The President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly attends World Premiere at Draíocht

Without Distinction of Sex by Veronica Coburn
Conceived, written, and directed by leading theatre artist Veronica Coburn in collaboration with composer and sound designer Sinéad Diskin and dance artist Sibéal Davitt.

Launched by: The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tony Murphy, Thursday 1st October, 7pm
Venue: Draíocht Blanchardstown | As part of Dublin Theatre Festival
Produced by Draíocht & Once Off Productions

With Special Guest of Honour The President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly     

This production marks the 25th Anniversary of Draíocht Blanchardstown - 25 years of inspiring and captivating audiences; 25 years of engaging communities and 25 years of supporting artists. 

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A promise made. A promise broken. A daring new largescale work exploring the violent legacy of Article 41 and the Irish State's control of women's bodies, identities and freedoms.

In 1922, Ireland’s first Constitution promised liberty “without distinction of sex.” Fifteen years later, Bunreacht na hÉireann betrayed that promise. Article 41 reduced women to domestic and reproductive roles, erasing unmarried, queer, trans and non-conforming lives while legitimising a culture of exclusion and silence that has suffocated generations of Irish women. This legacy still shapes Ireland today.

This provocative new work blends spoken text, choral song, dance by sean nós and contemporary dancer Sibéal Davitt, an original score/sound design by Sinéad Diskin and the voice of a powerful virtual chorus of 41 women, Coburn creates an urgent theatrical reckoning with gender, power and the unfinished fight for equality.

Developed over 5 years, Veronica Coburn has collaborated closely with composer/sound designer Sinéad Diskin, sean nós and contemporary dancer Sibéal Davitt, and a chorus of 41 women whose stories and virtual choral performances are integrated into the performance. Without Distinction of Sex is performed live by Caoimhe Coburn Gray and Sibéal Davitt and is designed by Sinéad Diskin (sound design & composition), Deirdre Dwyer (set and costume design), Mark Galione (lighting design), and Michael Dunn (video design).

Veronica Coburn is one of Ireland’s leading theatre artists. She has directed a number of ambitious projects in partnership with Draíocht, including Home Theatre Ireland  in 2018 and NEST, in 2024, both celebrating the lives of the people of Dublin 15. Recent work includes Louise Lewis’s Thérèse (2026), Noelle Brown’s In Plain Sight (2025 & upcoming 2026 tour), and Gavin Kostick’s The Leap (Dublin Theatre Festival, 2025 & upcoming 2027 tour). 

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Comments from Cllr Tony Murphy, Mayor of Fingal, on 1st October at the launch of ‘Without Distinction of Sex’:

“Draíocht is well named … the Irish word for magic. The alchemy that brought together the vision of a group of local people, an Arts Officer, Rory O’Byrne, in the newly formed and forward-thinking Fingal County Council with the determination of the first Minister of Arts, Michael D. Higgins, to develop arts infrastructure and so increase arts access, was indeed magic. And Draíocht has surpassed anything that we could have imagined. Its list of achievements is many. Its list of awards, too many to mention.  Its vision to deliver ambitious, artistically driven, large-scale projects that have a deep resonance for the public, has become a hallmark of what they do.  I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Draíocht team and to its Boards of Directors for their work over the last 25 years.  It is an arts centre, that I know, all of us in Fingal are so proud of.”

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Comments from Emer McGowan, Director Draíocht, on 1st October at the launch of ‘Without Distinction of Sex’:

“Over our 25 years we have facilitated 218 exhibitions in our Galleries, 5,000 performances in our theatre spaces, welcoming 1 million plus people across all of our programmes. We’ve supported the practice of hundreds of artists, and have engaged with thousands of Dublin 15 children and young people. We all know how important numbers are. But behind every number there are small, and sometimes big, moments. Each project, workshop, performance, each hello at the Box office is a beginning. A way in to moments of connection, of self-realization, of recognition. Moments that are memorable and meaningful. Joyful moments, laugh out loud moments and ones that have long lasting impact. To the communities of Dublin 15 and beyond, who have come in their hundreds of thousands to enjoy shows, thank you. We are and will continue to be a cultural space where artists, children, families and communities are invited not simply to visit, but to contribute, imagine and belong.”  Emer McGowan, Director Draíocht

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Creative Team:
Concept, Text & Direction: Veronica Coburn
Composer & Sound Design: Sinéad Diskin 
Set & Costume Design: Deirdre Dwyer 
Lighting Design: Mark Galione 
Video Design: Michael Dunne 
Creative Producers: Emer McGowan (Draíocht), Maura O’Keeffe (Once Off Productions)
Performed by: Sibéal Davitt & Caoimhe Coburn Gray

Show Information:

Duration 90 mins (no interval)
Age guideline: 14+

PREVIEW: Wed 30 Sept 2026 8pm | €20
OPENING NIGHT: Thu 01 Oct 2026 8pm | €25 / €23 conc
Fri 02 Oct 2026 8pm | €25 / €23 conc
Sat 03 Oct 2026 3pm | €25 / €23 conc
Sat 03 Oct 2026 8pm | €25 / €23 conc *
* Irish Sign Language interpreted performance 03 Oct, 8pm / ISL Interpreter: Shelley Gibson

Tickets available via Dublin Theatre Festival and Draíocht Blanchardstown
 

ABOUT:

About Veronica Coburn

Veronica Coburn is a theatre artist of some 40 years’ experience. She has acted as Artistic Director on a number of ambitious, large scale visionary projects.  Draíocht’s HOME THEATRE (Ireland) in 2018 and NEST, in 2024, both celebrating the lives of the people of Dublin 15. 

She served as Artistic Director of The National Youth Theatre from 2018 – 2021 and established ARTiculate, Youth Theatre Ireland’s young playwright programme, facilitated by Carys D Coburn. Veronica has been Programme Director of TENDERFOOT, The Civic Theatre’s apprentice theatre programme for TY students since its inception in 2007.  A book documenting the work of Tenderfoot, The Mess, will mark Tenderfoot’s 20th anniversary in 2027.  Veronica has been a Civic Theatre Associate Artist since 2017. Veronica recently collaborated with Once Off Productions and Draíocht as director of Louise Lewis’ Thérèse for Dublin Fringe Festival 2026. Thérèse is a modern-day epic, grappling with the negative impact of social deprivation in contemporary Ireland. She also recently directed Noelle Brown’s In Plain Sight, an exploration of Ireland’s history of Mother and Baby Homes through the lens of architecture. In Plain Sight will tour nationally this Autumn. She also directed Gavin Kostick’s play for young audiences, The Leap, for DTF 2025. The Leap will tour nationally next year. 

Veronica is the author of Clown Through Mask – The Pioneering Work of Richard Pochinko As Practised By Sue Morrison, written in collaboration with Sue Morrison and published by Intellect Press.  The Catalan translation was recently published by Neret Edicions and the Spanish translation will be published next month.  She has been awarded the Prix Europa/Radio France, World Gold Medal Status New York, and a Writers’ Guild of Ireland Zebbie Award for her work in radio drama.

About Once Off Productions

Founded in 2006 by producer Maura O’Keeffe, Once Off Productions develops and produces ambitious, innovative and collaborative performance projects by exceptional independent artists. The company works nationally and internationally across theatre, dance and interdisciplinary performance in both traditional and non-traditional spaces.

About Draíocht Blanchardstown

In 2026, Draíocht celebrates its 25th Birthday. 25 years of inspiring and captivating audiences;  25 years of engaging communities and 25 years of supporting artists.

Opened in 2001 and located in the heart of Dublin 15, Draíocht is an arts centre steadfastly committed to serving its local community. At Draíocht, their work goes far beyond their programme of events. Throughout the year, they help people of all ages to make space for the arts in their lives. Working collaboratively with artists of all disciplines, they journey with thousands of people to enhance their lives through arts events, projects and initiatives. They bring the public and artists together and in that space, magic happens. 

Draíocht is a registered charity, not for profit arts organisation, generously funded by Fingal County Council with additional funding provided by The Arts Council. 

 

About Dublin Theatre Festival 2026

From 24 September to 11 October, Dublin Theatre Festival will draw back the curtain on extraordinary stories from Ireland and across the world. Over 18 days and nights, audiences are invited to discover work that challenges assumptions, provokes conversation and celebrates the power of theatre to connect, inspire and expand understanding of the world. Programme, tickets and further information is available at dublintheatrefestival.ie

Dublin Theatre Festival is principally funded by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, with the support of Dublin City Council. Grant aided by Fáilte Ireland, the European Union, Prospero New European Wave, Culture Ireland, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and many generous partners, sponsors and supporters. Media partners RTÉ Supporting the Arts and The Irish Times.