Fresh from a successful run at Edinburgh Fringe and London theaters, hit play Killymuck will make its Northern Irish debut at the MAC on 13-14 June.
A darkly comic, semi-autobiographical play about class, poverty and the struggle to escape by award-winning playwright, Kat Woods, the play centers on a fictitious housing estate in 1970s Northern Ireland, Killymuck, and follows Niamh, a kid from the benefit class system played by Irish actress, Aoife Lennon, as she navigates the trials and tribulations of life.
Directed by Cat Shoobridge (Recipient of the Genesis Future Director Award and Young Vic Associate Director), Killymuck highlights the lack opportunity, educational barriers, impoverishment, addiction and depression present in cycles of poverty.
Having been longlisted for an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression award and shortlisted for the Filipa Braganca acting award, the play explores how those from deprived areas or with less access to money often have less opportunity in life and shines a light on how social and psychological behaviours impact and shape who we become.
Speaking about the show, Kat Woods said: “There is a forgotten segment of society that we never talk about when it comes to the arts – the lower classes. The underclass. The benefit class. I am from that background and this piece is inspired by my own narrative. These stories need to be told and need to find representation on stage. We are in danger of theatre becoming an elitist domain. Let’s create theatre for all not just the few. Killymuck is my battle cry.”
Woods’ previous work includes Belfast Boy (Fringe Review Award for Outstanding Theatre, The Stage Award for Excellence), Wasted (New York transfer as part of the Fringe Encore Award), and Mule (Edinburgh, London and NI Tour).
Tickets for Killymuck at the MAC are on sale now at themaclive.com or call box office on 02890235053.