SHAME Returns To The Abbey Theatre

Pom Boyd and Seán Millar's Shame returns to the Peacock Stage at the Abbey Theatre this December following a sell-out run in this year's Dublin Fringe Festival. Nominated for three Fringe awards, Shame has been described by critics as 'dissenting and triumphing' and 'a theatrical punk performance like no other.'

Pom Boyd is an award winning writer, actor, and comedian. She has written for and appeared extensively in theatre, radio, television and film. Most recently she appeared in Brokentalkers' This Beach and in Roddy Doyle's film Rosie directed by Paddy Breathnach. Shame is her first time collaborating with husband Seán Millar. Seán Millar (aka Doctor Millar) has been described as a cross between Leonard Cohen and Jarvis Cocker and a 'National Treasure'. He has composed and written extensively for theatre and can be seen and heard in new band The Unelectables with Nick Kelly (Fat Lady Sings), Paul Byrne (In Tua Nua) and Leslie Keye.

Part gig, part theatre, part sacred punk ritual, Shame probes into and plays with inherited family shame using songs, theatre performance, spoken word and previously lost Irish film footage.

Original music and songs, composed by Seán aka 'Doctor' Millar, widely considered to be one of the country's best lyricists, are performed by Millar and the cast.

This brave, honest and funny show invites you to share in the ritual - give up the exhausting pretence and wear your crippling shame on your sleeve.

Pom Boyd said, "I knew there was something I was avoiding. Something I couldn't even talk about to those closest to me, even to my husband Seán, couldn't even acknowledge to myself. I hid it by being proud, held on to my pride for dear life, not realising it had me by the scruff of the throat. This thing that put me into such a state of fear that I would do anything, anything to avoid allowing anyone see it was happening. This idea of projecting a more powerful 'false self 'in order to hide my 'weak and shameful' self. I recognised it in other people and would feel this tremendous sympathy an outpouring of wanting to make them not feel like that. When I examined my work, comedy, writing, collaborative work it was all over it. I realised how present and yet denied it was. I knew I had to go there and make the next piece of theatre about the thing I found hardest to admit to, my secret failure, my shame. Seán and I had been wanting to work on something together - well, more accurately, I wanted to work with him on something, so we chose this, we chose Shame. We're giving ourselves permission and hoping that the people in the room with us, the audience, the gathering, the community, if you like, will feel they too have permission to unburden themselves of their own shame. But, and this is very important, in a free and fun, honest and entertaining, wild punk rock way!"

Shame is presented as part of the Avolon Winter Season. Running from December 2018 to January 2019, this season of work is presented by Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, based in Dublin.

See abbeytheatre.ie for more details.

 

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