By Teegan O’Connell

It’s been a kitsch, camp and Catholic, two weeks at the Civic Theatre with the world

premiere of Xnthony’s Lourdes! The Musical.

Lourdes! Follows Matthew, an Irish actor working in London who is diagnosed as HIV

positive. This causes him to not get his ‘big break’. In order to cope with this loss and

revelation he returns to his hometown of ‘Countryland,’ Ireland, where he escapes to

Lourdes to join an amateur production of the story of Saint Bernadette. This production

changes Matthew’s life, forever and ever amen.

Despite opening with a debatably rushed exposition, with Matthew getting diagnosed with

HIV within the first five minutes, Lourdes! manages to expertly balance the fun and the

forlorn. It discusses the themes of queerness, illness, shame and transphobia throughout

without compromising on theatrics. Xnthony is scathingly blunt when writing typically taboo

topics such as death and illness, in a way which is extremely refreshing. Meanwhile, Riain

Cash’s flamboyant portrayal of Matthew lightens the atmosphere, allowing for such topics

to be discussed with stunning depth and nuance. Cash’s performance is a camp depiction

of theatre kid extravagance, which is in all ways iconic. His skill meets with Xnthony’s

writing to create a religious experience only ever felt by queer youth when they first

discover camp media.

Lourdes! is full of age-old clichés which add to it’s entertainment value. These can be seen

in the set and costumes, both of which are designed by Niall McKeever. The golden

seashell light covers at which characters both sing and pray transport the audience from

Tallaght to Broadway. All of the characters’ costumes from the casual sweatpants and

clerical collar combination worn by Father JB (skilfully portrayed by Iestyn Arwel), to the

over-the-top suits worn by Matthew during their production in Lourdes perfectly represent

their characters.

Directed by the brilliant Sarah Meadows with the acting of Danielle James, Molly Lynch

and Nichola MacEvilly, Lourdes! is a musical that I hope lasts long after the Dublin Theatre

Festival. It’s a musical that I believe will resonate with Irish audiences forever. Forever and

ever amen.

Teegan O’Connell is a member of Lightbulb Youth Theatre in Mallow, Co. Cork and a young critic for 2026.