Home Rule is a one act horror-comedy written and directed by debut playwright Liam Gibbons. Gibbons, a Philly native, grew up visiting family and enjoying theatre in Scranton and is excited to finally add their voice to the thriving arts community. Set in 1920s Ireland, the play explores gender, sex, and the complex interactions between individuals, faiths, and nations. Fans of Derry Girls, A Fish Called Wanda, and Jennifer’s Body won’t want to miss this premiere production! Featuring a diverse cast of off-Broadway performers and Fringe veterans alike, this irreverent Catholic comedy is sure to be a bloody, queer journey of family and self-discovery.
Near the end of the Irish Revolution, on the western coast of free Ireland, an abandoned castle hosts the ghost of St. Patrick. After a young soldier arrives in the sleepy town of Doagh, Riley, an insecure teenage girl intent on losing her virginity, brings her boyfriend Finn to the castle for some privacy. Their arrival awakens St. Patrick’s ghost who, upon learning of the War for Independence, possesses Riley in order to aid the revolution. Finn’s ensuing deal with the ghost brings the pair back into town, triggering a farce of mistaken identity and deception. Throughout the play, Riley’s anxious mother Cara, the world-weary chaplain Father Mark and the sardonic bartender O’Brien are pulled into the chaos and do their best to save Riley from the ghost.