C is for … Colm Keegan

Thursday 24th September, 8pm

Tickets €22/20

C is For’ — A One-Man Show from Colm Keegan

Leading voice of Irish poetry and spoken word returns with a new theatrical production

Acclaimed poet, playwright and performer Colm Keegan will premiere his new one-man show ‘C is For’ in Axis Theatre this September, marking a major new chapter in his creative work and the continued evolution of spoken word as a fully staged theatrical experience.

‘C is For’ is a genre-defying performance that blends spoken word, storytelling and theatrical monologue with visual art, sound and live performance. The result is a rich, immersive exploration of voice, memory and inheritance, (inspired by the most random object - that will only be revealed during the performance) rooted firmly in Keegan’s love of poetry and the transformative power of creativity.

At the heart of the show is a deeply personal narrative examining family history, memory and the legacy of Keegan’s mother’s adoption. The performance is built around a sequence of poems and visual artworks, including work from Camcorder, his upcoming poetry collection.

A leading figure in Ireland’s spoken word scene, Keegan has built a career that bridges artistic excellence and social engagement. He has developed projects across youth services, prisons, schools and community settings. His recent collaboration with LBS Men’s Shed, What Are We Waiting For?, exploring male mental health and masculinity, won the Judge’s Choice Award for Socially Engaged Arts at the 2025 Dublin Fringe Festival. While much of Keegan’s recent work has focused on community-based projects, including Writing Home, a poetry and film initiative with homeless service users, this show marks a deliberate shift toward his own creative output.

Keegan describes ‘C is For’ as “a culmination of different strands of my work - poetry, theatre and performance all coming together in one space.” He adds: “I’m taking all of the inspirations and experiences I’ve had devising poetry & theatre shows over the years to break new creative ground in a way that feels fun, challenging and different for me, and hopefully for the audience too.”

Julie Kelleher, who recently worked on Mick Flannery’s musical ‘The House Must Win’ will be directing the show and said – “Colm is an artist I have admired for a long time. With “C is For”, he has written a work of typically idiosyncratic beauty, poetry and humour, that illuminates corners of personal history that will resonate with many.”

Through humour, vulnerability and inventive storytelling, 'C is For' challenges expectations of both poetry and theatre. It draws on influences ranging from stand-up comedy to visual art, creating a dynamic, unpredictable performance that refuses to conform to traditional genres.

'C is For' runs at Axis Ballymun this September 24th at 8pm. Tickets are on sale now via axisballymun.ie and the Axis Box Office — early booking is advised.

What the audience says about 'C is For':

“A daring rollercoaster collage of poetry, memoir, humour and discovery carrying raw emotional depth and energy.”

“A unique (but actually very Irish) mix of the profound, and humour. “

“Go see it! This is a show that uses poetry and art to journey through the hauntings of the past with insight and humour.”

“Ripping up forms, clever, full of trickery in the best way, child-like play with depth and punches.”

“Deftly curated storytelling that flies along”

“Funny, intimate and kind of strange”

“Something really brave, something really bold, shaking up (what I know of) the live performance scene, and it's just a great night out!”