Next Year Will Be a Good One – Shivaun O’Casey’s Memoir of Seán O’Casey
An intimate look at the life of Irish playwright Seán O’Casey, his family, and the theatrical world through the eyes of his daughter; Shivaun will be in conversation with Dr. Michelle Paull.
The ICC is delighted to welcome Shivaun O’Casey for the UK launch of her memoir Next Year Will Be a Good One: Life with Sean O’Casey, My Family and Theatre. This is a rare chance to hear the daughter of playwright Seán O’Casey share her story of growing up in a close-knit family shaped by theatre, exile, and creativity.
The book recalls Shivaun’s girlhood in Devon and her early adulthood in Bristol and London, painting an intimate picture of life with her father, her mother Eileen O’Casey – actress and writer – and her two brothers. Letters and playful sketches by Seán O’Casey, many published here for the first time, bring to light a side of the playwright that has never been seen before.
On the night, Shivaun O’Casey will be in conversation with Dr Michelle Paull, Associate Dean for Research and Senior Lecturer in Theatre Studies at St Mary’s University and an expert on Sean O’Casey; Shivaun wil be reflecting on her life and the making of the book. There will be readings by actress Esther O’Casey, Shivaun’s granddaughter, who will bring the words vividly to life. A signing will follow, with books available to purchase.
As Roddy Doyle writes in his foreword: “The book is packed with life. And love.”
This evening promises a rich celebration of family, memory, and theatre — and a fresh way to experience the legacy of Seán O’Casey.
Doors: 7.30pm; Starts: 8pm
Tickets: £9
About Seán O’Casey
Seán O’Casey (1880–1964) was an Irish dramatist known for his realistic plays about Dublin’s working class, which blend tragedy and comedy. Born John Casey in Dublin, he experienced poverty and worked manual labor, becoming a socialist and union activist, and was secretary for the Irish Citizen Army. His fame came from his 1920s plays, particularly The Shadow of a Gunman, Juno and the Paycock, and The Plough and the Stars, which brought his stories to an international audience.
About Dr Michelle Paull
Dr Michelle Paull is Associate Dean for Research and a Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance Studies at St Mary’s University, Strawberry Hill. Michelle’s PhD at Goldsmiths’ College focused on the theatre of Sean O’Casey and she is currently working on her monograph, “Sean O’Casey: Critical Controversies”. Michelle’s writes about Irish and contemporary theatre and has published work on Sean O’Casey, Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Enda Walsh, Dermot Healy and Martin McDonagh.
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