This film opens in One Drive.

Give it a couple of moments to load, then hit the right-facing arrow to have it play. Trailer (c) Aaron Howell, music (c) Hannah M Donelon.

A Very Odd Birthday Party revels in the complexities of family, working-class identity and memory. It asks:

Can you ever really know someone? Or know too much? Are there parts of ourselves we must simply reconcile with in silence?

This is your invitation to Michael Moriarty’s birthday party.

Once there, you’ll join mother-to-be -Eveline- and her dad -Michael Moriarty- on a journey that penetrates the psyche, humour and trauma of first- and second-generation migrants in the UK.

Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, A Very Odd Birthday Party is a new play by Hannah Donelon featuring live, traditional music. Anna Berentzen (Headlong Origins 2022; Royal Exchange; North Wall Theatre) directs a talented cast of actor-musicians in a tale filled with humour, suffering, loss and hope. The play includes themes of dementia and displacement, with some sexual references (14+ age recommendation).

Hawkseed‘s tour is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and by funding from the Consulate General of Ireland, Manchester. A Very Odd Birthday Party received development funding from The Production Exchange and is delivered in partnership with The Met and Liverpool Irish Festival.

Hawkseed Theatre support, celebrate and develop new writing for the stage; raising often under- or misrepresented voices on stage. Creative audio description will be embedded into the script, with expertise from Chloë Clarke.

For this performance, the theatre company are offering “pay what you decide” tickets. These tickets are available for those facing financial difficulty, so that you can still access Hawkseed‘s work. Please only select this option if you are facing financial difficulty. After the show, there will be an opportunity to pay whatever feels right for you.

The Liverpool Irish Festival is pleased to be working with Hawkseed and Liverpool Royal Court to present this production.

Other tour dates:

• 20 Oct 7.30pm The Met, Bury
• 21 Oct 7.30pm  Interplay Theatre, Leeds
• 24 Oct 7.30pm Rotherham Civic Theatre, Rotherham
• 30 Oct 5pm King’s Head Theatre, London.