A blonde woman drinking tea behind the bar in a traditional pub
THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

RITA MCGRINDER IS STILL HERE

PRESENTED BY MARTIN MCNAMARA
A darkly comical tale of a woman surviving in a perplexing age of Daniel O’Donnell, senseless murder and strap-ons.

Meet Rita, forthright, funny and bloody furious. It’s 2010 and fifty-something barmaid Rita McGrinder is opening the doors to the same old regulars in a back-of-beyond pub in rural Monaghan. 

As she works, she delivers a caustic recollection of a disappointed life, but one lived in extraordinary times. Hers is a story that, despite all its rural mundanity, encompasses violence, sex, scientific discovery, illiterate nuns, hypocrisy, terrorism, sock laundry, Daniel O’Donnell, showbands, dying priests, Jedward, and strap-ons.  

It has been a whirlwind of change and, at the heart of the storm, stands Rita McGrinder. She’s seen it all, hell, she’s lived it all. Rita McGrinder is Still Here is a dark, funny and disturbing tale of life lived in an age of tumult. One woman’s story that runs from tragedy to comedy to a kind of redemption. Rita is pitilessly acerbic, brutally funny, and maybe she feels just a wee bit homicidal. And if she does, well maybe she has good cause.  

Rita McGrinder is Still Here is written by Martin McNamara, directed by Su Gilroy and stars Mary O’Sullivan

29 AUG-16 SEP
8PM
4PM (SUN)
£15 STANDARD
£13 CONCESSION

RITA MCGRINDER IS STILL HERE

PRESENTED BY MARTIN MCNAMARA
A darkly comical tale of a woman surviving in a perplexing age of Daniel O’Donnell, senseless murder and strap-ons.

Meet Rita, forthright, funny and bloody furious. It’s 2010 and fifty-something barmaid Rita McGrinder is opening the doors to the same old regulars in a back-of-beyond pub in rural Monaghan. 

As she works, she delivers a caustic recollection of a disappointed life, but one lived in extraordinary times. Hers is a story that, despite all its rural mundanity, encompasses violence, sex, scientific discovery, illiterate nuns, hypocrisy, terrorism, sock laundry, Daniel O’Donnell,  showbands, dying priests, Jedward, and strap-ons.  

It has been a whirlwind of change and, at the heart of the storm, stands Rita McGrinder. She’s seen it all, hell, she’s lived it all. Rita McGrinder is Still Here is a dark, funny and disturbing tale of life lived in an age of tumult. One woman’s story that runs from tragedy to comedy to a kind of redemption. Rita is pitilessly acerbic, brutally funny, and maybe she feels just a wee bit homicidal. And if she does, well maybe she has good cause.  

Rita McGrinder is Still Here was written by Martin McNamara, directed by Su Gilroy and stars Mary O’Sullivan

29 AUG-16 SEP
8PM
4PM (SUN)
£15 STANDARD
£13 CONCESSION

Rita McGrinder is Still Here | Teaser Trailer

Creative Team

A black and white headshot of Mary who holds her head in her hands smiling at the camera. She is blonde and wears a patterned shirt.
Mary O’Sullivan
Rita McGrinder

Originally from Limerick City, Mary has performed on stage in Ireland, the London Fringe and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Previous roles include Rita in Educating Rita, Old Woman in J.B. Keane’s Big Maggie, Maggie in Dance-Hall Days with the Irish Repertory Theatre Company, UK (The Riverside Studios), and Auntie Ah in Marina Carr’s Woman and Scarecrow. In 2018 she was awarded Best Actress at the Abu Dhabi International Theatre Festival. She has appeared in the short films, SHAMED and Life After Life for Fremar Productions, directed by Damien Varley.

A black and white headshot of Su who is looking away from the camera smiling. She has curly hair, wearing a necklace and a collared shirt.
Su Gilroy
Director

Su is a freelance theatre director and dramaturg with more than fifty productions to her credit, from short rehearsed readings to full-scale productions in number one venues (Gaslight, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre; Cinderella, Lyceum Theatre, Crewe). She has directed classic plays in rep (An Inspector Calls, Manor Pavilion, Sidmouth; I Have Been Here Before, Tivoli Theatre, Wimbourne) and has worked with many writers to bring their work to the stage (Unclouded Moon, Brighton Festival; (S)Elfish Christmas, Bread & Roses Theatre; Painted Warriors, Tabard Theatre; Invisible Me, Wimbledon Studio Theatre; I, Minnie Lansbury, Bloomsbury Festival; and Moment of Grace, Hope Theatre, for which she was Offie Nominated).

Black and white headshot of Martin. He is wearing a black blazer, a shirt and a jumper. He has short hair and wears glasses.
Martin McNamara
Writer

Martin’s plays and documentaries have been broadcast on BBC Radio Four and produced at many London theatres, including Soho Theatre, Theatre503, Lion & Unicorn, Bread & Roses, JW3, N16 Theatre, London Irish Centre and The Bunker, as well as in Wandsworth Prison. Earlier this year he adapted Brendan Behan’s Borstal Boy for Radio Four, starring Brendan Coyle. His play about the Guildford Four, Your Ever Loving, played at the Underbelly, Edinburgh in 2017, and was named best drama of the Festival. His scripted short films have been selected for festivals around the world. He won the BBC Northern Ireland/Tony Doyle bursary. He has worked as a print journalist, radio documentary-maker and TV news producer. 

Book Now

Concessions

Concessions apply to students, under-18s, over-60s and more. For more info on our concession policy click here→

Accessibility

All performance spaces and facilities are fully wheelchair-accessible. For more info please contact Box Office on 0207 498 4699.

Ticket Collection

We operate a paperless box office system. You will be emailed a receipt once you have booked in advance. There is no need to print this off, just state your name at the box office on arrival.

Café Bar

Ticket holders can take advantage of a 10% discount on all food and drink in our Café Bar on the day of their event between the following times:

7:30pm performances – discount available between 6-7pm

Content Warnings

References to sex, sex toys, abortion, child abuse and some strong language

Find out more here.

Age Recommendation

16+

Duration

55m

You May Also Like

A man stands on stage holding his hand in the air and gazing into it, the stage is filled with fog and lit with a spotlight
PENGUIN

This is a story of remembering who you are, deep down. Of reclaiming and of celebration. 'Penguins can’t fly, that’s true. But they can swim. And they can dance.'

More Info
MATERIAL GIRLS

A mixed bill comedy show starring some of the biggest and brattiest up-and-coming comedians on the circuit.

More Info