"A Lil Smook": A Manx dialect play by J. J. Kneen, performed by The Michael Players
Channel: Culture Vannin
Date: 17/04/2018

‘A Lil Smook’ is one of the earliest and best examples of a Manx dialect play, written by one of the Isle of Man's most important playwrights. It is here performed by the Island's leading modern Manx dialect theatre group, the Michael Players RBV.

The script was written by J. J. Kneen in 1913 for a play competition organised by Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh (the Manx Language Society) organised by Sophia Morrison. Despite being awarded first prize, it's performance had to waiting for years due to the interruption of the First World War. Since then this play about a woman’s attempts to halt her husband’s constant smoking has established itself as one of the most popular of all Manx plays.
John Joseph Kneen was the greatest Manx linguist of his generation and one of the most important scholars of Manx subjects, but he was also the most prolific playwright that the Isle of Man has ever known. Some of his plays are established as essential pieces of the Manx dialect theatre repertoire, and none more so than 'A Lil Smook.'
This is the first performance of the play to be made available online.

The script of the play is available from the Manx Literature website: http://manxliterature.com/j-j-kneen

This is a part of the “Manks Concert” held at the Peel Centenary Centre on 24 February 2018. The evening was dedicated to the memory of Roy Kennaugh and his life's work for all things Manx.
The event was organised by the Manx Branch of the Celtic Congress http://celticcongressmannin.com/
The Celtic Congress was founded in 1902 in order to promote the knowledge, use, and appreciation of the languages and cultures of the six Celtic nations. The Manx branch today continues to perpetuate the culture, ideals, and languages of the Celtic peoples, and to maintain an intellectual contact and close cooperation with the other Celtic communities.
We are very grateful to the Celtic Congress for agreeing to our recording and releasing the concert here.

Film produced by Culture Vannin, 2018.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
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