Tom Crean Irish Antartic Explorer Play

It has been announced that an Irish production, 'Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer', has won a prestigious Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Aidan Dooley in Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer

The Irish play takes Fringe First in Edinburgh

The play, which tells the heroic tale of intrepid Irish Antarctic explorer Tom Crean (1877-1938), was written and is performed by Aidan Dooley.

He was the only man to serve with Scott and Shackleton on three famous expeditions: Discovery (1901-1904); Terra Nova (1910-1913); and Endurance (1914-1916).

'Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer' has previously won an award for Best Solo Performance at the New York International Fringe Festival 2003, also receiving a Best Actor nomination from the Dublin Fringe Festival 2003.

Produced by Pat Moylan and UK producer Gerard Armin, the play has performed to packed houses at the Assembly on Edinburgh's George Street.

'Knots', by Irish company Coisceim Dance, has been longlisted for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Total Theatre Award, which puts the spotlight on physical and visual theatre and performance.

The Total Theatre Award shortlist will be announced on 23 August and the winners will be announced the following day.

Tom Crean Irish Explorer

Tom Crean (20 July 1877 – 27 July 1938) was an Irish Antarctic explorer. He was born in the town of Annascaul in Co. Kerry. He joined the Royal Navy when he was 15 years old, lying about his age to get in. Tom Crean was on three of the four major British expeditions to Antarctica: Discovery (1901-1904) and Terra Nova (1911-1913), led by Robert Scott, and Endurance (1914-1916), led by Ernest Shackleton.

Terra Nova

On this expedition, Captain Scott said he could only really trust a handful of people, William Lashly, Edgar Evans and Tom Crean. Crean and Lashly, along with Lieutentant E.R.G.R Evans formed the last support party to leave Scott on his way to the South Pole, while Edgar Evans continued with Scott. On their return journey, Lieutenant Evans became seriously ill with scurvy and could not travel any further. The other two men refused to leave him behind. It was decided that one of them would have to walk the last 35 miles across the ice to fetch help. Tom Crean volunteered. It took him a long time but he was very lucky,if he had of arrived 30 mins later he would have been out in a blizzard fighting to get to the base camp. Crean and Lashly were both awarded the Albert Medal for saving Evans' life.

Endurance

Like Scott, Shackleton deeply trusted Tom Crean. After their ship was destroyed in the ice, the crew had to sail the life boats across the Weddell Sea pack and then boat to Elephant Island. When they arrived, they rebuilt one of the lifeboats - the James Caird and five of the men including Shackleton and Crean sailed for help in South Georgia. This has become known as one of the most extraordinary small open boat journeys in history. Because they landed on the uninhabited south coast of South Georgia, three of the men, again including Shackleton and Crean, had to walk across to the other side in a remarkable 36 hour journey which was the first crossing of the mountainous island. They arrived at the whaling station at Stromness, tired and dirty, and prepared for the rescue of the other 22 men still on Elephant Island, 22 months after sailing from South Georgia.

Later life

After returning home, Crean saw service in the First World War, and retired from the navy in 1920. He married and opened up a small pub called "The South Pole Inn". Throughout his life, Crean remained an extremely modest man. When he returned to Kerry, he put all of his medals away and never again spoke about his experiences in the Antarctic. He died from a burst appendix in 1938.

Legacy

Crean is commemorated in at least two place names: Mount Crean (2550 m) in Victoria Land, and the Crean Glacier on South Georgia.

Crean is also commemorated as the inspiration for Endurance Brewing's signature Pale Ale

* Tom Crean Biography and Tom Crean References

* Smith, Michael, Tom Crean Unsung Hero of the Scott and Shackleton Antarctic Expeditions
* Preston, Diana: A First Rate Tragedy
* Huntford, Roland: The Last Place on Earth
* Huntford, Roland: Shackleton
* Cherry-Garrard, Apsley: The Worst Journey in the World

Other interest
Tom Crean's Rabbit: A True Story from Scott's Last Voyage

Register

The Irish Community have posted
5 REPLIES TO THIS TOPIC
for logged in members to view.

Irish Forums Message Discussion :: Tom Crean Irish Antartic Explorer Play

Tom Crean Irish Antartic Explorer Play