In the sleepy Irish village of Bunderr, silence speaks volumes. After the suicide of his brother, Alan sets out to uncover the truth — what he finds threatens to tear his close-knit community apart.
Our Brothers in Cloth is a bold new play by Irish writer Ronan Colfer, produced by Poke the Bear Productions and Oli Fyne. Inspired by real stories of clerical child sexual abuse and generational trauma, the play examines the long shadows cast by the Irish Catholic church and asks how a society heals when justice is buried beneath shame.
Premiering at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, this production marks the 20th anniversary of The Ferns Report — a landmark investigation into clerical child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Ferns, Wexford. Our Brothers in Cloth pays tribute to those who dared to speak, and challenges those still afraid to listen.
Writer Ronan Colfer says: “This play was born from the stories passed between generations — what was said and what was kept silent. It’s about the cost of complicity, and the fight to reclaim truth in the face of institutional silence.”
Director Ryan McVeigh adds: “By confronting these harrowing truths, we open space for difficult conversations that ripple far beyond the stage. This is theatre as reckoning — personal, political, and profoundly urgent.”
Like far too many families in Ireland, Ronan Colfer’s was deeply affected by clerical child sexual abuse, resulting in the tragic suicide of a close family member, and others being left traumatised.
Ronan Colfer is available for interviews or features on his commitment to using theatre as a tool for truth-telling and healing, and how trauma continues to echo through generations. Our Brothers in Cloth is not just a story about the past; it is a call to reckon with the present. This production is proudly partnered with the abuse survivor charity One in Four and activist Colm O’Gorman.
Preview feedback
“If this is the standard of production from a young troupe of actors, writers and directors, the future of British theatre is in safe hands.” — Scottish Field, Elise (Pleasance Courtyard, Fringe 2023).
“A credible picture of the impact on a community of suppressed sexual abuse.” (FringeReview, Camden Fringe 2024).
“The feeling of being held captive by unyielding religious authority is haunting.” (The Reviews Hub, Camden Fringe 2024).
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Notes for editors
- Interviews and features available – please get in touch.
- Partnered with One in Four, a charity dedicated to supporting survivors of child sexual abuse.
- Full EPK (bios, images, and creative info) can be found here.
Listings Details
- Venue: Studio Five, Assembly Rooms, George Square (Venue 20)
- Time: 12:15
- Dates: 31 July – 25 August (not 6, 12, 19)
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Ticket prices: £14 / £12 concessions[MS1]
- Tickets: https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/1001-our-brothers-in-cloth
Cast and creatives
- Writer: Ronan Colfer
- Director/Dramaturg: Ryan McVeigh
- Producers: Poke the Bear Productions and Oli Fyne
- Cast: Jake Douglas, Emily Swain, Oli Fyne, Kevin Glynn, Ronan Colfer, Micheal Lavin
About the creative team
- Ronan Colfer is a playwright and filmmaker from South-East Ireland. His work has toured internationally, with highlights including The Trapped Language of Love (Best Short Play, New York Theater Festival) and his feature play A Foray in Innocence. His film A Lone Star Love premiered at the Austin Film Festival and screened globally, earning multiple awards. He uses storytelling to uncover the complex layers of identity, history, and trauma.
- Ryan McVeigh, originally from the north of Ireland, trained on the MFA Theatre Directing course at Birkbeck, University of London. As Artistic Director of Poke the Bear Productions, Ryan creates theatre that interrogates society, shakes audiences, and provokes debate. His work explores moral responsibility and the power of collective memory.
- Oli Fyne is a Scottish actor/producer working across theatre and film. Recent credits include Stella (Sky), Call the Midwife (BBC), assisting on – Amadeus (Sky), MK3D Mark Kermode’s live show (BFI), Sumotherhood (Paramount), and The Pink Pill (BBC). She returns to Edinburgh following her Scotsman Award-shortlisted debut Elise at the Pleasance.
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact: Matthew Shelley at Scottish Festivals PR 07786 704299 and Matthew@ScottishfestivalsPR.org