Festival Season 2021

Axis Ballymun & Dublin Port Company are delighted to announce that Clare Monnelly's Charlie's a Clepto will make its international debut at Assembly's Edinburgh Festival Fringe Curated Digital Programme in August 2021. Audiences can book in to enjoy this show on-demand from anywhere in the world during the festival.

Charlie is a kleptomaniac - the doctor told her. Reckons it stems from childhood trauma. But she has the robbin’ completely under control these days. For real. She has a bit of a mouth on her, but she’s only trying to be funny, give everyone a laugh, not cause trouble, like. Not today, of all days. She loves that little boy more than she ever thought it was possible to love another human. There’s a lot riding on these 24 hours, and if she keeps her head down, she’ll get him back. 

‘As writer, Monnelly’s own lifts are so subtle, with glancing references to films from Finding Nemo to Forrest Gump, that you barely notice how well she has raided the eternal vaults of good storytelling… Charlie’s odyssey is immediate and gripping, helped along by writing that is deftly comic and evocative.’ **** Peter Crawley, The Irish Times

‘Charlie's a Clepto is utterly absorbing, the underlying pathos pulling at your heart strings as you will the determined little protagonist on to win out… Clare Monnelly delivers her own play with heartfelt sincerity and a huge load of talent.’ Emer O Kelly, The Independent

Speaking about the play, Niamh Ní Chonchubhair, Axis Interim Director, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing Clare Monnelly’s work to a wider audience. A multi-award nominated production, Charlie’s a Clepto is a story about motherhood, messing up and doing your best to make it up. She’s the queen of self-sabotage. Monnelly’s writing is sharp and smart, and we are excited to be bringing such an energetic, funny and relatable voice to audiences via Assembly and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe”.

Dates: 6th - 30th August 2021

Tickets: £13/12

https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on

Group bookings and online engagement: Axis and Clare Monnelly are happy to offer bespoke pre and/or post show discussions to youth and community groups with a specific focus. This includes but is not limited to: the show itself and the themes within it (young motherhood, social work, class as well as forging a career as a writer/performer. These can take place via zoom/teams etc but we're also happy to engage with groups who may be interested in exploring other platforms such as insta live, live tweeted conversations, facebook rooms etc. There is no charge for this engagement and a session can be booked by mailing niamh.nicATaxisballymun.ie 
Clare Monnelly is a writer and actor. Her first play Charlie’s a Clepto was nominated for two Irish Times Theatre Awards (Best New Play, Best Actress) and the Stewart Parker New Playwright Bursary. Her second play minefield premiered at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2019 and was nominated for three Fringe Awards (Best Design, Fishamble New Writing Award, First Fortnight Award). As an actor she has worked with Druid, the Gate, the Abbey and Livin Dred among others and on screen for RTÉ, Sky One and TG4. She is an alumnus of Irish Theatre Institute’s Six in the Attic programme

axis: Ballymun and Dublin Port Co. present

Charlie’s a Clepto

Written and performed by Clare Monnelly

Directed by Aaron Monaghan 

Produced by Niamh Ní Chonchubhair

Composer Derek Conaghy

Filmed by Media Coop

Original design Suzie Cummins