Mammy’s House is a compelling new play written by Irish creatives Derek Murphy and Amy Clarke. It aims to illuminate the untold true stories of Irish queer resilience and activism in London during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. The play will have its world premiere at Upstairs At The Gatehouse in Highgate, running from 1 September to 13 September.
The award-winning cast features a diverse lineup, including queer performer Conor O’Dwyer, known for his acclaimed solo show “Homo (sapiens),” Jemma Curran from “Newscheck Comedy,” and Ciara Pouncett, who has appeared in the TV series “Smothered” and the theatre production “Draining The Swamp.” The cast also includes Justin Ensor from “Boys & Girls” and TV’s “Storyland,” Stephen Cheriton, who has performed in “The Lehman Trilogy” and “Drag Baby,” and is best known as the drag queen Orla Nothin’. The ensemble is rounded out by Derek Murphy himself. The director, Brian Brady, is a former associate director of Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and a champion of new writing in theatre.
While Ireland was still burdened by shame and criminalised homosexuality, thousands of Irish gay men and lesbian women crossed the Irish Sea in search of freedom. However, they encountered a whole new and unforeseen challenge. “Mammy’s House” captures this tense moment, where the pursuit of liberation was overshadowed by fear.
The play was created by London-based actor Derek Murphy, who has performed across stage, film, and television on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and RTÉ. He is also an associate producer at The Irish Cultural Centre in London. Collaborating with him is playwright Amy Clarke, who co-wrote the piece. Friends since childhood in Cork, they recognised how little of their specific experiences had been documented. They understood that without efforts to preserve these stories, such a legacy could easily be lost to time.
Derek Murphy told QX, “We want to create a space where the Irish diaspora and the LGBTQ+ community can see their shared history reflected with dignity, humour, and truth. We wish to establish this story in the theatrical canon so that these vital voices are never deemed ‘disposable’ ever again”.
“We saw a gap in our history”, adds Amy. “A ‘double exile’ of being queer and Irish in a city that wasn’t always welcoming to its Irish residents. We aren’t just devising a play; we’re documenting a community that was almost lost to silence”
They have relied on the insights of two prominent Irish activists who shared their firsthand experiences from that period. Bernárd Lynch served as a priest in New York during the height of the AIDS epidemic and became involved with an LGBTQ+ Catholic organisation called DignityUSA. Later, he moved to London, where he established a support group for gay priests. He has received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.
Dr Joseph Healy, originally from Dublin, is an academic and historian who was actively involved in early LGBTQ rights campaigns in Dublin and Northern Ireland from 1979 to 1984. After moving to London in the 1980s, he became engaged in various HIV support groups. He has also shared insights on the experiences of Irish gay immigrants in London. Additionally, he is a founding member of the London Irish LGBT Network.
Mammy’s House runs from 1 -13 September 2026 at Gatehouse Theatre, 1 North Road, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD, United Kingdom.
Play: @mammyshouseplay Derek Murphy: @dirkelsmurf Amy Clarke: @amyclarkestagram
Cast: Mammy/Barry: played by Derek Murphy. Niall/Nellie: played by Conor O’ Dwyer. Mags: played by Jemma Curran. Sally: played by Ciara Pouncett. Ginny/Justin: played by Stephen Cheriton. Shay: Played by Justin Ensor
