C is For | 8pm

This leading voice of Irish poetry and spoken word returns with a new theatrical production.Acclaimed poet, playwright and performer Colm Keegan brings his new one-man show ‘C is For’ to YARN at the Mermaid Theatre in November, marking a major new chapter in hiscreative work and the continued evolution of spoken word as a fully staged theatrical experience.

‘C is For’ is a genre-defying performance that blends spoken word, storytelling and theatrical monologue with visual art, sound and live performance. The result is a rich, immersive exploration of voice, memory and inheritance, (inspired by the most random object - that will only be revealed during the performance) rooted firmly in Keegan’s love of poetry and the transformative power of creativity. At the heart of the show is a deeply personal narrative examining family history, memory and the legacy of Keegan’s mother’s adoption. The performance is built around a sequence of poems and visual artworks, including work from Camcorder, his new poetry collection.

Keegan describes ‘C is For’ as “a culmination of different strands of my work - poetry, theatre and performance all coming together in one space.” He adds: “I’m taking all of the inspirations and experiences I’ve had devising poetry & theatre shows over the years to break new creative ground in a way that feels fun, challenging and different for me, and hopefully for the audience too.”

Colm Keegan
Colm Keegan is a writer and performance poet from Dublin. His poetry collections ‘Don't Go There’ and ‘Randomer’ (Salmon Poetry) have received critical acclaim. Colm recently created ‘Ireland Is’ (2023), and ‘Every Blooming Thing’ (2025), two spoken word roadshows which toured nationwide. He has edited Poetry Ireland Review and was the Waterford Poetry Prize Judge 2020-2025.

His plays include ‘For Saoirse,’ and ‘Something Worth Saying,’ commissioned by the Abbey Theatre and described as “exquisite and devastating” by Emer O’Kelly. His recent play, ‘What are we Waiting For?’ written with LBS Men’s Shed, premiered at Dublin Fringe 2025 and won the Judges’ Choice Award for Socially Engaged Art.

He is an accomplished mentor and facilitator, having developed numerous creative writing projects, including the award-winning Writing Home initiative and Screenshot, a script development programme with National Talent Academies. He was a co-founder of Lingo, the spoken word festival and has held residencies at the LexIcon library, St Patrick’s College Carlow, and Maynooth University. He also coordinates Deadly Poets Society, a poetry project between Ireland and Australia.

A leading figure in Ireland’s spoken word scene, Keegan has built a career that bridges artistic excellence and social engagement. He has developed projects across youth services, prisons, schools and community settings. His recent collaboration with LBS Men’s Shed, What Are We Waiting For?, exploring male mental health and masculinity, won the Judge’s Choice Award for Socially Engaged Arts at the 2025 Dublin Fringe Festival. While much of Keegan’s recent work has focused on community-based projects, including Writing Home, a poetry and film initiative with homeless service users, this show marks a deliberate shift toward his own creative output.

Colm has just released a new poetry collection ‘Camcorder’ (Salmon Poetry), which he describes as a lyrical descent into the past. Some of this work is featured in ‘C is for’.

Julie Kelleher
Julie Kelleher, who recently worked on Mick Flannery’s musical ‘The House Must Win’ willbe directing the show and said – “Colm is an artist I have admired for a long time. With “C is For”, he has written a work of typically idiosyncratic beauty, poetry and humour thatilluminates corners of personal history that will resonate with many.”Through humour, vulnerability and inventive storytelling, 'C is For' challenges expectations of both poetry and theatre. It draws on influences ranging from stand-up comedy to visual art, creating a dynamic, unpredictable performance that refuses to conform to traditional genres.