Pupa is a multidisciplinary work that follows the story of two lovers, Loveen and Maggot, navigating their relationship whilst being locked inside their damp and moldy apartment. The play takes you from a realistic depiction of a fun loving relationship, to a surrealist dark comedy. This fragmented text is rooted in research surrounding relationship psychology, co-dependency and current Irish politics.
In 2022, the Institute of Public Health declared that, “Ireland has highest levels of loneliness in Europe.” Pupa is an exploration of this loneliness. What are the causes of multigenerational isolation? How do feelings of loneliness lead to unhealthy relationship dynamics? How can we help one another to feel less secluded? Pupa sets out to examine these questions through an artistic experimentation of found texts, cultural theories and personal experiences.
The piece also addresses current political crises within Ireland, such as the housing crisis, lack of public transport, and increasing emigration rates. Pupa targets young people, older people and rural communities. Based on our research findings, those suffering the most from loneliness in Ireland are people within these three communities.