Lorna Shaughnessy's poetic examination of the characters around the story of the sacrifice of Iphigenia by her father Agamemnon asks big questions about war, patriarchy, and society. Mary McPartlan commissioned Shaughnessy and Hafler to produce it as a world premiere in 2017 for Arts in Action, and Sacrificial Wind held the distinction of being the first piece of theatre performed in the new O’Donoghue Theatre. Sacrificial Wind has also been performed in the Seamus Heaney Centre in Queen’s University, Belfast. The piece was worked using the Michael Chekhov Technique, a process of acting McPartlan herself was dedicated to and which she also pioneered at NUI Galway.

Lorna Shaughnessy has published three poetry collections, Torching the Brown River, Witness Trees and Anchored, and a chapbook, Song of the Forgotten Shulamite. She is also a translator of Spanish and South American Poetry. Her most recent translation was of poetry by Galician writer Manuel Rivas, The Disappearance of Snow. She lectures in Hispanic Studies in NUI Galway.

Max Hafler began his professional life as an actor. He is a theatre tutor, director and writer who specialises primarily in teaching Michael Chekhov Technique and Voice and directing work. He teaches at NUI Galway, and has guested at other international colleges. His book, Teaching Voice, was published in 2016. He is director of Chekhov Training and Performance Ireland.