Irishtown at the Irish Rep
Ever Wondered What Makes an Irish Play
By: Susan Hall - May 08, 2025
Irishtown is currently playing at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York through May 25th. Nicola Murphy Dubey directs.
Who better to ask, “What is Irish theatre?” than this company. And how can you produce an Irish play quickly—say, in just one week—and still create something both entertaining and provocative?
Enter young playwright Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, who imagines what it might be like to start from scratch.
Well, not exactly scratch—because the small company, already engaged for a New York run, has begun rehearsing a play set in England. The subject? Sexual assault.
However, early in the rehearsal process, the cast decides the play isn’t working and abandons it.
Set designer Colm McNally creates a clever backdrop, where the costumes, rehearsal space, and temporary stage all sit next to one another. On a chalkboard, the list of classic Irish themes—incest, alcoholism, poverty, potatoes—goes up.
The actors, led by the indomitable Kate Burton, begin to develop a new piece. As each actor creates their own scene, they return again and again to the original subject: sexual assault. Saoirse-Monica Jackson infuses even the most desperate moments with energy and nuance.
Improbability doesn’t disturb us. The actors’ charm and hard work sell their new drama.
What emerges is a look behind the scenes at the personal dramas that inevitably arise during a production. Some of the characters’ interactions reflect traditional Irish themes of lust and bloodshed.
Are rehearsals the most entertaining part of Irish drama? You’ll get a chance to find out in the highly amusing Irishtown.