The Dead House

De Ierse comedian, theater maker and writer Martin Beanz Warde presents a touching dark comedy in which themes such as family, tradition and self-acceptance take center stage. The play begins with Patrick, an Irish traveler, who, sitting on a simple dining chair, addresses the audience. The walls are as black as his neat attire: black jeans, a black jacket and black boots. We soon understand that the ‘Dead House’ – an expression our mourning character is not happy with – refers to the place where the deceased lies before being taken to the graveyard. After a while, Patrick gets up and guides us through the house. In the bathroom, he sees the toothbrush of the deceased. Elsewhere, he encounters a traditional, barrel-shaped caravan and muses about where he comes from and where he is going. Martin Beanz Warde is best known as a stand-up comedian and much of what stays with you in The Dead House falls under the heading of ‘observational humor’. Inwoners van Ierland will quickly recognize Wardes' economic sketch of an inland funeral. The men are too proud to show emotion. The women gather in black ‘like crows’ around the coffin. The Dead House has already been performed at various prestigious festivals, such as the Dublin Theatre Festival, toured internationally and received positive reviews in the press. More information about the play and tickets can be found here. This performance is part of the EFACIS project ‘Performing Ireland’ and the Irish Presidency Cultural Programme. This event is supported by Culture Ireland, EFACIS and the Irish College Leuven.