New Declan Gorman work for Swift stage

'Nineteen Eighty Something' marks 40 years of writing

'Nineteen Eighty Something', a new solo play written and performed by Declan Gorman, stages at Swift Cultural Centre on Saturday 2nd May at 8pm.

Marking 40 years on the professional stage, Gorman’s latest work is his most personal to date. Nineteen Eighty Something revisits his twenties as a young Irish emigrant in 1980s Germany, navigating work, language, relationships, political awakening and returning home during one of the most turbulent decades of modern Irish history.

Set against a backdrop of political unrest, mass emigration and cultural change, the play charts a journey from chaos and confusion towards purpose and self‑understanding.

The story moves from Munich squats and factory floors to Irish street protests and the beginnings of a life in theatre.

Performed by Gorman alone, the production brings a cast of over twenty characters to life through storytelling, physical performance, choreography and projected archival footage, edited by the playwright himself, featuring a soundtrack drawn from the era.

The play was developed over several years and grew from an early showcase presentation in Monaghan in 2018. The creative team includes director Gerard Lee, movement director Fiona Keenan O’Brien, lighting designer Ash Dawes, and design mentor Dylan Connolly.

Gorman describes the work as an exploration of “growing up politically, emotionally and artistically,” noting that while the 1980s are often remembered nostalgically, the reality was far more complex and unsettled.