Fishamble’s Powerful New Play About Reconciliation And Remembrance…

From Fishamble – the acclaimed team behind Forgotten, Underneath, and the Olivier Award-winning Silent – Before is a play with music that captures a deeply personal story set against the backdrop of a historic Dublin landmark.

Set inside Clerys Department Store on the very day it closes its doors for the final time, Before invites audiences into a moment suspended between past and present. As one chapter ends for the city, another unfolds for its central character, Pontius.

Pontius has returned to Clerys with a single purpose: to choose a gift for his estranged daughter, whom he hasn’t seen in nearly 20 years. In just one hour, he will meet her.

What follows is a poignant and often surreal journey—one that moves from the quiet isolation of his Midlands home to the bustling chaos of O’Connell Street.

Blending music, memory, and emotion, Before explores themes of reconciliation, regret, and the complexity of family relationships. It’s a story that resonates with anyone who has ever struggled to find the right words—or the right gift—for someone they love.

Before is more than a play—it’s an experience that lingers long after the final note fades…

*****

*****

Critical acclaim for Before…

“You fight back tears. Of course you do. It’s Kinevane – a rare and truly compelling talent” ★★★★★
-The Herald, Scotland

“…another profoundly affecting tour de force from Kinevane.“ ★★★★★
–Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

“Kinevane’s performance works like a spell… a real showstopper“ ★★★★
-Irish Times

“extraordinary collaboration… soul-searching, achingly touching gem…” ★★★★
-Sunday Times