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Pig Tales Reviews.....

" Pig Tales offered amazing subject matter - Gender identity and reassignment, ignorant medical and mental health responses...it's really funny, moving and challenging. She got a standing ovation!"
Young Wan, GCN Forum, Gay Community News Dublin

Click here to see the DB Magazine's review of Pig Tales

"Full of sound and fury, dealing with a complexity of issues...much of the play is violent: there are rows and tensions...a nerve-wracking discussion by Pig's psychiatrist about whether to make him/her into a male or female. But other notes were struck too, from the aimlessness of life in the asylum, to the tenderness of the mother holding the baby Pig in her arms, to the energetic posturing of Pig in front of the mirror, jabbering at the audience, fake penis in hand.

Unlike theatre that drearily keeps one actor to one part, uses representational scenery and effects as if people have no imaginations, Pig Tales demands one actor playing many parts, switching between song and speech, locations and time; the video screen is used to do what the live action cannot...

Deliberately disturbing, both emotionally and intellectually, but also tender and funny, the enthusiastic audience's reaction to Pig Tales suggests that socially-engaged drama is still a possibility."
James Ferguson, Poetry Express

" The most touching and effective piece of solo theatre I have witnessed in some time. . . the central jewel in this year's festival"
Brett Allen-Bayes dB Magazine, on FEAST Festival, Australia.

** Critics' Choice, Sunday Telegraph August 2003**
A First Class Show!
- Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh

" Julie McNamara eschews the realms of convention and confronts us with a highly-charged, emotive and semi-autobiographical performance.... From the outset, McNamara's startling stage presence and earthy dialogue demands attention" click here for full review
Catrina Macfie for Nerve.

"An awesome talent!
She eschewed simple explanations or political correctness...what made it so engaging was the compassion and skill with which McNamara played all the characters. Never leaving the stage, she transformed herself into the various characters, not just by a change of clothes but also by a change of physicality. Uncanny. I can't wait to see the show again!"
Ruth Bailey for Disability Now!

"Julie McNamara is a fabulously strong performer and the piece succeeded in challenging the audience intellectually and emotionally. Let's bring "Pig Tales" to Belfast"
Shannon Sickels, Playwright.

"Pig Tales was amazing. Better than I had anticipated. It examines issues around Gender, Queer stuff, the Mental Health Service and Anti Irish Racism, with shrewd investigation and great integrity. It works so well because she's been there."
Marie MulHolland, Journalist

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