Writer: Padraig Dooney
Director: Giles Brody
Teatro Nua is back in the Boy’s School this January with Padraig Dooney’s hilarious Please Hold. Developed in the same space during the Scene + Heard Festival in 2025, Please Hold is Dooney’s first one-man show, and it’s a very strong piece of theatre; full of energy, comedy, and beautiful original live music.
The premise is thoroughly bizarre; a young man makes his money playing live hold music down the line for people waiting to be connected with their service or business of choice. When reading this description one would be forgiven for having absolutely no idea what to expect from this production. And perhaps this mystery adds to the well-pitched absurdity of the show. However, from the moment Dooney steps onto the stage as Fiachra, in his dressing gown and slippers, with his bedhead and congenial grin, things feel a bit safer. Dooney has a reassuring confidence. It may be uncertain where this 50 minutes will go, but at least there’s someone steady to captain the ship.
It would be a shame to give too much away about the plot, it’s such a fun show to witness, and part of that is the joy of not knowing what exactly is going on. What does need to be discussed is twofold – the music and the writing – and Dooney is killing it on both fronts. This piece is a love letter to the synth (and maybe to hold music, though it remains unclear as to whether that’s a joke or sincere) and Dooney’s deep passion for music is a focal point of the show; it’s gorgeous to hear him obsessively dissecting the instruments, whether as a parody of that annoying person who has partaken in too many stimulants or not. His musical performance is flawless, and he has an unequivocal talent for composition. The script is equally well executed; sharp and witty and unexpected, with multiple opportunities to laugh out loud. The only elements that let the piece down slightly are one or two somewhat hammy moments, and the children’s TV show puppet feel of Fiachra’s housemate Otto, which just didn’t quite hit the mark for this reviewer. But that’s splitting hairs.
Teatro Nua was formed in 2022 and is an exciting company to keep an eye on, so far producing shows that are different, distinct, and disarming. With this piece, Padraig Dooney has proved that he is one to watch.
Runs Until 23rd Jan 2026.
