REVIEW: The Daughters of Róisí­n, Wee Yarn Productions, EdFringe 2024 ★★★★☆

A seventeen-year-old girl is trapped in her room with a sickness that grows, a sickness that cannot be shown to anyone. Told that she’ll have to give away this growing being within her, the girl grapples with the reality that she lacks all control over her life, and no amount of prayer can save her. 

Relaying Ireland’s traumatic history of church and state abuse over women pregnant  out of wedlock, The Daughters of Róisí­n is a one-woman show about reclaiming the narrative. Spoken-word weaves into traditional Irish folk song, into chilling tales about The Visitor coming to sweep all her troubles under the ground. 

Aoibh Johnson, who also wrote the piece, is a phenomenal performer. She does not stutter once, despite a marathon of a script, her voice lilting over every crafted line. She is also unafraid to interact with the audience, winning them over with her irresistible charm.

Once Johnson gets us where she wants us, the true horror of the story can commence. Comical anecdotes slip silently into cautionary tales of priests who take children away from their mothers, and the ‘sickness’ that plagues young girls across Ireland. 

Our soloist uses quiet to her advantage, often cowering down into a whisper, hiding behind the slats of the wooden chair at centre stage. The silence is compelling, reminiscent of the way in which the real women of her story had their voices ripped away from them. 

Nevertheless, the piece could do with some sound design. Whilst the lighting is stunning, some accompaniment to the scene transitions, or some layering underneath the more emotional sequences, could really support the overall atmosphere. 

As the transitions take place so often, at times we are left yearning to stay in each chapter for a little longer. By the time we understand the world of each scene, Johnson decides to take us somewhere else, pulling us out of the previous beautifully crafted moment. 

Having said this, it is an intensely moving story. The staging is simple yet saturated with meaning, giving deliberate metaphorical nods to the Magdalene Laundries where so many pregnant women were abused. It is certainly an experience worthy of its audience. 

Recommended Drink: Guinness.

Performances for The Daughters of Róisí­n have now concluded at EdFringe 2024.