The Daughters of Róisí­n – Pleasance Courtyard: Bunker 1

Taking a difficult subject and balancing the harsh reality whilst still including comedy is a hard task, but The Daughters Of Roisin have done this masterfully.

Taking a look into the hidden and darker history of Ireland, this one woman show tells us the truth about how the young pregnant women were often treated. It tells of women being locked up for 9 months in their homes without being seen as to hide the disgrace and “sickness”, and the powers the church held over its people.

This is a difficult watch as one may expect, you should as an audience feel uncomfortable. But what this play does masterfully is weave the horror and hard to swallow truth amongst song this is in no way a cheesy musical) and lighter humour. Our Lead actress (Aoibh Johnson) and writer divides the story into two characters skilfully, flipping role with the use of a single hair clip. On the one hand we have our storyteller, the strong woman willing to tell the stories of many women who have faced this unrequited solitude and loss. She pulls her audience in, makes them willing participants, spills the horrid truths but also breaks the tensions skilfully when needed. Our other character is a young pregnant woman, once full of life and wonder now enclosed in her own home to avoid shame. Whilst the young girl represents many women she is also based on the actress/writer’s own family member adding a much more person touch to the story too.

Johnson is a mesmerizing performer; she successfully holds her audience in the palm of her hand. It’s hard to take your eyes of her, one minute she makes you want the world to swallow you whole, the next she has you happily chanting words that you know are wrong and somewhat disturbing.  By the end of the show, I’m not sure any of us had the breath to speak as Johnson reduced most to tears.

This is such a fantastic and eye-opening show and should not be left off of your fringe schedule. The standing ovation at the end of the show said it all: get your tickets!

The Daughters of Róisí­n plays at Pleasance Courtyard Bunker 1 until 25^th August (excluding 13^th and 14^th) at 13:00.

Get tickets at The Daughters Of Róisí­n | Theatre | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com)

Reviewer: Beth Eltringham

Reviewed: 6^th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: