Interview: Aoibh Johnson, The Daughters of Róisín

Ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024, we’re chatting with a range of creatives who will be heading to the city over August to find out more about their shows. Today we’re chatting with Aoibh Johnson about The Daughters of Róisín.

Can you tell us a bit about you and your career so far?

I always knew I wanted to be an artist. I wanted to write and perform and for me, it really did feel vocational. I studied Drama and Theatre at Ulster University and it was there that I really stepped into my own as an artist, with a focus on crafting feminist work that champions female voices. After this I went on to study Feminist Protest Theatre for my Masters degree and that is where The Daughters of Róisín was born! Since then I have worked extensively with artists, marginalised groups and local community organisations using creativity, performance and the power of writing to explore wellness, self expression and creativity as a means of connection. In the last two years, I was so lucky to be appointed the Writer in Residence at the Duncairn Arts Centre in Belfast and am one of Tinderbox Theatre Company's Incubate Artists. Every day, I just feel so grateful to be able to devote my time to my passion. Writing, performing and awakening the creativity in others is just so incredibly fulfilling. 

What is your show about?

The Daughters of Róisín is inspired by the story of my great grandmother. For decades in Ireland, the church and state colluded to control, punish and abuse unmarried mothers. Women were sent to Magdalene Laundries, removed from society and forced to work in horrendous conditions. Babies were often taken from their mothers directly after birth and illegally sold or removed and brought to wealthy families willing to adopt. The Daughters of Róisín depicts the story of an unmarried woman trapped in a room for the duration of her pregnancy. Like traditional feminist protest theatre, the narrative is non linear and the performance is quite surreal and unnerving. Although the play is inspired by my grandmother and her story, it really did evolve into a protest piece that depicts the feelings, emotions and stories of every woman and family that was forced to endure this history. It has moments of deep sadness and anger, but also moments where you’ll laugh and see joy. Much like the powerhouse women that I interviewed when writing the work, the play finds light and hope in the dark. 

What was the inspiration for The Daughters of Róisín and what’s the development process been to get to this stage?

My great grandmother was pregnant with my grandad AL in the early 1930’s. She was unmarried, which of course, led to my granda being taken from her. When I was studying my Masters degree in Feminist Protest Theatre, I remember asking myself, “What do I, as a young Irish woman, have to protest about? What has impacted me? What do I need to give voice to?” Very quickly, I decided that it was time to use the power of storytelling and performance to honour my great grandmother, and every woman that came before and after her.  I then had the opportunity to speak to communities of women that experienced Magdalene laundries and societal rejection during their pregnancies. It was so important to me that the piece advocated for the whole community and made every woman and family feel seen. I researched Irish music and poetry throughout the ages and one of the things that struck me was the abundance of art made to honour Ireland’s men and the sacrifices they made. I wanted to create a piece that uprooted this in some way and asked, “what about Ireland’s women?” 

What made you want to take The Daughters of Róisín to the Fringe?

The stories of unmarried mothers, Magdalene laundries and the illegal human trafficking of babies from Ireland are relatively hidden, even now. There’s still a heavy sense of shame that ripples through the island and I wrote this piece to do my part in dispelling that shame. It’s my way of saying, “We see you, we hear you and we’re not going to forget about you.” We have performed the work all across Ireland, in Dublin, Belfast and then in London and Australia. We want as many people to see it and talk about these stories and be advocates for these women. Bringing the work to the biggest theatre festival in the world definitely seemed like the next step and we’re super excited about that. 

Apart from seeing The Daughters of Róisín, what’s your top tip for anybody heading for Edinburgh this summer?

Come with an open mind! I think we can easily get trapped into thinking we only enjoy one genre or we “don’t like” certain pieces of work. I had a lady come to see The Daughters of Róisín last year and say, “I normally don’t like one-woman shows, but I loved that!”. The Fringe is such a beautiful space to try new things and venture out of our comfort zones, so definitely try and see some work you wouldn’t normally attend. 

Why should people book The Daughters of Róisín?

I think you should book it if you enjoy theatre that brings you to the present moment, excites you and inspires you. The Daughters of Róisín is a challenging piece of work and it asks the audience to think, reflect and partake. I also think you should book it if you’re interested in protest, activism and new, young voices of resistance. I think the words “activism” and “protest” can connote ideas about aggression, noise and disruption. I’m excited about how theatre and female writers are bringing a new energy to activism. I believe activism can be gentle, beautiful and moving and at times, this is the work that creates most change. The Daughters of Róisín is a piece of fiery, protest theatre but it’s also a soft, moving piece, full of heart. Much like how Irish people live, it deals with the issue through poetry, music and laughter. It pays homage to Ireland’s cultural beauty while simultaneously airing the stories that have been buried in the land. My hope is that it connects to your heart and soul and encourages you to hold the hands of women everywhere. 

When and where can people see The Daughters of Róisín?

You can catch us at The Pleasance Courtyard, Bunker One from the 31st July until the 25th of August, 1pm! Our wee Irish hearts would be delighted to see you there!