Sonya Kelly – författare

This hilarious volume brings together three funny, vibrant and theatrical monologue plays for female performers. The Wheelchair on My Face by Sonya Kelly Sonya tells her story about growing up with poor vision that went undiagnosed until she was seven years old. Combining memoir, theatre and stand-up comedy, this delightful story of a myopic child shows us how we can better the world even if we cannot see the world. Charolais by Noni Stapleton A dark comedy of love, longing and an intense rivalry with a Charolais cow. Siobhán is forced to share the affections of her farmer boyfriend with his beloved, prize-winning French heifer. Overcome with desire, Siobhán develops a homicidal jealousy for this cow, while feeling equally murderous towards her snobbish, soon-to-be mother in law. The Humours of Bandon by Margaret McAuliffe Nobody knows where their five year old will take that first after-school activity. To the surprise of her mother, Annie takes it all the way to the top – of the Irish Open Dancing Championships. Armed with optimism, drive and passion, Annie’s about to learn that life doesn’t always go according to plan. Developed as part of Show in a Bag, an artist development initiative of Dublin Fringe Festival; Fishamble: The New Play Company; and Irish Theatre Institute to resource theatre makers and actors. The plays were then produced by Fishamble, touring throughout Ireland, the UK, USA and Europe.

Celebrating the work of one of Ireland’s most daring theatre companies, this anthology gathers five plays by established and emerging playwrights. They include vibrant new adaptations of the world classics Peer Gynt and Phaedra alongside vital new dramas that explore issues of urgent contemporary concern, such as sex and sexuality, emigration and climate change. With contributions from Hilary Fannin and Ellen Cranitch, Arthur Riordan, Sonya Kelly, Morna Regan, and Shane Mac an Bhaird – as well as a foreword from Booker Prize-winning novelist Anne Enright - this book is an exciting snapshot of contemporary Irish playwriting. The book operates as a showcase of outstanding new Irish playwriting, blending work by established and emerging playwrights, and also acts as a celebration of one of Ireland’s most important theatre companies. And it includes new plays that demonstrate Rough Magic’s consistent willingness to push the boundaries of Irish theatre, both formally and thematically, in plays that cover such topics as sex and sexuality, emigration and climate change.This edition contains a foreword by Anne Enright, Booker prize winner and Laureate of Irish Fiction.

Celebrating the work of one of Ireland’s most daring theatre companies, this anthology gathers five plays by established and emerging playwrights. They include vibrant new adaptations of the world classics Peer Gynt and Phaedra alongside vital new dramas that explore issues of urgent contemporary concern, such as sex and sexuality, emigration and climate change. With contributions from Hilary Fannin and Ellen Cranitch, Arthur Riordan, Sonya Kelly, Morna Regan, and Shane Mac an Bhaird – as well as a foreword from Booker Prize-winning novelist Anne Enright - this book is an exciting snapshot of contemporary Irish playwriting. The book operates as a showcase of outstanding new Irish playwriting, blending work by established and emerging playwrights, and also acts as a celebration of one of Ireland’s most important theatre companies. And it includes new plays that demonstrate Rough Magic’s consistent willingness to push the boundaries of Irish theatre, both formally and thematically, in plays that cover such topics as sex and sexuality, emigration and climate change.This edition contains a foreword by Anne Enright, Booker prize winner and Laureate of Irish Fiction.

Shortlisted for the Writer's Guild Award for Best New Play 2021He was like a rugby man,He hit her like a rugby man,Straight into her shoulder,The momentum of the crash,Dragging her beyond the kerb,Towards the front tyre of my bus.Early one morning on Putney Bridge, three strangers’ lives collided for one fleeting second.Inspired by real events, Once Upon a Bridge weaves a tale about human triumph and frailty, about the power of destiny and chance, and why sometimes we choose to hate and other times we choose to dance.Commissioned by Ireland's Druid Theatre and live-streamed from Mick Lally theatre in Galway, Sonya Kelly's latest play received a string of excellent reviews for its bold intimacy and engaging story telling.

“I do not organise the ticket queue, it is up to the people in the ticket queue to organise themselves. Have I made myself clear?”Finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2022One final night. One last chance. Five people queue for a ticket to the hottest show in town. All they must do is simply wait in line. But what in life is ever simple?Who will triumph, who will fail, and who will walk away with… The Last Return?A new play by acclaimed playwright Sonya Kelly (Once Upon a Bridge, Furniture), The Last Return is a thrilling comedy about conflict, peace and the pursuit of territory at any cost.This edition was published to coincide with the premiere at Druid Theatre, Galway, in July 2022.

‘I got my first pair of glasses when I was seven.A nurse came to the school and tested everyone’s eyes. And so it was discovered why I’d thrown bread to the floating crisp packets in our local pond and walked into lamp posts and said, ’excuse me’. Until that day the world was a swirl of moving coloured blobs. I thought it was the same for everyone.How wrong I was.’Winner: Scotsman Fringe First Award 2012Critic’s Pick, New York TimesPart memoir, part theatre and part standup comedy this delightful story of a myopic seven year old is brought to you by actor, comedian and playwright Sonya Kelly. Sonya tells her story about growing up with poor vision that went undiagnosed until she was seven years old. Combining several forms of theatre, this delightful story shows us how we can better the world even if we cannot see the world.

"Sonya Kelly’s rapier wit and intelligent awareness of the human condition, allied to consummate stagecraft skills, have made for what will probably be claimed in a few years’ time as one of the hits of the decade" (Sunday Independent) Sonya Kelly's Druid Plays is a tour-de-force that transcends the boundaries of traditional storytelling, offering a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of the human experience. This anthology, a remarkable compilation of Kelly's insightful and witty plays, showcases her distinct voice and unparalleled talent as a playwright.Furniture (2018): in an age of rampant consumerism, is it easier to purchase symbols of identity rather than cultivate our own? Furniture is a humorous, insightful, touching and often philosophical look at who we are and how we'd like to be perceived.Once Upon a Bridge (2021): A tale for a modern age. Early one morning on Putney Bridge, three strangers’ lives collided for one fleeting second. Inspired by real events, Once Upon a Bridge weaves a tale about human triumph and frailty, about the power of destiny and chance, and why sometimes we choose to hate, and other times we choose to dance.The Last Return (2022): Once upon a dreary night, five desperate strangers wait in line for a last minute ticket to the final performance of Oppenheimer's sold out smash hit. All they have to do is cross their fingers, be patient and wait their turn. But with more people waiting than tickets available, this is no time for patience, this is time for war. Who will triumph? Who will fail? And who will receive… The Last Return?All three plays were commissioned by Ireland's Druid Theatre and have premiered on stages and in digital productions around the world winning Fringe First Awards, multiple Irish Times Theatre Awards and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Featuring a new introduction by Garry Hynes, Artistic Director of Druid, these plays are published together for the first time in one compelling collection.

"Sonya Kelly’s rapier wit and intelligent awareness of the human condition, allied to consummate stagecraft skills, have made for what will probably be claimed in a few years’ time as one of the hits of the decade" (Sunday Independent) Sonya Kelly's Druid Plays is a tour-de-force that transcends the boundaries of traditional storytelling, offering a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of the human experience. This anthology, a remarkable compilation of Kelly's insightful and witty plays, showcases her distinct voice and unparalleled talent as a playwright.Furniture (2018): in an age of rampant consumerism, is it easier to purchase symbols of identity rather than cultivate our own? Furniture is a humorous, insightful, touching and often philosophical look at who we are and how we'd like to be perceived.Once Upon a Bridge (2021): A tale for a modern age. Early one morning on Putney Bridge, three strangers’ lives collided for one fleeting second. Inspired by real events, Once Upon a Bridge weaves a tale about human triumph and frailty, about the power of destiny and chance, and why sometimes we choose to hate, and other times we choose to dance.The Last Return (2022): Once upon a dreary night, five desperate strangers wait in line for a last minute ticket to the final performance of Oppenheimer's sold out smash hit. All they have to do is cross their fingers, be patient and wait their turn. But with more people waiting than tickets available, this is no time for patience, this is time for war. Who will triumph? Who will fail? And who will receive… The Last Return?All three plays were commissioned by Ireland's Druid Theatre and have premiered on stages and in digital productions around the world winning Fringe First Awards, multiple Irish Times Theatre Awards and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Featuring a new introduction by Garry Hynes, Artistic Director of Druid, these plays are published together for the first time in one compelling collection.