November, Dublin, 1963. Hundreds flocked to see JFK in the Phoeno, the city mourns the dead children of the collapsed tenement on Fenian St, housewives protest the Turnover-Tax, sexism is rife… but nevermind all that. Mary Connors just won two tickets to see The Beatles, THE BLEEDIN’ BEATLES!
One catch – Mary’s ma insists she bring her cousin Brigid along. The two set off at odds into a city that’s heaving with Beatlemania. A stolen bike, Brigid’s burning secret and a literal riot on Abbey Street unites them with a strength of sisterhood that’s stronger than the love of any fella’s haircut.
Adelphi ’63 is a fictional celebration of real events – the Beatles only performances in Dublin and the subsequent riot that occurred on Abbey Street. Blending new writing, personal accounts, history and music, this comedic two-person play journeys back in time to explore themes of class, pop culture and sisterhood, honouring the resilience of joy amongst teenagers in 1960s Catholic Ireland.
Inspired by footage of teens waiting outside the Adelphi Cinema on Abbey Street for the Beatles concert in 1963, writer Laura Brady felt compelled to fictionalise these girls based on the interviews, hoping to better represent them than the media of the time, which was dominated by male voices who dismissed their excitement. With a cost-of-living crisis, global nuclear threat, collapsing tenements and widespread evictions, 1963 doesn’t feel as far from 2026 as we think it is. Adelphi ‘63 shows how the landscape of society has changed, but many problems remain the same.
In conjunction with the show, we are collecting stories from the night the Beatles came to Dublin, and stories of the Adelphi Cinema. If you or a loved one has a memory you would like to share, please email info@smockalley.com or @smockalleytheatre on social media with a message, a voice note or a video, to showcase in the historic Smock Alley during the run.
This is Laura Brady’s debut play, supported by Dublin City Arts Office, and developed with the support of the Axis Assemble Programme, the Pavilion Theatre Pulse Award and at Scene + Heard Festival of New Work. Laura also stars as Mary Connors alongside Jessica Dunne-Perkins (Druid’s The House Dublin Theatre Festival ‘24, and Philomena P’s In Heat for Dublin Fringe ‘23) as Brigid Brennan, with the voice of actor and comedian Peter McGann featuring throughout. Adelphi ‘63 is directed by Emma Finegan, with set design by Anika Kidd, costume design by Mae Leahy, lighting design by Suzie Cummins, sound design by Lara Gallagher, and movement direction by Jade O’Connor. Produced by Muirenn Lyons, in co-production with Dublin Municipal Theatre at Smock Alley.
Adelphi ‘63 runs from the 21st of April to the 3rd of May at 7PM nightly, matinees at 2:30PM. For tickets and all other information, go to smockalley.com
Photo credit: Zoë Birkbeck Photography
