New play on last three days of Sophie's life to be staged in Cork and Skibbereen

Readings of a new play, inspired by the murder of French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork, will take place in Cork city and Skibbereen.

The production, written by Brendan Griffin and Patrick Talbot, is entitled 'Toormore', aptly named after the West Cork townland in which Ms Toscan du Plantier lived at the time of her untimely death.

Ms Toscan du Plantier, who was a 39-year-old film producer, was killed outside her home near Goleen on December 23, 1996.

Her unsolved murder has been subject to several screen productions prior to the creation of Griffin and Talbot's 'Toormore', including the Netflix series, Sophie: A Murder in West Cork.

Marking the 30th anniversary of her death, the play is a reconstruction of her final three days, told from her perspective.

The readings, taking place at Dance Cork Firkin Crane on November 27 from 8pm and at Skibbereen Town Hall on December 6 from 8pm, will be followed by a post-show discussion with the writers.

The cast undertaking the readings has also been announced, with award-winning Irish stage and screen actor, George Hanover, taking on the role of Sophie.

Ms Hanover previously played the lead role in her debut feature film, The Randomer, which was written by Gerry Stembridge, earning her the Best Actress Award at the Toronto International Independent Film & Screenplay Festival.

Her screen credits further include Penny Dreadful and Fair City, with her theatre work including BrokenCrow Theatre Company's Our Tethered Kin, which played at the Everyman and Abbey Theatre.

Joining her as part of the main cast is Cormac Costello, who will play the man who ultimately murders Ms du Plantier.

Mr Costello's recent theatre credits include The Sound of Music and Macbeth at Cork Opera House, and Four Faced Liar at CAT.

His screen credits include Fallout, No Tears, The Clinic and Fair City.

Tickets for the readings are priced from €18 and are available for purchase via the Firkin Crane website at: www.dancefirkincrane.ie and Eventbrite, at: www.eventbrite.ie.