KITTY IN THE LANE
Kitty waits alone in her kitchen. Her father is dying in the room next door. Kitty wishes he would just hurry up. Kitty wishes her boyfriend, late to accompany her to a local beauty pageant would hurry up too. Slugging whiskey and gorging cake isn’t going to help but whatever happens, Kitty’s evening is about to devastate or thrill.
AWARD NOMINATIONS: STANDING OVATION NOMINATION, LONDON PUB THEATRES
‘a dark but frequently funny tale of grief, isolation and trauma… takes the audience through a tale of laughs and horror with a final shock that leaves you reeling’ ★★★★★ The Irish World
'An intense, poetic study of loneliness, cruelty and rural isolation, Kitty in the Lane is a mesmeric continuation of the Irish literary tradition.' ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
'An extraordinary accomplishment as both playwright and actress.' ★★★★★ TheatreStorm
‘A dark tragedy that strikes straight into your heart…a brilliant journey: a middle chapter in the life of a complex and tragic heroine in which we receive rich detail of her past, are left in no doubt as to the calamity of her present and will inevitably wonder and agonize over her future. It’s near-perfect theatre, and if you have even a passing interest in any of its topics make sure you see it as soon as you can.’ ★★★★ ½ London Pub Theatres
‘Ryan’s writing style is sublime, with more than a hint of James Joyce’s cavalier approach to structure…It is a complex, rewarding style of writing that both defines character and marks out Kitty’s isolated environment as alien, hostile, and somehow other-worldly… Ryan is a consummate actor who knows her work inside out. She spits out dialogue in all directions like bullets on a battlefield. It is a manic, mesmerising’ ★★★★ The Reviews Hub
‘Excellent…an intense, vivid performance from Áine Ryan makes this uncomfortable and yet unforgettable...the technical work put into this production is unequivocally top-notch. This is a powerful evening with a performance and production hard to forget.’ ★★★★ Everything Theatre
‘Áine Ryan’s haunting and gripping monologue is unmissable...Florence Hand’s sound direction is exquisite – strains of violin music continuously tormenting/reminding Kitty of the violin she played before her father’s unthinking cruelty stopped her. Constance Comparot’s set and Alex Forey’s lighting change the atmosphere from stark to mystical and dreamlike effortlessly with Jack Reardon’s assured direction. Ryan’s playfulness with structure and language enhances the sense of isolation and otherworldliness of Kitty, with some beautiful phrases and wonderful Irish vernacular. Ryan inhabits the character brilliantly in her delivery and the physicality of her performance – convincingly innocent, reckless, devious, traumatised and full of animalistic anger throughout the play. Moments of brutality and shocking loss build into a satisfyingly frenzied finale that is horrifying and heart breaking – simply stunning.’ ★★★★ Fairy Powered Productions
‘Intense and dramatic, Kitty in the Lane keeps you hooked from the beginning. Áine Ryan is an excellent writer and performer, who clearly understands how to craft stories that draw the audience in. The ever-present tension continues to creep upwards throughout the play, eventually reaching a visceral climax that evokes an audible audience reaction. This is quality theatre, with a performance that’s guaranteed to stay with you.’ Theatre Things
‘Ryan’s mesmerising performance is supported by an evocative soundscape from Florence Hand and a powerfully effective lighting design from Alex Forey that adds to the atmosphere. Director Reardon is unyielding with the tension which makes Kitty an occasionally uncomfortable watch, but a very rewarding one.’ British Theatre Guide
Performances:
Clonmel Junction Arts Festival, Co.Tipperary, 6-7 July 2023
Jack Studio Theatre, London, 2-13 May, 2023
Interviews:
Interview with Harry Conway - London Pub Theatres
Interview with This Week Culture
Creatives
Written and Performed by Áine Ryan
Directed by Jack Reardon
Set Design by Constance Comparot
Lighting Design by Alex Forey
Sound Design by Florence Hand
Produced by Studio Perform Theatre