In 1663, history was made at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre when the first English-language play written by a woman premiered on a commercial stage. Katherine Philips’s Pompey – her bold adaptation of Pierre Corneille’s epic drama – reframed ancient Rome through the political turbulence of Restoration Ireland, asking pointed questions about power, loyalty, and survival in uncertain times.
Set against the return of Charles II to the throne, Pompey captured the private fears of the English and Anglo-Irish elite: who truly owns the land, who controls the future, and what happens when political fortunes suddenly shift? Beneath its classical veneer lies a sharp meditation on tyranny, the fragility of republics, and the personal cost of political upheaval.
Now, artist and 2025 IMMA Dwell Here resident Crystal Bennes reimagines Pompey for today. This striking new adaptation draws unsettling parallels between the 17th century and our present moment, exploring colonial and post-colonial identity, the erosion of democratic rule, and the inventive ways women wield political power when excluded from official authority. Urgent, immersive and relevant, Pompey speaks directly to a world shaped by instability, violence and uncertainty.
This new site-specific production is created in collaboration with the UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts scholars, under the direction of Ad Astra Artistic Director Kellie Hughes and Ad Astra Music Director Thérèse Timoney.