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The Cave
An unforgettable black comedy from one of Ireland's most beloved writers (author of Night Boat to Tangier and City of Bohane).
We were the last two bucks of the McRaes left standin' . . . And the McRae name had gone back for a long time around these hills . . . Oh, for decades and centuries unending, the rain that fell on these hills fell only to spite the McRaes . . .
High in the mountains of south County Sligo, the McRae brothers are sleeping rough. Stuck in a dead zone and running out of road, Archie and Bopper have only each other to rely on as they try to restart their van, their lives and their Wi-Fi connection. And then there's the local police sergeant who is becoming more and more interested in their lives . . .
The Cave was first produced at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in June 2025.
We were the last two bucks of the McRaes left standin' . . . And the McRae name had gone back for a long time around these hills . . . Oh, for decades and centuries unending, the rain that fell on these hills fell only to spite the McRaes . . .
High in the mountains of south County Sligo, the McRae brothers are sleeping rough. Stuck in a dead zone and running out of road, Archie and Bopper have only each other to rely on as they try to restart their van, their lives and their Wi-Fi connection. And then there's the local police sergeant who is becoming more and more interested in their lives . . .
The Cave was first produced at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, in June 2025.
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About the author
Kevin Barry
77 books1,245 followersKevin Barry is an Irish writer. He is the author of two collections of short stories, and the novel City of Bohane, which was the winner of the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 28, 2026
Oddly, this edition lists four previous plays by Barry - but I could find no indication that any of them had been published, although two are based on previously published short stories. Which is sad, since as my rating indicates - I LOVED this one!
My only previous experience with his writing is his Booker-nominated Night Boat to Tangier, which I admired more than liked, but need to go back and do a reread of prior to the film adaptation coming later this year. That apparently ALSO started out as a play, but eventually morphed into a novel.
Anyway, back to this. It's a three-hander, told in thirteen short scenes, about the McRaes, two wastrel brothers living rough in the titular abode above their small hometown of Zion Hill, County Sligo, where they are no longer welcome due to thievery and other sundry malfeasances.
Slowly we eke out the histories of Archie and Bopper (né John), and their relationship to the female Garda, Helen, who is keeping a close eye on them. There are, inevitably, traces of Beckett and McDonagh (minus the OTT violence) here, but Barry is onto his own unique style.
It premiered in June of last year at the prestigious Abbey Theatre in Dublin, but got mixed reviews. I only had two minor qualms: there is some clunky exposition in the early scenes, and then at one point they get exasperated trying to fix the engine in their broken-down van and chuck their newly purchased carburetor over the cliff and down a steep ravine - three scenes later, Archie starts up the carburetor-less engine in order to rev up the generator to charge their mobile phone! Hmmmmm...
Despite these wee faults, I absolutely loved the characters and the dialogue - and check out that amazing set in the pix in the reviews linked below. More theatre please, Mr. Barry!
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/202...
https://corrigansays.com/2025/07/02/t...
https://www.theartsreview.com/single-...
https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2025/06/1...
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifesty...
https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com...
My only previous experience with his writing is his Booker-nominated Night Boat to Tangier, which I admired more than liked, but need to go back and do a reread of prior to the film adaptation coming later this year. That apparently ALSO started out as a play, but eventually morphed into a novel.
Anyway, back to this. It's a three-hander, told in thirteen short scenes, about the McRaes, two wastrel brothers living rough in the titular abode above their small hometown of Zion Hill, County Sligo, where they are no longer welcome due to thievery and other sundry malfeasances.
Slowly we eke out the histories of Archie and Bopper (né John), and their relationship to the female Garda, Helen, who is keeping a close eye on them. There are, inevitably, traces of Beckett and McDonagh (minus the OTT violence) here, but Barry is onto his own unique style.
It premiered in June of last year at the prestigious Abbey Theatre in Dublin, but got mixed reviews. I only had two minor qualms: there is some clunky exposition in the early scenes, and then at one point they get exasperated trying to fix the engine in their broken-down van and chuck their newly purchased carburetor over the cliff and down a steep ravine - three scenes later, Archie starts up the carburetor-less engine in order to rev up the generator to charge their mobile phone! Hmmmmm...
Despite these wee faults, I absolutely loved the characters and the dialogue - and check out that amazing set in the pix in the reviews linked below. More theatre please, Mr. Barry!
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/202...
https://corrigansays.com/2025/07/02/t...
https://www.theartsreview.com/single-...
https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2025/06/1...
https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifesty...
https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com...
July 15, 2025
I've read a few Kevin Barry novels and, similar to Roddy Doyle, enjoy his working class Irish characters and their colorful interactions. When I picked up "The Cave," I thought it was a new novel, but it's actually a play. It has the unique characters -- two brothers and a sister -- and interesting interactions, and some good commentary on our Internet-fueled infatuation with celebrities and mindless doomscrolling. But in the end, it didn't do all that much for me. A couple of days' distraction, but I didn't really take that much away from it to be honest.
April 24, 2026
Actually really interesting read; modern day telling of The Cave and the fancies of the mind. And the use of the iPhone? Clever. I enjoyed
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews