Comedic giants, performance legends and bone fide national treasures; Panti Bliss and Tara Flynn go back to back with two new solo shows in one hilarious and moving night out. Ripping up the Peacock stage at the Abbey Theatre this November is a soaring double bill from two celebrated artists who have contributed to Ireland’s extraordinary recent social change and brought down the houses with their smash hit shows.

Directed by Phillip McMahon, Haunted by Tara Flynn and If These Wigs Could Talk by Panti Bliss close off an extraordinary 15-year anniversary year from theatre renegades THISISPOPBABY.

HAUNTED by Tara Flynn

What happens when you hit the floor and lose all of your marbles?
Ask Tara Flynn: a fame-adjacent actor turned advocate for the campaign to Repeal Ireland’s 8th amendment. Y’know: Mouthy.

The country voted Yes and the whirlwind of publicity and abuse came to an end, and crashing to the floor is where Tara found herself. Down there, she realised the whirlwind had conveniently kept her from dealing with the death of her dad. Nothing for it now but to face it. All of it.

In her father’s long life, he saw Ireland change beyond recognition – hardly anyone smokes in the car anymore! But how much have things really changed? Have we really made any progress since the time of Biddy Early, the wise woman from Clare? Or are familiar stories destined to be re-rold and re-told; the past and ourselves practically touching.

This is one woman’s journey back from the floor. A funny, moving tale of grief, campaigning for civil rights, the offline impact of online abuse, crashing to the ground and fighting to tell your own story. It’s a story of resilience… and a search for marbles!

“Essential viewing, and a joy to watch” – The Irish Times [on Not A Funny Word]

IF THESE WIGS COULD TALK by Panti Bliss

Over seven years since Pantigate, Ireland’s Marriage Equality Referendum, and the international smash hit High Heels In Low Places, Panti is shaking out her oversized wigs and reboning her corset to bring her unique brand of ridiculous anecdotes to the Peacock Stage.

This November, If These Wigs Could Talk meets Panti, a drag queen at 53, after a lifetime of showbiz, shenanigans and making a show of herself, taking this moment to question what her purpose and place in the world is now. Via salacious stories, impassioned polemics, some seriously funny soul searching and a few unvarnished truths, Panti takes us from rural Mayo to London’s glittering West End to the Ambassador’s residence in Vienna, where along the way the answer to the question presents itself when she least expects it.

Panti warmly invites you to learn from her mistakes, laugh at her failures, and revel in her triumphs.


“Exquisitely tart-tongued comedy… electrically revealing and masterful.” ***** The Irish Times [on High Heels in Low Places]

Both shows are directed by Phillip McMahon, long-time collaborator of both Panti and Tara Flynn and co-director of THISISPOPBABY’s recent smash hit, WAKE.

Creative Team – Haunted

Written & Performed by Tara Flynn
Directed by Phillip McMahon
Set Design & Costume by Molly O’Cathain
Lighting Design by Sinéad McKenna
Sound Design by Jenny O’Malley
Produced by Jennifer Jennings and Laura Rigney
Graphic Design by Niall Sweeney, Pony Ltd
Publicity Image by Patricio Cassinoni
Promotional video by Olga Kuzmenko

Creative Team – If These Wigs Could Talk

Written & Performed by Panti Bliss
Directed by Phillip McMahon
Set Design by Molly O’Cathain
Costume Design by James David Seaver
Lighting Design by Sinead McKenna
Sound Design by Jenny O’Malley
Associate Director Chris Moran
Produced by Jennifer Jennings and Laura Rigney
Graphic Design by Niall Sweeney, Pony Ltd
Publicity Image by Patricio Cassinoni
Promotional video by Olga Kuzmenko