Pushing boundaries in creative and entertaining ways is at the heart of what independent professional theatre company Et Tu does – and it’s in full force for their upcoming production of Ulster American by David Ireland.
The critically acclaimed play – which premiered at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has recently been produced on West End and Broadway – expertly toes the line between dark humour and taboo subjects. Sometimes, it may even cross the line.
“I love how dark and funny this play is,” Et Tu Theatre co-founder Seton Pollock said.
“There’s this amazing dynamic between the three characters of wanting to collaborate but also being brutally ambitious, which is so much fun to explore. Especially with their different perspectives.”
Set in London’s post-Brexit environment, Ulster American brings together a theatre director from London, a playwright from Northern Ireland and an Academy Award-winning actor from the US.
It’s the night before they start rehearsals for an already sold-out play and their nerves and excitement are high. But they’ve never all been in the same room together, and they may not even be on the same page.
“Before a play goes into rehearsals, there’s often this nervous energy, and in Ulster American it becomes a fertile ground to explore historical tensions, identity, sexism, racism, ego and how far you’ll go to get what you want,” Et Tu co-founder Amy Bradney-George said.
“David Ireland’s writing has depth and sharpness, with a way of making you feel as though you’re on a knife’s edge but also kind of enjoying the risk of that.”
This is Et Tu Theatre’s third production in Bellingen, after the team relocated from Melbourne, and they continue to develop and support the local creative industries.
“It’s a real privilege to be able to work with established and emerging creatives in this region, and to come back and be a part of it at this stage in my career,” said Bradney-George, who grew up in Bellingen before training and working interstate and overseas.
Pollock added: “We’ve found new ways to approach the work, supporting highly specialised locals, emerging talent who have never worked on professional theatre productions before – as well as select industry professionals we’ve had long-running relationships with from our time in Melbourne.”
“We also really love the audiences we’ve had up here so far – they’re smart, creatively engaged and empathetic, so I’m excited to share this play with them.”
Et Tu Theatre’s production of Ulster American by David Ireland is on at the Bellingen Memorial Hall studio from 2-12 October 2025. Tickets are available at https://ettuproductions.com
About the play
A
movie star from America, a successful theatre director from England and an up-and-coming playwright from Northern Ireland meet the night before rehearsals for what could be the play of the century. Except they’re not all on the same page.
As the night unravels, this dark, savagely funny play from award-winning playwright David Ireland tackles everything from sexism and racism and politics to ambition and how far people will go to get what they want.
About the writer
David Ireland is from Belfast and trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. His first play, What The Animals Say, was produced at Oran Mor, Glasgow in 2009. His other plays include Everything Between Us (Tinderbox, Belfast) which won the Stewart Parker Award and the Meyer-Whitworth Award, The End Of Hope (Oran Mor), Half A Glass Of Water (Field Day), Yes So I Said Yes (Ransom Productions, Belfast), Can’t Forget About You (Lyric, Belfast) and I Promise You Sex And Violence (Northern Stage, Newcastle).
In 2015, he adapted Lorca’s Blood Wedding for Dundee Rep and Graeae. His 2016 play Cyprus Avenue (Royal Court London/Abbey Theatre Dublin/Public Theatre NYC) won the Irish Times Award for Best New Play and the James Tait Black Award for Drama and in 2018 Ulster American (Traverse, Edinburgh) won a Scotsman Fringe First, the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh award and the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland Award for Best New Play. In 2025 David Ireland’s acclaimed new play, The Fifth Step premiered on West End and was screened as part of the National Theatre Live program.
