The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness

How will history remember you? As the person you are, or as the person you want to be?

The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness is a comedic and poignant one-woman play inspired by the true stories of Irish nurses during World War Two.

It’s 1939 and Philomena McGuinness, a reluctant nurse, is on her way from Dublin to London. Newly recruited for the British war effort, she finds herself facing the challenge of a lifetime. But it is not the blood, the bombs, or even the wise-cracking soldiers that make her question her place here. It’s the fact that she is not just a nurse, but a poet too. Can one live a life true to the poetry inside them when they are constantly being defined by their role in the war?

Written by Joshua King and performed by Jasmin Gleeson, The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness is brought to you by Moon Rabbit, an innovative theatre company enthusiastic about surprising stories of individuals throughout history. 

Broadway Baby ***** - ‘Any one person show relies heavily on the performance of the central cast member and the quality of the script, luckily The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness is blessed with excellent examples of both.’

‘If you leave this play feeling anything other than touched and inspired, then you are probably not breathing.’

The Wee Review ***** - ‘Gleeson’s performance elevates from the captivating to the sublime.’

‘A deeply affecting performance, which does full justice to Joshua King’s masterpiece script.’

The Edinburgh Reporter ***** - ‘This is a beautifully written and well-crafted story by Joshua King, performed brilliantly by actress and comedian Jasmin Gleeson.

Approx running time 1 hour 10 mins (no interval)

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The Alma Theatre has been serving the community for 25 years and has never been the recipient of ACE or other funding and were unable to secure the Covid Arts Recovery Fund. We have been offering reduced rates, preferential box office splits and extended promo support to aid the recovery from the past year and a half. Your help will enable us to continue bringing fantastic stories to your local theatre. 50% of your donation will go to the Alma Theatre, and 50% to our inhouse company, Schoolhouse Productions.