Presentation Script — Set and Sound Design for Finbar’s
Monologue, The Weir
Good morning.
Today I’ll be presenting my set and sound design for
Finbar’s monologue from The Weir by Conor McPherson.
This scene takes place in a small Irish pub in the mid-
1990s, where Finbar tells a story about a young woman
named Niamh who claims to have seen a ghost. I
wanted my design to feel grounded in realism centred
around a solid bar, the kind you’d find in a rural pub.
My intention was to create a believable world that
supports the supernatural story through subtle,
everyday sounds rather than theatrical effects.
1. Finbar receives the call to come to the house
When Finbar first mentions Mrs Walsh calling him for
help, the tone is practical he’s doing a favour, not
expecting anything strange. I’d keep the pub quiet
here, maybe just the faint hum of the fridge or a chair
creaking. These tiny background sounds help the
audience settle into the ordinary world before the
tension begins to build.
2. Arriving at the house
As Finbar describes arriving, the story moves into
something more serious. Niamh is panicking; she’s “in
bits.”
I’d keep the focus on Finbar’s storytelling rhythm. To
keep it realistic, the actor might lean against the bar, or
gesturing casually, as though recounting something
over a pint. The wooden bar helps him stay grounded
while he describes a chaotic scene.
3. Niamh’s vision of the woman on the stairs
This is the most frightening part. Niamh says, “She’s
just looking at me.”
At this point I’d introduce a very soft wind sound to
make the audience feel uneasy. Finbar’s confidence
falters slightly he’s sceptical, but you can hear that he’s
unnerved. The set doesn’t change, but the stillness of
the bar and the silence in the room create tension on
their own.
4. Finbar tries to reason through it
Finbar moves into problem-solving mode calling Dr Joe,
trying to calm everyone down. He’s logical, but the
situation feels unreal.
Here, I imagine the actor using the bar, leaning on it
maybe grabbing it, maybe pacing a step or two behind
it. The faint buzz of the pub’s fridge be heard quietly
here, as though the sound itself is listening with him.
5. Calling Dr Joe and local details
Finbar’s mention of “Dr Joe in Carrick, the fella beside
the Spar” reminds the audience that this story is part of
an everyday world. These local references pull us back
into small-town Ireland. The set helps anchor that the
with the bar, and the worn surfaces contrast the ghost
story with normality.
6. The phone rings again
When the phone rings a second time, there’s a clear
shift. It’s revealed that someone nearby has died.
I’d cue the ring sharply loud enough to startle both the
actor and audience then let it fade into a hollow
silence. Finbar’s disbelief fills that space. The oak bar
remains still; no lighting tricks, just the sound carrying
the emotion.
7. Finbar at home
He returns home and tries to act normal, sitting by the
fire. The script says he “couldn’t turn around” he’s
afraid of what might be behind him.
This moment is quiet and tense. The sound could be
the faint crackle of a fireplace mixed with silence so
heavy it feels uncomfortable. The actor might rest a
hand on the bar, still and reflective, to mirror that fear
of what he can’t see.
8. Laughing it off
Finbar ends up laughing at himself “It’s stupid now, but
at the time…”
The tension drops here. The actor can loosen his body.
The pub atmosphere slowly returns faint chatter, a
glass clinking, the soft hum of the fridge again. It brings
us back from fear to familiarity.
9. Closing the story
The story ends with calm humour and a lingering sense
of unease. Finbar shrugs it off, but the audience is left
wondering if he really believes what he’s said.
To finish, I’d let the pub return fully to life maybe a
quiet burst of laughter or the gentle scrape of a stool.
The bar remains central, symbolising the grounded,
everyday world that holds these extraordinary
[Link]
Thank you.
That concludes my presentation. Through this design,
I’ve aimed to capture the contrast between the
ordinary pub setting and the unexplainable fear in
Finbar’s story, using simple, realistic sounds and one
solid piece of furniture the bar to anchor the
supernatural within the real world.
