A humorous and heartbreaking story of courage, family, and what it takes to move forward
Critically acclaimed play Unreconciled comes to Dublin this autumn for special performances at Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, County Wicklow on 21 October at 8pm and Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire on 3 November at 8pm.
Written by Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill and performed by Jay Sefton, Unreconciled is a solo tour de force that dares to stand up to an institution and fight for justice.
At thirteen, Jay Sefton dreamed of being an actor and was cast as Jesus in the school Passion Play directed by the parish priest, who was later defrocked and named in a grand jury report for the sexual abuse of minors. Galvanizing audiences internationally, Unreconciled is told with unflinching honesty and surprising humor. Incorporating actual VHS footage from the 1985 Passion Play, the 80-minute production exposes a wider system that denies justice to survivors, while taking audiences on a journey through love and bewilderment in a sports-crazed suburb of 1980s Philadelphia.
Moving between more than a dozen characters, and covering the span of thirty-three years, Sefton uses the craft and intimacy of live theatre to invite audiences to experience a powerful piece of storytelling. “As the show unfurls, Sefton’s transformations dazzle, and the pacing of the production is as precisely mapped as the best poetry.” (America: The Jesuit Review). Rather than offering easy answers, Unreconciled asks audiences to consider what reconciliation can mean when the past cannot simply be undone?
Hailed by critics and audiences, Unreconciled is the winner of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association Award for Best New Play and Best Solo Performance. British Theatre Guide praised the production as “laden with powerful, heart-stopping moments.” The National Catholic Reporter calls Unreconciled: “Theatre at its finest,” saying it “will make you laugh, think, cry and seethe.”
Jay Sefton, co-writer and performer of Unreconciled, said:
“Bringing Unreconciled to Dublin is deeply meaningful to me. This is a story that began as something I carried privately for many years, and theatre has given me a way to share it — not simply as a story of trauma, but as an entertaining piece of theatre that fights for justice. I have no idea if the legislation will ever change in Pennsylvania, but I don’t feel helpless, unseen, or not heard anymore. I hope when other survivors see the show they also feel seen. Their stories matter. Their voices matter.”
Co-writer of Unreconciled Mark Basquill, commented:
“Writing Unreconciled with Jay has been an extraordinary journey. At its heart is an intensely personal story, but the themes reach far beyond one individual experience. It asks questions about what happens when we revisit the past, what accountability means, and whether reconciliation is possible when the damage cannot simply be undone. Theatre has a remarkable ability to bring people together around difficult subjects. Our hope is that audiences will experience the humour, humanity and pain within Jay’s story, and leave with something to think about, and perhaps something they feel able to talk about.”
Unreconciled Dublin Tour
- Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray: Wednesday 21 October 2026 at 8pm. This performance will be followed by a post-show panel discussion, featuring guest Chris Moore, award winning BBC Investigative Journalist. For tickets and further information visit Mermaid Arts Centre.
- Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire: Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 8pm. This performance will be followed by a post-show discussion with One in Four founder, ex-Amnesty International Ireland director and former Senator Colm O’Gorman. For tickets and further information visit Pavilion Theatre.
