In 2014 local historian Catherine Corless made a discovery of baby bones
and skeletons in the grounds of a mother and baby home in Tuam, County
Galway, Ireland. Built on the grounds of an old workhouse that operated
between 1921 and 1961 the discovery threw up questions about the
goings-on across this and similar institutions across Ireland. Tanika
Gupta's powerful drama is loosely based on these recent and historical
events, drawing inspiration from Corless' discovery.
Told through the eyes of Grace and her grandchildren, Bones is a play
about loss, punishment of unmarried mothers and the legacy of the
demonisation of women by Church and State, where the human and
reproductive rights of women are undermined.
Bones premiered at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in
2019.
Bones is published in Methuen Drama's Plays For Young People Age 16+
series which offers suitable plays for young performers at schools,
youth groups and youth theatres that have each had premiere productions
by young performers in the UK.