Don’t be chicken; embrace the absurd and prepare to be amazed by Eva O’Connor’s award-winning solo show! (Image: supplied)
By Emily Hutchinson | @em47456
Stepping into the Yurt in the beautifully curated Courtyard of Curiosities to see the award-winning show Chicken, I was blissfully unaware of the delights ahead.
The Yurt is an intimate space. Punters are hidden away in a cosy nook flanked with fairy lights — it’s just the right space to be greeted by the renowned Irish playwright and performer Eva O’Connor. Throughout the show she charts her journey through addiction, the Troubles and navigating life and love through a distinctly creative lens.
Based on the 2024 book of the same name, Chicken invites us to immerse ourselves in the tale of Dan Murphy who was raised as a chicken before struggling with ketamine addiction, love, loss and the mayhem of Hollywood and New York. Somehow, despite the outlandish plot, it all makes perfect sense — at no point was I confused. It was lush and exhilarating from the very first peck.
I have never seen an actor hold the space so expertly, or with such finesse. Clad in a fabulous shimmering suit, O’Connor flaps her exquisite wings with devastating impact while delivering lines laden with humour, misery, despair and longing.
Gazing at the captivated crowd, O’Connor had the audience in thrall and hanging on every word as she traversed everything from Irish Catholic trauma bonding to therapy for actors. Chicken is pure unadulterated joy from the moment you enter this magnificent world lovingly curated by a truly generous performer.
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