SAOIRSE
Tá samhradh na saoirse buailte linn. Tá sceitimíní san aer.
Tá Saoirse, Róisín agus Aoife ag dul i ngleic le ceisteanna móra an tsaoil: Cé mise? Cad atá i ndán dom? Cad go díreach atá i gceist leis an Modh Coinníolach?
Leis an gcoláiste i mbaol, tá muintir an phobail ag streachailt lena gceisteanna féin — an féidir leo an fód a sheasamh?
Is ceoldráma nua é SAOIRSE a fhágfaidh ceol i do cheann agus lorg ar do chroí.
First summer of freedom. First time in the Gaeltacht. First loves and losses. SAOIRSE is a new Irish musical by Shauna Carrick.
Commissioned by An Taibhdhearc and presented as part of the Galway International Arts Festival 2026 and Dublin Fringe Festival 2026. Set in the Kerry Gaeltacht, SAOIRSE is a funny and heartwarming new musical which celebrates first loves and losses.
The arrival of the first summer of freedom brings excitement to the air. Saoirse, Róisín and Aoife are grappling with life's big questions - Who am I? Who’s stolen my hair straightener? What even is the Modh Coinníollach?
SAOIRSE also explores contemporary issues facing Gaeltacht communities today; the impact of rising rents, second home ownership and potential closing of the College. Could this be the last Coláiste Samhraidh/summer college ever?
Reviews:
The Arts Review ★★★★
‘SAOIRSE looking to inspire a whole new generation of young, Irish language speakers. Now that is very smart indeed.’ ‘Carrick’s escapist, rose tinted nostalgia with its with its unapologetic love of the Irish language’
‘Elevated by Muireann Kelly’s terrific direction’
The Journal of Music in Ireland
‘The cast are accomplished musical theatre artists, making the whole production a pleasure to watch’
‘Muireann Kelly’s directorial hand is a real strength of the production’
‘The singing is first class…the cast well deserved the standing ovation’
Irish Independent
‘The Gaeltacht world is lovingly created’
‘A bubbly score mixing classic musical theatre with a smattering of trad’
‘Terrific performances all round, with first-rate singing and perky moves choreographed by Meadhbh Lyons’ ‘Director Muireann Kelly emphasises nostalgia and charm’
Tuairisc
‘Bhí fuinneamh agus brí sa léiriúchán ó thús deireadh’
‘Fair plé Shauna Carrick…. bhí gach aon amhránaí ar stáitse ar fheabhas’
‘Bhí greann sníofa tríd an gceoldráma, agus bhí neomataí gleoite agus mothúchánacha … a chuirfeadh deora led shúile.’
‘Bhí an aisteoireacht go hiontach’
‘ceol agus amhránaíocht…nótáltha.. dea-scríofa agus cliste’
Photo Credit: Emilija Jefremova
Gleek of the Week
A Glee-obsessed teenager. An all-boys school. A somewhat questionable singing voice.
Conor is thirty, but he was once seventeen - and his life just wasn’t as colourful as the hit TV show Glee. Deeply closeted and relentlessly bullied, his bedroom became his sanctuary - and sometimes his prison. So, how did he escape?
It’s probably best that he sing about it.
A joyful new musical about hope, optimism and the pursuit of glee - even when the world begs you to stop singing.
Playwright/Performer: Conor Burke
Director: Lianne O'Shea
Composer/Lyricist: Shauna Carrick
Funded by Kildare Arts Service.Supported by Irish Theatre Institute & The Moat Theatre, Naas. Developed at Scene+Heard & Dublin Fringe Festival Studios. Presented at Dublin Fringe Festival 2026
Photo Credit: Paula Trojner
Shauna Carrick Wants A Dog
Shauna Carrick Wants A Dog, is a modern musical comedy about life, love, and wanting a dog.
We meet Shauna as she comes to the realisation that she is almost thirty and is somehow not the main character in her own life. She sets out on a mission, to become that main character. Using a checklist of Main Character Attributes, she attempts to navigate her 5km world and become her own protagonist. Separated from those closest to her and suddenly transported back to living in her childhood bedroom, she makes friends with the local coffee shop/horsebox owner/entrepreneur, tries online dating, breaks out of her bubble, and tries desperately to convince her mum to let her get a dog. Will she overcome her obstacles or will she get stuck in the rock bottom of the hero’s journey? And most importantly, will she ever get a dog?
Developed at Scene+Heard. Supported by dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum and the UCD Ad Astra Academy Performing Arts Alumni Initiative.
Reviews:
The likeable Carrick - playwright, songwriter, singer, performer, comedian - leaving lesser mortals emerald with envy. - The Arts Review
Photo Credit: Earl Echivarre
All Growed Up
All Growed Up is a youth musical based on the internationally acclaimed memoir by Northern Irish author Tony Macaulay. Written and directed by Dean Johnson with Musical and Lyrics by Shauna Carrick, it tells the nostalgic, funny, and touching story of Macaulay leaving the upper Shankill in Belfast as a 17-year-old to attend university in Coleraine, where he discovers true love and socialism. The musical marks the third and final installment in a trilogy of Macaulay's memoirs adapted for the stage by British Youth Musical Theatre, following Paperboy and Breadboy.
Reviews:
Carrick’s score exalts in a generous surfeit of melodically attractive and energetic numbers. - Musical Theatre Review
Tír na nÓg
Tír na nÓg is a new bilingual musical, and an exciting retelling of the story we all know and love.
The story of Tír na nÓg (The Land of Eternal Youth) is a popular Irish folk tale which tells the story of Oisín, a brave warrior and Niamh Cinn Óir, the princess of Tír na nÓg. In the traditional tale, Niamh is seen as a magical fairy-like woman who appears to Oisín from across a lake on the back of a white horse. She brings him back with her to the land of Tír na nÓg where everyone is always happy and no one ever dies to be her husband.
This musical flips the well known story on its head - after all, history is just the story that prevails. There are two sides to this story and we are going to hear Niamh’s. Why did she travel to Ireland? Why did Oisín come back? The show is told through a mixture of English and Irish to reflect the heritage and culture of the piece as well as utilising traditional and modern musical elements.
Tír na nÓg: The Live Album is now available on all major streaming platforms. More information about Tír na nÓg can be found at tirnanogthemusical.com
Photo Credit: Adrian O'Connell
TINY: A New Musical
Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen story, this musical tale of Thumbelina, ‘Tiny’ tells the story of a special young person struggling with being different.
When ‘Tiny’ is whisked away from both her home and her mother, she finds herself in a decaying city, where she is used for her glow. Kept in the hive by Madame Bee with the other girls, Tiny resists the clutching urges of the powerful Mole, all the while fighting for what is right, and the liberation of the city and its inhabitants.
This inspiring story of love, family and a young person’s struggle for self-identity is set against the backdrop of a modern landscape, where conflict between nature, human greed and political ambition rages.
Lyrics By: Shauna Carrick
Music By: Sean Gilligan
Chromatics
Chromatics is my debut musical. Showcased at Scene + Heard 2017, featured at Musical Bites at The Other Palace in London in May 2018, and performed twice at dlr Mill Theatre in 2018, this is a show about what it's like to grow up in Ireland.
James is trying to create his first masterpiece, while Al is ready to fly the nest for the big city. As for Kate, she’s just trying to hold it all together. This is a story about graduating, dreaming big and slowly realising that “it” may not happen, at least not as planned.
Aspirations swiftly dashed, plans pulverised and unexpected
ultimatums, we follow a group of friends as they journey through their new unknown. A story where everyone screws up. But with songs.
These tracks are a mixture of live recordings from various productions and writers demos.
Photo Credit: Magdalena Golden
Other Work
I am lucky enough to have partnered with many great collaborators over the years, as well as writing the occasional piece for theatre and cabaret. This is a collection of some of my favourites.