Edinburgh Fringe Chats (#40): Conor O’Dwyer, HOMO(SAPIEN)

30 Jun

As anticipation builds for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, we’re catching up with a range of exciting creatives preparing to bring their work to the world’s largest arts festival this August. In this series, we delve into the stories behind the shows, the inspiration driving the artists, and what audiences can expect.

Today, we’re joined by Conor O’Dwyer to chat about his show Homo(sapien).

Can you begin by telling us about your show and what inspired it?

Absolutely! Homo(sapien) is a messy, chaotic dark comedy solo-show. Joey’s never had sex, he’s never left his hometown, and he feels like a ‘Bad Gay’. After imagining himself dying a virgin, he pursues a hapless quest to get his hole before it’s too late. What follows is one chaotic weekend full of sexy hurlers, apparitions of Jesus and regrettable choices. It’s a play that takes shame by the scruff of the neck and turns it into something tender, funny, and definitely joyful. Homo(sapien) is a coming-of-age confessional about growing up gay in Catholic Galway — one man, one mesh top, one holy mess.

The play isn’t autobiographical, but it was inspired by my experience growing up gay and Catholic in Galway, in the West of Ireland. Despite external conditions, like family, community, etc not being actively oppressing, I still struggled so much with my own sexuality growing up .I think as queer people, we have to go on a journey in uprooting the shame that’s implanted within us as children, in order to come into our own. I wanted to tell that story, from the perspective of someone who never got to leave their small town, or break free from that shame. Someone who’s oppressed within the confines of themselves. Someone who blames the world for his problems because it’s harder to look inwards. That all sounds dark and heavy, but I also was inspired to tell this story in the funnest, messiest way possible, and I think that’s what Homo(sapien) does!

What made you want to bring this work to the Fringe this year?

This is my first ever show as a writer, and my wise director, Jen McGregor, told me early into the process that ‘you can only debut your debut once’. This has stuck with me. Although I’ve been working on this script for two / three years and cooking the story for even longer, this is the first time it feels ready. We had the opportunity to bring it to the Fringe last year, and a part of me really wanted to, but it didn’t feel quite ready. I’m so glad I waited because this year we had great support - extra support from Creative Scotland, more redrafts, more time to rehearse, and we got to test the show out at the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival and we came away with the award for Best New Writing. The show’s been given the time it needed, and now it’s ready! I couldn’t be more excited.

How would you describe your show in three words?

Messy, sacred, rollercoaster!

What do you hope audiences take away from watching your performance?

As much as the play is super gay, it’s also very human (hence the title!). I want audiences to see themselves reflected in parts of the experience, whatever that looks like for each individual.

What’s your top tip for surviving the Fringe?

This sounds very boring but having performed in full runs of other playwrights’ work for the last three years, my top tip is to manage your energy! Don’t peak too soon! Especially if you’re doing the full run as a performer. You’ve got to take care of your instrument. Rest, lotsa water, warmups and early nights. I’m always partial to a drink and a dance of a weekend but over the Fringe I go tee-total. Proper Taylor Swift singing on the treadmill energy. Although you best believe we’re getting red wine silly at the wrap party!

Where and when can people see your show?

Homo(sapien) is on for the full run of the Fringe, from the 30th July - 24th of August every day (excl. 12th & 19th) at 1.10pm at The Snug in Assembly Roxy. See you there!