Ourselves Alone

Synopsis

Belfast, 1980s. A city divided by walls both visible and invisible, where the rattle of gunfire is as familiar as the patter of rain

Frieda, an aspiring singer, finds her dreams at odds with her father’s unwavering support for the IRA. As she pursues a relationship with a Workers’ Party organiser, her sisters face their own struggles. Josie becomes entangled in an affair with an IRA leader, only to find herself pregnant by another man, while Donna clings to the hope of her imprisoned lover’s return, unaware of the harsh truths that await her.

Anne Devlin’s Ourselves Alone is a searing examination of women’s lives amidst the turmoil of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Set against the backdrop of a society fractured by political conflict, the play delves deep into the personal costs of living in a world where loyalty is demanded but rarely rewarded. Devlin’s nuanced portrayal of the three sisters offers a powerful commentary on the struggle for identity and self-determination in a landscape dominated by male-driven politics and violence. Through intimate, often heart-wrenching scenes, the play explores the tension between personal desires and familial expectations, the weight of unspoken truths, and the resilience required to forge one’s path in a world that seems to offer little choice.