Our Work

'This show is incredible. It is a must watch! If you haven’t already bought your tickets… get buying.'

​

'Completely loved the show! Such a rollercoaster of emotions you go through while watching it. One minute you're laughing your head of, the next trying to hold back the tears. Absolutely beautiful and a pleasure to watch!'

 

'Such a beautiful play. I laughed, I cried, and I was gutted when it was over!!'

​

In 2022, we were thrilled that A Very Odd Birthday Party received funding to go on its premier tour of England. 

​

Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, A Very Odd Birthday Party is a new play by Hannah Donelon with live, traditional music. Directed by Anna Berentzen (Headlong Origins 2022; Royal Exchange; North Wall Theatre), a cast of actor-musicians told a story filled with humour, suffering, loss, and hope for the future. Creative audio description was embedded into the script with expertise from Chloë Clarke.

​

We invited audiences to join mother-to-be Eveline and her Dad Michael Moriarty on a journey that penetrated the psyche, humour, and trauma of being a first and second-generation immigrant in the UK. A Very Odd Birthday Party revels in the complexities of family, working-class identity, and memory. The play centres around Eveline, 32 and heavily pregnant, born in the North West to Irish parents. Her father now has dementia and Eveline has recently become obsessed with trying to meticulously capture every detail she can of his life: his life in Ireland; his emigration to England; her childhood. As the birth of her son approaches, she is treading a fine line and neglecting her relationships, reality, and reason. 

 

Drawing on Hannah’s cross-culture work with musicians in and from Ireland and India, the play also used music to explore the common tensions and celebrations found within the 1st/2nd generation experience.

​

In addition to this, we hosted some amazing across the UK including our first fundraising gig (thanks to everyone who joined us!) and workshops for artists. We also forged friendships with incredible community groups for people aged 60 and over and hosted workshops and Q&As all around themes within the play, as well as the industry on a wider level. 

​

This tour was delivered in partnership with The Met, Bury and Liverpool Irish Festival, and was supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by funding from the Consulate General of Ireland, Manchester. Thank you to The Production Exchange for initial funding and support during the very early stages of development. And a huge heartfelt thank you to the fantastic creatives and actors who worked with us during ROOT.