Daughters of the Revolution 4elements Theatre Company

Following sold-out performances in Dublin, hosted by the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Daughters of the Revolution is coming to Galway’s Mick Lally Theatre on February 23rd and 24th at 8pm.

Everyone knows that Ireland is the best little country to give birth in…or is it? 
Daughters of the Revolution is a satirical and irreverent play, examining exactly what women have to go through to get from pregnancy to birth.

As we follow our heroine Evelyn Murphy down the rabbit-hole of the maternity services…who knows what could happen.

Evelyn’s story creates a picture of contemporary Ireland in a time of rising birth-rates, uncertain economic prospects, and a health service in crisis. In a year of renewed debate around the treatment of women in the Irish Constitution, Daughters of the Revolution asks: How free are women in Ireland when it comes their maternity experience?

Staring Clodagh Downing (Vikings, Patsy Dick), Daughters of the Revolution is a challenging theatre piece exploring women’s experience of maternity in Ireland by ambitious theatre-maker/writer Kate Harris with original music by award-winning composer Doc O’Connor. 

These performances mark an innovative approach to engage both women and maternity healthcare professionals. 

The performance is immediately followed by a post-show discussion between the audience and a panel of experts representing a range of perspectives on maternity in Ireland, including obstetric consultants, midwives, doulas, academics, and service users. The post-show discussions will be recorded for podcast.

Biographies:

Kate Harris-Director of 4elements Theatre Company:
Kate is a theatre maker, drama facilitator, and activist. She specializes in interstitial theatre provocations that challenge the line between audience and community and provide a framework to engage marginalized communities and seasoned theatre goers alike in combating social exclusion. Kate Harris works and creates theatre in partnership with artists, a wide range of community groups, educational institutions, and health care professionals; creating dialogue around complex social issues. Kate has worked with Smashing Times Theatre Company, #WakingTheFeminists, and Mothers Artists Makers (MAM).

Dave “Doc” O’Connor-Composer/Musical Director:
Doc is a Musical Director, Arranger, Composer, Conductor and piano player. He has for some of the best-known entertainers in Ireland including Red Hurley, Brendan Grace, Brendan O’Carroll, and June Rogers. He wrote the award winning Hard Times (Waterford International Festival Of Light Opera), and has written original music for Women on The Verge of HRT (Lane Productions), and Blood Wedding (Project Arts Centre). His TV work includes The Late Late Show, Kenny Live, and the I.R.M.A. awards. Doc was Musical Director of the Cork Opera House Christmas Pantomime from 2004 to 2008.

Susie Lamb-Movement Director:
Susie trained at the Gaiety school of acting and has an MA in Dance (Hons) from the University of Limerick (2014-2016). She has worked as an actress/mover in both classical and contemporary performance settings for nearly 20 years. In 2017 Susie choreographed and performed in The consuming project, a site specific performance piece in County Kilkenny. She is a founding member of MAM Ireland and a member of the Magdelana Theatre network. She co-created NEST festival, Kilkenny with Niamh Moroney in 2014.

Clodagh Downing-Actor
Clodagh Downing is an award-winning actor and writer. She recently finished filming on History channel’s Vikings. In theatre, she has played a diverse range of roles including Roberta in Danny & The Deep Blue Sea and Gertrude in Hamlet. Recent film work includes award-winning films Darkness on the Edge of Town, Roughcut, and Patsy Dick. Clodagh also works as a drama teacher for children on the Autistic Spectrum and an ESL teacher.

Benjamin Musgrave-Actor
Benjamin studied Drama and Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. His acting roles have included Maniac in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Lucky in Waiting for Godot, Denis in Wither and Franco Begbie in Trainspotting (Smock Alley Theatre). In 2010, Benjamin co-founded Peachum & Ophelia Productions and appeared in their debut production Lunch by Steven Berkoff. His screen credits include Martin Cahill in TV3's Irelands Greatest Robberies, Doorman in Mirrorman. Benjamin can currently be seen at the GPO Witness History museum as Padraig Pearse in the short film Fire and Steel.

Diana O’Connor-Actor
Diana began her training in Inchicore College graduating with Trinity Guildhall ATCL Diplomas in Acting and Musical Theatre and later went on to complete a Higher Diploma in Drama Studies in UCD. Recent theatre credits include No More Secrets No More Lies with Out Of The Blue Theatre Company, Angela She Wrote: Lansbury The Musical with Glad Productions and the sold out 2016 production of Daughters Of The Revolution. Diana also runs Midas Music company a Theatre and Music production company with her husband Dave “Doc” O’Connor.