As part of the Dublin Theatre Festival in 1980 a new show opens at the Olympia Theatre. Written by Joe O’Donnell Zoz tells the story of Zozimus, a balladeer from the Liberties in Dublin.

The musical theatre show stars The Wolfe Tones and Irish comedian Frank Kelly. Ahead of its opening at the Olympia, the cast performed an excerpt from the show on The Late Late Show.

Zoz is based on the life of Michael Moran, one of the most colourful characters and prolific bards in early 19th-century Dublin. He was known affectionately as Zozimus, after one of his famous recitations. Many of the songs used in the play are reconstructions from known fragments, and others are original songs to traditional airs in the style of Zozimus.

This episode of The Late Late Show presented by Gay Byrne was broadcast on 4 October, 1980.

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