Hannah Tewkley is torn between her work with the city’s poor and her husband’s prospering business – a string of oriental teahouses. Their guests, an English philanthropist and an African American are tainted by the horrors of America’s deep south. The visit begins with the best of intentions; but a collision is unavoidable. Set amongst Dublin’s Quaker community in the late 1840s, but with clear contemporary resonances, The Sugar Wife is an examination of sexual politics and political morality.
The Sugar Wife was commissioned by Rough Magic and premiered in Project Arts Centre in April 2005, and was then presented in the Soho Theatre, London in 2006.
This production was awarded the following:
2005 Susan Smith Blackburn Award: Co-Winner- Elizabeth Kuti
2005 ITITA Nomination: Best New Play – Elizabeth Kuti
2005 ITITA Nomination: Best Set Design – Paul Keogan