath. He was killed at the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917, just weeks before his 30th. birthday.

Faint Voices was written by John McKenna, an award-winning short story writer, playwright novelist and radio documentary maker from County Kildare. Among his many works are his acclaimed biographies of fellow Kildare man and Antarctic Explorer, Sir. Ernest Shackleton.