Writer & Director: Sadhbh McLoughlin
The Boy’s School is graced by Sadhbh McLoughlin for six nights this Dublin Fringe Festival with her first special Not My Real Accent, in which she discusses her Belgian upbringing, her Irish parents, her Cork(onian?) fiancé, and her struggle to discover her own identity amidst it all.
McLoughlin has a great presence, she dances her way onto the stage in her platform crocs, putting the spectators at ease and engaging in some light crowd work before she launches into the meat of the evening – the show itself. It’s clear throughout that McLoughlin has a natural sense of humour, a good sense of timing, and an easy ability to connect with her audience. She’s not afraid to poke fun at the strangers in the room, or at herself, and this relaxed rapport is particularly remarkable in a space that isn’t really designed for stand up, and in a situation where she doesn’t have the luxury of a warm up act. It’s not easy to come into a cold room and hold such an effortless confidence, so it’s clear that McLoughlin has found a real home for herself on the stage.
In terms of the special itself, there is definitely a story being told, but thematically it doesn’t quite come together just yet. There are plenty of strong anecdotes and a clear voice, as well as a clever final callback, but otherwise it does feel a little disjointed at this point. However, with such a charismatic energy and dauntless approach, it feels obvious that McLoughlin has a lot more to give and is certainly one to watch going forward.
Runs Until Sept 12th 2026.
