Amateur Theatricals

Somerville and Ross were both keen amateur dramatists. In 1874 Somerville wrote her own rhyming verse Pantomimic play, ‘Choral’, based on the fairy tale, ‘Sleeping Beauty’. ‘Choral’ was first performed in 1887 by the Somerville and Coghill families in Castletownshend’s Village Hall and Somerville later revised the play in September 1916 to be performed at her home, Drishane House.

The writing duo also appear to have taken a keen interest in the plays staged by the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and Ross, in particular, attended several Abbey and other Revivalist productions between 1901 and 1905 (and then again in 1909 with Somerville) at the behest of Lady Gregory.