Static – Abbey Theatre (Peacock Stage) – Review

An Abbey Theatre production – Static
Written by Jimmy McAleavey
Directed by John King

Dates: 20 June – 18 July 2025
Running time: Approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes with no interval.

Moonman (Dan Gordon) lives in a small house in Donegal. He spends his day on a CB radio talking to truckers, where he uses the handle Moonman. The other man in this two-hander is called Spaceman (Seán Mahon). He is floating high above the Earth in a space station. Through a series of unfortunate events, Spaceman ends up out of communication with his mission base, as his comms system fails. He uses an old CB radio to communicate with anyone who can hear him, which is where he comes into contact with Moonman.

This new play by Belfast playwright Jimmy McAleavey is inspired by a true story. At one time, a Russian Cosmonaut made contact with an amateur radio operator in Donegal. The play uses this fact as inspiration for this unusual story, as an awkward friendship develops between the unlikely pair. McAleavey has previously worked with theatre companies such as Rough Magic and Tinderbox Theatre Company in Belfast. He is currently an associate writer at the Abbey.

The set works well, with two different locations on each side of the stage. On one side, we see Moonman’s living room filled with electronic junk. On the other side of the stage is the computer console for the space station where Spaceman spends his days. The contrast between the two worlds is stark!

The circumstances of how these two meet hints at a heartwarming tale, but this play goes in a different direction. The two characters are deeply flawed, and the play focuses on their struggles with mental health. They are both lonely and isolated from the world in different ways. One has travelled to space to avoid dealing with what is happening on earth, whereas the other has his own struggles to integrate with the world just outside his door. The piece is a series of complex conversations between the two, with Moonman proving the more elusive. You’re never quite sure what he is saying is true!  The highlight of the production is the acting, with Dan Gordon in particular giving a beautiful portrayal of this complex character.

Credits
Moonman: Dan Gordon
Spaceman: Seán Mahon
Voiceover: Ciarán McGlynn
Voiceover: Lesa Thurman

Writer: Jimmy McAleavey
Director: John King
Set and Costume Designer: Alyson Cummins
Lighting Designer: Suzie Cummins
Composer and Sound Designer: Rob Moloney
Movement Director: Gabrielle Moleta
Production Research: Tanya Dean
Hair and Make Up: Val Sherlock
Illustration of Jimmy McAleavey: Louise Boughton
Graphic Design: AAD