“I’d like the people to know I’m not an animal. Did I cause harm? Yes. Should I be punished? Of course. But do I deserve my human rights? Absolutely I do.”

The Examination, a new theatrical production by the international award winning Brokentalkers will be performed at the Project Arts Centre, Dublin City Centre (28 February-2 March 2019) and at axis: Ballymun (8 March 2019). Drawing on the project’s historical research, and testimony from current and former prisoners, including actor and stand-up comedian Willie White, who served time in prison, The Examination tells the story of the large number of prisoners struggling with mental and physical ill health, and with addiction, in Ireland’s prison system, past and present.

The Examination is the outcome of a 12-month research and creative process period, that has seen Brokentalkers’ directors Gary Keegan and Feidlim Cannon hold theatre workshops and interviews with prisoners and former prisoners in various settings including Mountjoy Prison and PACE Training and Education Services. Responding to the testimony of the workshop participants and to historical analysis of healthcare inside Ireland’s prisons conducted by Associate Professor Catherine Cox (UCD), the performance features Brokentalkers’ distinctive blend of biography, socio-political discourse and breathtaking theatricality, with powerful imagery and a visceral sound scape. The Examination is an uncompromising and revelatory interrogation of healthcare inside Irish prison, an aspect of society too often ignored.

Brokentalkers are a multi-award winning Dublin based theatre company, founded in 2001 by Feidlim Cannon and Gary Keegan. They have built a reputation as one of Ireland’s most innovative and original theatre companies making formally ambitious work that defies categorization. Their recent work include: Woman Undone, a collaboration with Ireland’s greatest female vocalist, Mary Coughlan; The Circus Animals’ Desertion (Dublin Theatre Festival), This Beach (Munich Kammerspiele), Have I No Mouth (winner of Total Theatre Award, Edinburgh 2013) and The Blue Boy (Grand Prix winner, Kontakt Festival, Torun, Poland, 2014). Brokentalkers have presented their work in 12 countries across Europe, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA.

Project Arts Centre, Dublin

Dates:

Preview: 28 February at 7.30pm

Performances: 1& 2 March at 7.30pm

Post-show Panel Discussion: 1 March
Matinee: 2 March at 2.30pm

Book tickets at ProjectArtsCentre.ie

axis, Ballymun

Performance: 8 March at 8pm followed by a Post-show Panel Discussion

Book tickets at axisballymun.ie