The Devil and Durex

The Devil and Durex by Nicholas Makin.

“If you're looking for your orgasm's Margaret they'll be out rusting in the field.”

Fair Dinkum Theatre presents the world premiere rehearsed reading of THE DEVIL AND DUREX, a hilarious comedic look at the 1970’s sexual revolution in a small rural Irish parish. Written by award-winning Australian playwright Nicholas Makin, this free event provides the opportunity to meet the playwright, ask questions and offer feedback.

“Is there nowhere safe? Is there nowhere that a man can rest in peace?”

What’s happened to the women folk? Who is filling their head with all this nonsense? Is it the new television in Maloney’s pub or the books coming over from England - The Joy of Sex! - surely that’s a sin?

Join Tom, Paddy and old mad Willie as they struggle to adjust to their wives’ new found assertiveness and determination to establish their own sexual identity. The accepted order is disappearing before their eyes and their desperate efforts to reassert their dominance are failing. The church watches on of course – perhaps starting to feel the first cracks in its own façade.

With an existentially Irish humour THE DEVIL AND DUREX focuses on the foibles of ordinary people faced with extraordinary events. They are forced to re-examine and re-evaluate relationships with the partners they thought they knew. At times dark, always funny but ultimately with a strong message – for relationships to survive and prosper they must be based on mutual understanding, equality and respect.

Directed by Kathleen Warner Yeates and with a cast of 8 stellar performers:

CAST

Richard Sweetman as Tom – Richard has trained with The Abbey School of Acting, Flying Turtle Productions, AboutFace Theatre, The Lir Academy and Bow Street Academy, the National Screen Acting School of Ireland. He has recently collaborated with Tina Bull and Antidote Films for their Electoral Commission commercial campaign. Previous stage credits include Seumas Shields in The Shadow of a Gunman (Smock Alley), John Williamson in Glengarry Glen Ross (Pearse Theatre), Gus in The Dumb Waiter (The New Theatre), Demetrius/Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The New Theatre), Davy “Texas Red” Sawyer in Showdown at Hickory Gulch (Pearse House) and Jack Clitheroe in The Plough and the Stars (Abbey Theatre), directed by Caitriona McLaughlin.

Simon Cunningham as Paddy - Simon is a long-standing member of the Dalkey Players and has performed nationwide with productions of Marina Carr’s By the Bog of Cats (All Ireland ADLI winners 2023) and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible (Best supporting actor 2024 or portrayal of Reverend John Hale). Last year he performed on the Peacock stage in The Abbey Theatre (Abbey Theatre Award for The Crucible May 2024) and played the lead role in John B. Keane’s Sharon’s Grave (Dalkey Town Hall November 2024). A musician, song writer, artist and playwright. He has won awards at an amateur level for both writing and acting.

Vince Breheny as Willie – Vince Breheny has an extensive creative portfolio as an Actor, Writer, Director and Producer in both Stage and Film. He has a keen interest in devising characters and stories, including his internationally popular poet character Merv Nickleman. His short films have screened and won various awards at independent film festivals worldwide. His all time favorite stage roles include playing the guardian angel Clarence, in "It's A Wonderful Life" and multiple roles in "Almost Maine”.

Carmel Stephens as Sheila – Carmel is currently playing the role of ‘Cora’ on Ros na Rún for TG4. She recently played the role of Flavia for OBITUARY S2 for RTÉ/Hulu and ‘Mother' in Glass Mask's production of 'Mother and Child' by Jon Fosse. Other recent theatre credits include 'Laced' at Scene and Heard Festival of New Work, 24 Hour Plays at the Abbey Theatre, The Snapper at the Gate Theatre, Dublin and The Devil Himself with AboutFace Theatre. Recent TV work includes Harry Wild (Acorn/RTE) and Madame Blanc (Channel 5).Currently appearing in festivals is the short, Homofónia, in which she plays a lead role and was nominated as Best Supporting Actor at the Louth Film Festival. Carmel was part of the core cast of RTE’s flagship soap, Fair City for many years and also of the Irish Language soap, Rós na Rún (TG4). She has twenty years of experience as a dubbing artist and is particularly proud to be the Irish language voice of Sandy Cheeks in Spongebob Squarepants.

Helen O'Brien as Patricia – Helen most recently performed at the Abbey Theatre as part of 24 Hour Plays 2025. Some of Helen’s previous roles include, Agnes in Agnes of God, Sarah in Translations, Lanky in Silly Bits of Sky, Mary in 1, 2, 3 O Leary, Nuala in Then Moses met Marconi, Barnstorm Theatre Co. Elizabeth in 3 am and Various in Faces for Places, Locus Theatre Co. Clogs in Friends and Ali in Jack Fell Down, Team Theatre Co. Helen Jones in Machinal, the Samuel Beckett Theatre. Sally in Tissue, International Bar. Juno in Juno and the Paycock, Lisa Marie in Waiting for Elvis, Greta in The Dead, Rathfarnham Theatre Group.

Gerry Cannon as Conor - Gerry trained for theatre in the 1980’s. Having pursued other careers in the interim he returned to acting full-time in 2016. His most recent stage appearances have been in Helter Shelter by Sau Dachi in Smock Alley and the lead role in Stan by Dave O’Reilly at The Whale Theatre. Currently he can be seen as Peadar in Say Nothing on Disney+ and as The Bishop of London in Vikings: Valhalla on Netflix. He also has roles in the feature films; The Troubles A Dublin Story and Dublin Crust both on Amazon Prime and plays Noel Corrigan in The Irish Mob on Paramount+. Gerry previously played Judge O’ Driscoll in Nick Mackin’s play I Poured The Tea.

James Ronan as Joe – James is an actor from South Dublin who has received a QQI Level 5 Certificate in Performing Arts from Sallynoggin College of Further Education in which he progressed into getting a BA Honors Degree in Drama Performance from the TU Dublin Conservatoire in Grangegorman. His recent works have been in playwright Colin Murphy's "The Asylum Workshop" as part of the original first and revival cast's productions. He has also been in Donal Gallagher's directed "Citysong", written by Carys D. Coburn. Both productions have been in the Black Box Theatre in TU Dublin Granagegorman, East Quad. He has also received training from Kathleen Warner Yeates, his first drama teacher, from teen to advanced actor workshops. He is currently apart of TenderWRITE, a group based out of the Civic Theatre, Tallaght, of upcoming playwrights under the facilitation of Veronica Coburn and Gavin Kostick to develop their playwriting skills and work on their original play ideas. James is represented by the Lisa Richards agency based out of Ranelagh, Dublin 4.

Eoin Leahy as Garda O'Brien -Eoin is a Dublin born, Irish actor. From a young age Eoin was on stage, but influenced by action movies, he was lured into the world of stunt performance, where he worked on hit TV series' and Irish Films. Now, though, Eoin has retired from stunt work, and has fully returned to his first love of Acting. This is Eoin's first time performing in Smock Alley for a live audience, and he is thrilled to be part of The Devil and Durex ensemble.

ABOUT – Fair Dinkum Theatre
Fair Dinkum Theatre! is a young company made up of experienced theatrically trained professionals with international experience. At Fair Dinkum we believe that theatre should have an honesty about it – good fun, good value and thought provoking! It’s a philosophy that Australian audiences came to love and one we are excited to introduce to Ireland!

What motivates us as a young company, are new works that amuse, startle and amaze. We want you to leave the theatre feeling that you have been entertained and challenged. We hope that our energy and commitment to presenting the very best theatre will bring you back!

We believe in seeking stories and themes which resonate with local audiences – be they Australian or Irish – and yet have a universal message. In this way we hope eventually to connect with audiences around the world.

ABOUT – Nicholas Makin, Playwright
Nick is an award-winning Australian playwright who now calls Ireland home. Nick’s works are particularly noted for their unique quirky brand of absurdist humour. In his early twenties Nick won competitions at a national, state and regional level. The reality of earning a living, career and family forced Nick into relative silence for 30 years. Now with time again on his side Nick is writing prodigiously.

ABOUT – Kathleen Warner Yeates, Director
Kathleen Warner Yeates has directed over 60 theatre productions (devising over 35), and has worked for over 35 years in various universities, drama schools, and professionally for Off-Broadway productions in New York, as well as throughout the U.S. and in Dublin. She is based in Dublin, Ireland and was trained in the U.S. at Kutztown University in the 4 year BFA degree in Related Arts & Theatre, as well as a 2 year Masters program (graduate assistantship) for directing and acting at Villanova University. She has been professionally directing, acting, devising, producing, teaching and writing ever since. Her repertoire ranges from new works to site specific devised works, Shakespeare, and musicals. Kathleen is also a professional actor (Equity in U.S. and Ireland, SAG/AFTRA), a member of the Writers Guild of Ireland.