Written and performed by Wee Yarn Productions

Doors: 7pm / Performance 7.30pm
Duration: 1hr
Cost: Pay what you can afford per ticket

Locked in a room for nine months in a home she once called her own.

The Daughters of Róisín explores the harrowing history of church and state abuse against pregnant women out of wedlock in Ireland over the last 100 years.

Moving, angry and charged with fiery activism, this one-woman show is a rallying cry for women everywhere to rise up, stand tall and eradicate Ireland's ancient shame. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review from British Theatre Guide 2024

2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival “Pick of The Fringe” at Pleasance

Written and performed by Cathy Carson
This event is hosted and performed in aid of Clothes for All

Doors: 7pm / Performance 7.30pm
Duration: 1hr 30min with brief interval
Cost: Pay what you can afford per ticket

“The story begins in 1970’s Belfast, where life for young Danielle is as troubled at home as it is on the streets.  Mistreated at home, expelled from school at fifteen and homeless at twenty.  Danielle feels like she is drowning.

But there are lifeboats around her, people who will save her, if only she can trust them enough to take their hand.  Be prepared for a roller coaster of emotion, a stunningly crafted script and a powerhouse performance.”

‘Becoming Marvellous’ has played to audiences in Armagh, Bangor, Belfast, Birmingham, Cork, Cushendun, Mountshannon and Stamford.  The show won The Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show in 2022 and has been published by Flight of the Dragonfly Press in June 2024.

Cathy Carson is a writer and spoken word performer who combines poetry and storytelling to explore human connection and condition.  She has performed for radio, television, festivals, podcasts and theatre.  In 2022 Cathy was shortlisted for The Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Performer.

Written by Maggie Cronin and Carol Moore

Doors: 7pm / Performance 7.30pm
Duration: 1hr
Cost: Pay what you can afford per ticket

“There is only so long one may ask for a thing politely…”

Shrieking Sisters follows the story of Lilian Metge and her journey in Lisburn, from peaceful suffragist to militant suffragette. Along with other activists, she hatched a plan to bomb Lisburn Cathedral in 1914. The piece contextualizes her personal journey to militancy, within the wider suffrage campaign in Ireland and England. Shrieking Sisters examines the motivations of Lilian and other Northern women, as they fought for the right to vote; despite knowing they could potentially face imprisonment and force-feeding.

Written by Maggie Cronin and Carol Moore
Actors - Maggie Cronin, Laura Hughes and Carol Moore
Production Manager – Malcolm Smith

Presented by Brass Neck Theatre Company

Doors 7pm - Show 7.30pm
Tickets £12+fees (concessions available)

'MY CORONA' is a hilarious new show by award-winning playwright Pearse Elliott, that packs a powerful punch! 

Starring the incomparable Caroline Curran, 'MY CORONA’ follows nurse Donna as she navigates her way through the day-to-day challenges of working in a care home during these unprecedented times. 

A no-nonsense, modern-day hero, with a cracking sense of humour, Donna encapsulates everything about our wonderful NHS that is truly worth fighting for. 

Hilarious and heartfelt, 'MY CORONA' will have audiences rolling with laughter and clapping for the real superheroes of the last few years; our incredible Health Workers!

Doors 7pm - Show 7.30pm
Tickets £12

Confined to a room for nine months in a house she once called her home. The Daughters of Róisín is a poignant ode to Ireland's hidden past that explores the church and state-sanctioned abuse against women over the last 100 years. Wee Yarn Productions invite you to witness and journey with this forsaken Daughter of Ireland.

Wee Yarn Productions is a theatre company founded by Cahal Clarke and Aoibh Johnson in 2019. They completed a tour of this production in Australia in 2020, only to have had their wings clipped with the pandemic's impact on the theatre industry.

They are back now to re-produce the play in Ireland, and only hope to continue making new work and engaging with the industry at home.

"We are committed to producing professional theatre that explores, questions and illuminates our world and the stories which bind us. New writing is our main focus, with no story being too big or too small. We are excited by the use of space, and how our surroundings shape our experiences. At Wee Yarn productions, we place the audience at the centre of our work. We invite our audiences not only to spectate but to participate and most importantly, to witness."

''This is an Irish play, but the themes of the play transcend the Irish narrative. It challenges our views on the treatment of women in the past, and reveals how the stories still echo" -Cahal Clarke - Director

'GENIUS'

"Powerfully and brilliantly executed. Believe me. This is more than special. This is inspired genius at every level. Don’t miss it." - Bernadette McAliskey (Civil Rights Activist and Leader)

(Five stars)

"Aoibh Johnson has a captivating presence. See this, if you enjoy theatre where an actor can ply her craft with great care and give all of herself to each moment." - The Adelaide Show

'EXCELLENT'

"The Daughters of Róisín is a heart-wrenching metaphorical drama. Seeing it once might just not be enough." Everything Theatre, London.

Cathy Carson is a spoken word performer, known for her powerful, emotive, engaging and deeply affecting performances: shortlised for Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Performer in 2022, and her work, Becoming Marvellous, won the award for Best Spoken Word Show, 2022.

Photo credits Nick Lovell

This semi autobiographical one woman show begins in Belfast in the 1970s, where life at home is as troubled for young Danielle as it is on the streets.

Mistreated at home, expelled from school at 15 and homeless by 20, Danielle feels like she is drowning. But there are lifeboats around her, people who will save her if only she can trust them enough to take their hand.

All funds raised from tonights performance are in aid of Clothes For All, no donation is too small, and all are very gratefully received.

Doors 7pm - Show 7.30pm
Tickets £12

Confined to a room for nine months in a house she once called her home. The Daughters of Róisín is a poignant ode to Ireland's hidden past that explores the church and state-sanctioned abuse against women over the last 100 years. Wee Yarn Productions invite you to witness and journey with this forsaken Daughter of Ireland.

Wee Yarn Productions is a theatre company founded by Cahal Clarke and Aoibh Johnson in 2019. They completed a tour of this production in Australia in 2020, only to have had their wings clipped with the pandemic's impact on the theatre industry.

They are back now to re-produce the play in Ireland, and only hope to continue making new work and engaging with the industry at home.

"We are committed to producing professional theatre that explores, questions and illuminates our world and the stories which bind us. New writing is our main focus, with no story being too big or too small. We are excited by the use of space, and how our surroundings shape our experiences. At Wee Yarn productions, we place the audience at the centre of our work. We invite our audiences not only to spectate but to participate and most importantly, to witness."

''This is an Irish play, but the themes of the play transcend the Irish narrative. It challenges our views on the treatment of women in the past, and reveals how the stories still echo" -Cahal Clarke - Director

'GENIUS'

"Powerfully and brilliantly executed. Believe me. This is more than special. This is inspired genius at every level. Don’t miss it." - Bernadette McAliskey (Civil Rights Activist and Leader)

(Five stars)

"Aoibh Johnson has a captivating presence. See this, if you enjoy theatre where an actor can ply her craft with great care and give all of herself to each moment." - The Adelaide Show

'EXCELLENT'

"The Daughters of Róisín is a heart-wrenching metaphorical drama. Seeing it once might just not be enough." Everything Theatre, London.

Family Show
FREE
Doors 6pm, performance 6.30pm

MakeyUppers' Mystery Bag 
CSI (Curious Story Investigators) Rita Book and Goodie Reed have stumbled upon a long-lost mystery bag and need YOUR help in their investigation to discover who owns it and how it ended up so lost for so long. Solve the clues, create the story and help with the dramatic reconstruction! 
An interactive performance of storytelling and craic unlike anything you will have seen before! (Suitable for all ages and abilities).

In association with Sole Purpose Productions and supported by the Halifax Foundation of Northern Ireland

100 Club

Where arts meet activism, it’s the Duncairn 100 Club and this time on top of our solid music offering from trad duo Joseph McNulty & Cillian Doheny as well as folk songstress Saoirse Casey we’ve got special guests Kabosh presenting their latest production Not On Our Watch:

When our only dedicated women’s hostel is threatened with closure, six determined workers rise together to fight against a failing system and an uncaring establishment.  

 

For 12 weeks they live, work, and breathe resistance.  

Standing up to a management structure refusing to find solutions. 
Standing up for the women they protect. 
Standing up for essential services. 
Standing up to shout: 

NOT ON OUR WATCH 

Produced by Kabosh with support from Unite The Union

SAOIRSE CASEY grew up in a musical family, & her childhood home was full of musical instruments. As a child she made plays, short films & stories. As a teenager, she taught herself piano & guitar, and started to write songs everyday. Very soon after, she was performing. Her first concert was supporting Declan O Rourke at the INEC, in Killarney. Since then, she has played in many of Ireland’s much loved venues, with her own concerts and at other times supporting different artists including Tiny Ruins, Kila, Mundy, Cathy Davey, and Paddy Casey.
She had the opportunity to perform on Una Healy’s New Year’s Eve Party on RTE, alongside artists such as Lemoncello, The Waterboys, Wallis Bird and others.

Her first recording, a handmade EP, called Carousel, was recorded one night in 2017, sewn and written out one by one. It is a minimal & thoughtful EP about a world that is ending & a love story between a boy and girl, featuring guitar & vocal.

In 2019, Saoirse released ‘’Lunaria’’ (meaning Moon-song) her debut album, as an independent artist. An album both surreal & familiar, featuring a lot of instrumentation, moving between the worlds of folk, rock & classical sound.

She toured the album in Europe, Ireland, and Japan, with her friend and violinist Yuri Atowa, and other musicians.
In 2020, ‘’Lunaria’’ was released as a japanese edition, on the independent label ‘’Eala Label’’ and the songs have been featured on Tv & radio in Japan.

She lives in the countryside with her rabbit, Pipkin.
When not making music, she is writing & learning dance.
She is currently working on her second album.

JOSEPH MCNULTY of Co. Mayo is a well-established multi-instrumentalist among traditional Irish music circles. One of the country's most highly regarded young fiddle players, Joseph is a multi-award winning musician who has spent much of his music career preforming extensively throughout Europe and America, most recently completing an extensive USA Tour with the band Boxing Banjo, of which Joseph is a founder member.

With an immeasurable devotion to Irish culture, Joseph spent his teenage years immersed in the Irish language, moving to Inis Oirr to complete second level education as Gaeilge. Greatly influenced by this experience, Joseph's music encapsulates a dynamic and compelling energy which transpires emphatically through his live performances.

Following their American debut in 2019, Boxing Banjo have amassed a host of devoted fans who have been captivated by their enthusiasm, charm, and musicianship. They are "total naturals on stage," according to the Irish Echo, and their live performances inspire the inner dancer and singer in every audience. They received the "Up & Coming Band of the Year" award at the 2020 American Listener Supported Radio Celtic Music Awards, demonstrating the international recognition they have acquired.

Joseph has also performed and recorded with some of Ire lands most famous and highly regarded musician such as Matt Molloy, Arty McGlynn (RIP), Donal Lunny, David Munnelly, and Shane McGowan to name but a few. In 2018, Joseph released his own debut solo album entitled "A Step in Time", receiving rapturous reviews which highlight his awe-inspiring musicianship, delivering high octane renditions of traditional melodies while also approaching the slow air 'Bruach na Carraige Baine' with a level of sensitivity beyond his years. Joseph has performed at The Duncairn on three previous occasions with various projects and is sure to deliver a night of music which both entertains and captivates those in attendance.

CILLIAN DOHENY is an extremely versatile musician who started playing music when he was eleven years old learning both the acoustic guitar & tenor banjo simultaneously. Along with these instruments Cillian also plays electric guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, tenor guitar & bass keys. In his earlier exploits as a young musician he won All-Ireland titles under the 15 - 18 category including tenor banjo solo and acoustic guitar accompaniment in 2009. He has toured globally since the age of 16 with various different groups at venues including West Point, NY, The Lincoln Center, NY and the National Concert Hall of Ireland. On the 20th of December 2010 Cillian received the pleasure of performing for the famous U2 at a private welcome home gig in Dromoland castle from their 360-degree world tour where he was lucky enough to be invited for a jam with frontmen Bono and the Edge.

Through the years Cillian has performed with many artists such as Brian Finnegan (Flook), Padraig Rynne (Notify), Kevin Burke (Patrick Street), Pauline Scanlon and world-renowned fiddle player, Frankie Gavin (De Dannan). However, Cillian's most notable work is with bands MOXIE & ATLAS.

MATINEE: Doors 1.30pm - Show 2pm (Fully Booked)
EVENING: Doors 7pm - Show 7.30pm

Spanner in Works Theatre Company presents What If?
Written and directed by Patricia Downey.

The story of one mother’s loss.

The Shankill Road, Belfast 1993. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in October a bomb explodes in Frizzell’s fish shop, killing nine people and one of the bombers.

Then it hit me - my Leanne was under all them bricks  …

A mother’s instinct is to protect her child.  Who can protect their child from evil? I couldn’t.

“A piece of work that will resonate with all people, regardless of class, colour or creed” - Audience Member

The Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts are delighted to be welcoming back Spanner In the Works Theatre Company in December with their production "What If".  

Our partnership with the company is one of a shared social ethos.  Drama, as a tool to share the lived experience of people's lives is a strong cultural process; it has the capacity to connect people, and importantly to remind us that we are not alone in the challenges we have lived with, or will face.  The Duncairn team are very proud to support and encourage the real voices that Spanner in the Works theatre company bring to life through their work. 

Presented by Spanner in the Works Theatre Company.

Written and directed by Patricia Downey
Doors 7pm - Show 7.30pm

Deception is a story of scams and scammers.  Watch as an ordinary family falls victim to scams and see how they learn and move on from the experience. 

Recognise anyone? Would you have done anything different?

The Characters

Ashley – 16, spends most of her time watching Addison Rae on TikTok.  Into social media in a big way. 

Johnny – 15, her brother.  A big gamer – addicted to the new Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Ben – 15, Johnny’s friend.  Another gamer - but with things on his mind. 

Claire – Mum to Ashley and Johnny. Works part-time at the local supermarket and cares for her father, James.  Has been on her own for a long time and is thrilled that someone is taking an interest.

Presented by Spanner in the Works Theatre Company.

Written and directed by Patricia Downey
Doors 7pm - Show 7.30pm

In the summer of 2019, it was reported that the number of women in Northern Ireland prisons had hit a 5 year high. 

People who are locked up can’t contribute to the decline of the community as a whole. What happens when women are thrown together in a prison? Are their stories different inside than out? 

Mel: I was doing a degree in child development but after a few weeks I realized my career lay somewhere else.

Chas: Aye drug dealing.

Mel: I like to call myself a street pharmacist. 

Lesley Anne: You’re a dial a dope! I hear there’s runny honey on the wing.

Does anybody plan to end up in jail?

Runny Honey deals with issues of Domestic Violent, drugs, and sexual abuse and contains scenes that some may find distressing. 

Touring across Northern Ireland from 11th October  to 5th November 

Brassneck Theatre Company Presents SOMETHING IN THE AIR
(as part of the Greater New Lodge Community Festival)

On the 15th August 1969, Bombay Street in west Belfast was burned to the ground.  Hundreds of families fled south to refugee camps, escaping the violence, but one young woman lost more than just her home.  Fifty years later, she is forced to confront the events of that summer in a way she could never have imagined.  A play by Lawrence McKeown.

Tickets purchased in Cash at The Duncairn box Office = £10.00

Tickets purchased online through debit/credit card = £11.50.

Running time – 1 hour and 10 minutes

Presented by The Playhouse Theatre and Peacebuilding Academy.
by Laurence McKeown

Survival and retaining dignity in the face of adversity…

A live multi-media event exploring the landscape of South Armagh through the eyes of seven victims/survivors of The Troubles.

Through the prism of the personal stories of individuals severely impacted by the conflict in the South Armagh and Border Counties region, In the Shadow of Gullion uses film, sound, theatre, music, song, and narration to foreground South Armagh as an area of natural beauty, rich in folklore, culture, and tradition. This understanding and presentation is interwoven with an exploration of the region as a place that has been besieged by strife and conflict over many centuries.

Renowned playwright, scriptwriter and filmmaker Laurence McKeown presents a brand new work that does not interrogate the rights and wrongs of each shared story, but explores the different perspectives of those involved, and the legacy for individuals today.

This production is the latest by The Playhouse Theatre Peace Building Academy, a cross border arts programme that gives creative expression to the experience of living in Northern Ireland and memory of The Troubles. 

CLICK HERE for more information about The Playhouse Theatre and Peacebuilding Academy.

FREE. Booking Essential.