STEPHEN TRAVELS TO AUSTRALIA FOR SHOWCASE OF NEW WRITING TO COLLABORATE WITH MELBOURNE PLAYWRIGHT FLEUR MURPHY

c21’s Creative Director Stephen Kelly, backed by the British Council’s Connections through Culture grant, arrived in Australia in June 2025 to collaborate with playwright Fleur Murphy at the National Celtic Festival in Portarlington.  The brand-new piece of writing, created over the last six months, saw Stephen direct Australian actors for one week before they presented a rehearsed reading at the high-profile festival just outside Melbourne.   Never Always Ever Was explores themes of legacy, migration, and climate change, connecting the coastal communities of Port Fairy (Australia) and Portaferry (Northern Ireland).

The reading received deep, moving audience feedback, and affirming the work’s emotional resonance, poetic language, and ability to provoke meaningful conversations around place and climate. Big plans are in the pipeline for this project in 2026 so watch this space!

What the audience said…

 “Beautifully written; practical and thoughtful. Great characters and approach with this difficult subject in a new innovative way. Hugely topical with any audience.”

“A powerful and important piece that winds you into the lives of characters and makes the issue of climate personal.  Offering the warmth of family and relationships as a way through it all. Thanks so much to you all.”

“Very emotive and pertinent.”

“This international collaboration around the Irish migration to Australia and climate change expressed through the heart of family and generations, promises a rich production for the future. Congratulations Fleur and c21.”

“A beautiful piece of work. Following the route of immigration and climate change. Well done on keeping it full of heart. I think this piece can gently allow audiences to face this challenging issue. There was space created for audience to discuss and connect after the play.”