Thomas Kilroy’s Booker-nominated novel is a fictionalised retelling of the real events surrounding the internationally notorious ‘Callan Schools Affair’. This radical adaptation saw the people of Callan retelling their own story, using the town of Callan as its stage. Supported by an exceptional team of professional theatre artists, The Big Chapel X was an epic, inclusive, immersive promenade theatrical experience,celebrating the work of one of Ireland’s greatest living writers. 

The show was nominated for 3 Irish Theatre Awards inc. Best Production, Best Ensemble and a special Judges Award for the people of Callan. The 10 night performace run was the culmination of a year-long series of cross-disciplinary community events involving literature, architecture, dance, acrobatics, fabric printing and a 12 episode podcast.

Asylum Productions

Asylum usually make unusual theatre in unusual spaces, with unusual people, usually outside of a theatre, often in rural Ireland, usually with people that don’t usually work in theatre. Or go to theatre. Or think much about theatre in any way except when we come along. We strive to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community, empowering others to join us in making great art.