Debut play by member of travelling community to be held at Offaly funeral home

A debut play by Galway comedian and member of the Irish travelling community Martin (Beanz) Warde is set to take place in the highly unusual venue of Boyd's Funeral Home in Birr later this week.

'The Dead House' will be reposing at Boyd's funeral home in Birr on Thursday, July 11 at 8pm. Doors open at 7.30pm.

The Tuam man will play Patrick, an Irish Traveller, who hasn’t been home in ten years but returns from self-exile for his grandfather’s funeral. The debut play is a powerful and moving dark comedy set on the day of an Irish wake, when family stories resurface that have lain dormant for years and the ghosts of the past brings with them the memories of trauma, loss and despair. A wide range of issues are touched upon in the performance including family, loss of culture, loss, grief, social stratification, and suicide amongst others.

Martin holds a Sociology and Politics degree from University of Galway (formerly NUIG) and an MA in Journalism from UL. He advocates for better representation of his community in Irish media and the arts. His play 'The Dead House' had a sold-out run at Dublin Theatre Festival, Galway Theatre Festival, and Listowel writer's week. Martin's TV series 'The End of the World with Beanz' aired on RTE One in March 2024.

Tickets for the play cost €15 each and can be purchased on https://scriptsireland.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth. In the sad case of the funeral home being in use this play will move to Birr Theatre & Arts Centre. Ticket holders will be notified.