Rock, punk, pop, politics and poverty collide in coming of age tale set in recession torn Britain
In the 2007 credit crunch siblings Sarah and Jamie are growing up in Belfast with a shared obsession of music and the weight of parents on the breadline. Rock, pop, and punk rail against austerity Britain and an ever-failing government, giving them an epic score to navigate lives that are destined for different paths. Generation spanning songs by Oasis, The Jam, Thin Lizzy, Bruce Springsteen, Sam Fender and more scream at the state of
the nation, tugging at the memories of what it means to grow up on benefits in a country where poverty became a punchline. Benefits Britain never sounded so good…
Anthem for Dissatisfaction, written and co-directed by Gina Donnelly, is touring the south east of England in November. It follows Sarah and Jamie from boisterous 11-year olds to the end of their 20s as they contemplate their futures. Jamie is the baby of the family. He has absolutely no tact, no patience and no filter. But where did they ever get anyone? Sarah is 11 months and 4 days older which means she’s smarter, she’s cooler and she’s right about everything.
She was right that Oasis were freedom, she was right that Manic Street Preachers were poetry, and she was right to be worried when dad lost his job. And in 2023 everything’s going wrong again, the bills keep going up and the opportunities keep going down. Sarah and Jamie aren’t two kids in one bedroom anymore, the future is uncertain and there’s only so long you can hang on to the past.
In 2025 the show was a huge award-winning success at the Edinburgh and Dublin Fringe festivals. It was written by Gina Donnelly of SkelpieLimmer productions who co-directed alongside Brassneck Theatre Artistic Director Tony Devlin. It stars Emily Lamey and Simon Sweeney. ‘Co-director Tony Devlin said
‘Gina’s play is an explosion of working-class frustration against a system, specifically designed for them not to succeed. It’s a powerful and hilarious commentary of the cost of living status quo as well as the current state of chassis in the world, told through two characters that we cannot help but love and wish to succeed’.
A defiant “rip-roaring tour de force” fuelled by the music and people who speak to your soul and punch you in the gut. The play by Gina Devlin rejoices in working-class wit, integrity and disarming honesty. Never afraid to tackle the subjects including loss, death and grief it also sparkles with a joyful, mischievous humour that has audiences laughing, cheering and singing along.
The original run of ‘Anthem for Dissatisfaction’ was commissioned by Brassneck Theatre Company through ACNI Commissioning Fund and co-produced by Brassneck Theatre Company and SkelpieLimmer Productions.
This tour is under the umbrella of the House South East Theatre network see their website for tickets and further information
‘Words can’t do justice to how good Anthem for Dissatisfaction is.’ The Indiependent ★★★★★
Picture above (c) Bernie McAllister *** Poster below (c) Lara Craig Design
