It’s Always Your Bleedin’ Own – Project Arts Centre – Review

Produced by Breadline in Association with Project Arts Centre –
Dates: 2 – 14 December

In this production, we meet three individuals who grew up in inner-city Dublin. The first is Amber Greene (Ericka Roe), a feisty young woman about to marry a ‘coffin dodger’, an older man known as Mick from the ‘RA. She’s also seeing Dazzy Whelan (Lloyd Cooney) on the side, and things are getting complicated as Dazzy keeps telling her he loves her! Kian Harris (Cameron Hogan) is a fashion designer who escaped Dublin and runs a successful fashion operation in London. When Amber decides she wants Kian to make her wedding dress, she sets about trying to contact him. The lives of these three individuals intertwine in the days before Amber’s wedding.

This is the final part of TKB’s St. Mary’s Mansions Trilogy. If you want to hear the full trilogy in one day, it is being performed this Saturday (7th December), with readings of the two other plays along with this production. The first part of the trilogy Say Nothin’ to No One dates back to 2018, with Well That’s What I Heard from 2020.

The main stage in the Project is altered to have seating on three sides, with a long runway in the middle of the space. The actors move and strut along the catwalk, talking to the audience on each side as they move. The obvious drawback is that it was difficult to hear some sections of the text, but it did add a certain dynamism to the production.

The main thing you can expect from this production is gags delivered at breakneck speed. The text is extremely witty and bounces along at a furious pace. If you’re older than those on stage, you might struggle with some of the cultural references. The text name-checks pop stars, reality TV stars and soap opera characters among others. The text is occasionally hilarious and the style of delivery is nonchalant. The plot is relatively straightforward, with a love affair along with various side issues being resolved, so it is mainly about characters and their gift of the gab. Thommas Kane Byrne or TKB as he is listed below is an authentic voice of the inner city, having grown up in the community. The three actors embrace the roles, delivering the text with realistic zeal. Special mention must go to Ericka Roe for her performance as the stylish, outrageous and unflappable Amber Greene.

Written by: TKB

Directed by: Ronan Phelan

Performed by: Ericka Roe, Lloyd Cooney, and Cameron Hogan

Set & Costume Design: Ellen Kirk

Lighting Design: Eoin Byrne

Composer & Sound Design: Lara Gallagher

Dramaturg: Laura Honan

Producers: Laura Honan & Aisling Ormonde

Assistant Producer: Ciara Ivie

Marketing: Andrea Horan

Production Manager: Veronica Foo

Deputy Stage Manager: Evie McGuiness

Chief LX: Simon Burke