Brendan Behan’s niece premieres hard-hitting one-woman Irish double-bill at Camden Fringe.

Writer/actor Janet Behan, author of the celebrated biographical Brendan at the Chelsea brings her funny and poignant double bill, Realtine/Noreen to the stage as part of Camden Fringe 2016

VENUE: Tristan Bates Theatre, 1a Tower Street, London, WC2H 9NP TIME AND DATES: 6.00pm, August 23 – 27 (running time – 45 minutes)

Realtine/Noreen tells the stories of two very different women, both scarred from a young age by incarceration in different Catholic institution. Their stories illustrate the emotionally crippling effect on women of finding themselves at the mercy of the Catholic Church.

In Realtine, our heroine joins a creative writing class but something has prevented her from writing a single word. Today the dam has burst and her story pours out. The story of a thirteen year old forced to enter the Poor Clare – a closed order of nuns. Noreen, an immigrant, rails against daughter, husband and neighbours for ruining her life; beneath the rage she nurses a broken heart, pining for the baby that was stolen from her many years ago.

Janet says: “My father, author Brian Behan, was one of many thousands who suffered incarceration and abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church. The victims of such abuse are now known to be so numerous that it is possible for us to lose sight of them as individuals. It’s my hope that these two plays will go some way to helping us see the human cost behind the numbers.”

Director Jessica Higgs says:” Outrage explodes from the burning heart of these insightful, clever thumbnail portraits. They are great companion pieces and, fanned with compassion and humour, allow us into the very particular life experiences of their heroines.”

Janet Behan – writer/performer Janet has worked as an actor for forty years. The niece of celebrated playwright Brendan Behan, Janet’s play, Brendan at the Chelsea, was first produced at the newly rebuilt Lyric Theatre, Belfast in 2011. Starring Adrian Dunbar, this sell-out production toured to New York, Belfast, Dublin and Derry in 2013.

“A must,” NY Times “Beautifully written”, British Theatre Guide “Behan’s script is rich and elegant - a must see”, Foreign Press Assoc.

Jessica Higgs - director Jessica’s work was last seen at the Tristan Bates in November 2015 when she directed Yang May Ooi’s acclaimed Bound Feet Blues. Other directing work includes: Lady Grey (Will Eno/Soho Theatre); Four Portraits – of Mothers (Wesker/Bridewell Theatre); Landscape & Mountain Language (Pinter/Ovalhouse); My Amulet (Leah Thorn/Camden Jewish Musuem); Smudge (Alex Bulmer/Ovalhouse) and Pig Tales (Julie McNamara/Edinburgh Theatre Workshop, national & international tours). Jessica is also a voice coach and co- founder of Unfinished Histories, the influential website and archive documenting the history of alternative theatre, 1968-88.

Listing details: Realtine/Noreen is presented as part of Camden Fringe 2016., produced by STEPASIDE in association with Shoreham Wordfest at Tristan Bates Theatre, The Actors Centre, 1a Tower Street, London WC2H 9NP Box Office: 020 3841 6611 / tristanbatestheatre.co.uk For further information and press tickets please contact Dermot Boyd on 07710319877 or email: [email protected]