Ahead of its run at The Bread & Roses Theatre this May, we spoke with Declan Duffy, the mind behind Call Yourself an Irishman? about identity, migration, family history, and how personal experience and humour shape the story at the heart of the show.
What can audiences expect when they come to see Call Yourself an Irishman?
A consideration of the history of Irish migration to Britain, the difficulties encountered by the people who made that journey, and how all of it has influenced us, their descendants, in our consideration of who and what we are. There’ll be some songs, of course there will. And a few laughs! And we’ll attempt to answer the vexed question of how many boxes you technically have to tick in order to confidently state: “I am Irish (sort of)”.
What inspired the title Call Yourself an Irishman?
My cousins! And those who took the same view as they; that those of us born in England could never occupy the same space of Irishness as they did - that we could never accurately describe ourselves as truly Irish (which is not to say that I do...).
Is the piece drawn from personal experience, and how did those experiences shape the show?
Absolutely! The experience alluded to above. The show is an exploration of how I, and by extension my sister, our friends, and anyone born here to Irish parents and grandparents, find our identity: genetically Irish, environmentally British. What do I feel I am?
What can audiences expect when they come to see Call Yourself an Irishman?
A consideration of the history of Irish migration to Britain, the difficulties encountered by the people who made that journey, and how all of it has influenced us, their descendants, in our consideration of who and what we are. There’ll be some songs, of course there will. And a few laughs! And we’ll attempt to answer the vexed question of how many boxes you technically have to tick in order to confidently state: “I am Irish (sort of)”.
What inspired the title Call Yourself an Irishman?
My cousins! And those who took the same view as they; that those of us born in England could never occupy the same space of Irishness as they did - that we could never accurately describe ourselves as truly Irish (which is not to say that I do...).
Is the piece drawn from personal experience, and how did those experiences shape the show?
Absolutely! The experience alluded to above. The show is an exploration of how I, and by extension my sister, our friends, and anyone born here to Irish parents and grandparents, find our identity: genetically Irish, environmentally British. What do I feel I am?
Why did you want to bring the show to The Bread & Roses Theatre?
The pedigree of being a small independent theatre in London, quite clearly devoted to art and its creators. And the fact that you have staged Irish productions in the past was key, also.
How has the show developed from the first idea to the version audiences will see in May?
The first idea was simply to write what I knew: growing up in the pubs of Irish London, run by my parents. But I soon realised that I had to give that some context: why were they here, in Britain? And why were so many Irish people here? The historical context to those questions is immense, so the scale broadened significantly, to encompass the whole of Anglo-Irish history (!), before I edited back to a show which it will be more realistic to deliver...
Who do you think the show will resonate with most?
The second- and third-generation Irish in this country - the people it was written to represent. But I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of Irish-born people who have engaged and identified with it, too. And also those from non-Irish backgrounds, who have seen something of their own experience in it - that has been particularly gratifying.
Identity can be a complicated subject, how do you approach it in the show?
By placing the search for identity in its historical context; by demonstrating the factors involved in how we find our identity; and, ultimately, by telling people that what THEIR identity means to THEM is the ultimate definer. I don't offer easy or simplistic 'answers' to what you rightly define as complicated.
The pedigree of being a small independent theatre in London, quite clearly devoted to art and its creators. And the fact that you have staged Irish productions in the past was key, also.
How has the show developed from the first idea to the version audiences will see in May?
The first idea was simply to write what I knew: growing up in the pubs of Irish London, run by my parents. But I soon realised that I had to give that some context: why were they here, in Britain? And why were so many Irish people here? The historical context to those questions is immense, so the scale broadened significantly, to encompass the whole of Anglo-Irish history (!), before I edited back to a show which it will be more realistic to deliver...
Who do you think the show will resonate with most?
The second- and third-generation Irish in this country - the people it was written to represent. But I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of Irish-born people who have engaged and identified with it, too. And also those from non-Irish backgrounds, who have seen something of their own experience in it - that has been particularly gratifying.
Identity can be a complicated subject, how do you approach it in the show?
By placing the search for identity in its historical context; by demonstrating the factors involved in how we find our identity; and, ultimately, by telling people that what THEIR identity means to THEM is the ultimate definer. I don't offer easy or simplistic 'answers' to what you rightly define as complicated.
What role does humour play in the storytelling?
There's plenty of it! Referencing life in an Irish pub provides an abundance of opportunities for jocularity. The piece is certainly not 'comedy', but you'll certainly laugh!
What conversations or reflections do you hope audiences leave with?
I would like second- and third-generation Irish people to feel they've seen something which reflects their own lived experiences. I would like non-Irish people to feel that they've learnt about a country which is not widely-studied on the curriculum in this country. And I'd like them all to think about how they consider their identity, their ethnicity, and who they actually are.
What's next for the show after its run at The Bread & Roses?
Two dates in Cornwall! And a two-night return to the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith.
And then Dublin, Belfast, New York, Boston, Sydney*
*hopefully
Call Yourself an Irishman? runs 4th - 6th May 2026, find out more and book here
There's plenty of it! Referencing life in an Irish pub provides an abundance of opportunities for jocularity. The piece is certainly not 'comedy', but you'll certainly laugh!
What conversations or reflections do you hope audiences leave with?
I would like second- and third-generation Irish people to feel they've seen something which reflects their own lived experiences. I would like non-Irish people to feel that they've learnt about a country which is not widely-studied on the curriculum in this country. And I'd like them all to think about how they consider their identity, their ethnicity, and who they actually are.
What's next for the show after its run at The Bread & Roses?
Two dates in Cornwall! And a two-night return to the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith.
And then Dublin, Belfast, New York, Boston, Sydney*
*hopefully
Call Yourself an Irishman? runs 4th - 6th May 2026, find out more and book here
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