A coming of age story set in 1990s Belfast, Amanda Verlaque’s autobigraphical play This Sh*t Happens All The Time centres queer love in the face of homophobic bullying. Mixing comedic and touching recollections with an unsettling account of coercive control, this true story highlights underlying threats of violence often faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
For those that were there, the play’s opening brings the audience straight back to the 80s, with our dugaree-clad heroine singing her heart out to Madonna. 15 years old and living in conservative Belfast, she tries to make sense of a church that rants against the “sin” of homosexuality and how to stay safe in a society that wants her to conform.
Catriona McFeely gives a strong, compelling performance: bright and likeable, with plenty of emotional depth. As her character comes of age in the era of Section 28, she goes to Queens University, unsure of herself and with a seriously underdeveloped gaydar. With the help of her new best friend – a confident, uncompromising Dubliner – she sets out to “light her lesbian headlights” and take her first steps into the dating world.
From the relatable start of a relationship, where stomach butterflies and insecurities abound, McFeely shows both her character’s vulnerability and hopefullness. She falls madly in love with an older student, who seems unwilling to be fully out and still has an unhealthy codependancy with her ex-boyfriend. She is made to feel left out, and can’t shake the feeling that there is something badly wrong with the dynamic – but this is young love, and she tries to make it work as best she can.
This is a thoughtfully written play, dramatically realised by McFeely with skillfull direction from Rhiann Jeffrey. Given the title, more weight could perhaps be given to fact that this shit is “happening all the time”, rather than a fairly brief link made at the end, however it is Verlaque’s story, and the paralells are easy to draw.
There is an air of menace to this piece, which is perfectly executed. Although this is ostensibly about the dynamics of the relationship between McFeely, the girlfriend and her ex, the overarching threat of violence to women and queer people is ever-present, from school days to her adult life. Often the character has to trade silence and invisibility for a feeling of safety, something that is incredibly resonant and relevant, both then and now. When McFeely finally stands up for herself despite the risk of real harm, the audience hold their collective breath.
By Deborah Klayman
This Sh*t Happens All The Time plays at Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh until August 25th, 2025.