Float

After being accepted into the MAC Belfast’s Hatch and Scratch program, Kirby and Orla began research and development in September 2021 for ‘Float’ in the MAC. Having this space together allowed them to explore ideas and begin to create this piece inspired by snippets of personal history and responses to surveys they carried out mixed with research into articles, journals and past events in Northern and Southern Ireland.

The MAC supported them throughout writing, and they also received incredible dramaturgical support from Lyric Theatre Belfast as well. Having this support from two of Northern Ireland's leading theatres allowed the two, especially as new artists, to feel supported and encouraged us to continue and to believe in the importance of the story they wanted to tell – a story that is authentic, empathic and honest, even down to the details of which celebrity cardboard cut outs we have seen scattered about old student houses.

After 2 years of writing, they formed their team, all of whom bring incredible talent and new perspectives to our rehearsal room. We then had a rehearsed reading at the Lyric Theatre to get feedback. we then commenced our run at the Bewley’s Cafe Theatre as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival. Kirby and Orla were part of their ‘Artist at Work’ cohort in 2020. After a successful run at the Dublin Fringe, ‘Float’ ran at the MAC, Belfast in November 2023.