Writer & Director: Morghan Welt
Thought provoking and provocative, But We’re Right aims to explore the growing right wing sentiment in Ireland and further afield. Presented by Bad Things Theatre and based around two friends in what could be any town in Ireland, we watch as the characters’ circumstances shift them further and further to the right.
It starts with the fear of ‘bus loads’ of men coming to the town, then moves to the fear of being replaced in jobs and housing. This play is an incredibly effectual portrayal of how fear and circumstance can push people from their held beliefs and become radicalised. All of this is skillfully performed by the two actors, Kate Brosnan and Molly Murphy Hazzard. A particularly striking moment is when one character stands centre stage, in a spotlight, anger emanating from every part of her, holding a sign that says ‘Go Home’. It’s just long enough to spark some discomfort, but not so long that it becomes unbearable.
The play is interspersed with voice recorded segments of ‘The Cross Border Chorus’. These are testimonials from immigrants about what they brought with them to Ireland. Items included, a notebook with their goals, summer clothes that never get worn, their dreams, and a desire to change their lives. These moments are poignant and a stark contrast to the rhetoric in the play itself. It forces a look at the other side, the human face (or in this case voice) of ‘the other’ that the characters are fearing.
The staging was incredibly simple but purposeful. A single ladder, the only piece of set, proves versatile; moved and used in many different ways. Everyday objects are well used throughout, the most effective being a ball which becomes a poignant symbol as the play progresses.
But We’re Right has an important message for the audience. We all need to examine the causes of the rise in right wing sentiment. Although the transitions could have been smoother, it is well written and well performed. But We’re Right is one worth catching.
Viewed 29th April 2025.
