Rose+Bud Digital Programme

A NEW PLAY BY

ROSE COOGAN

ROSE+BUD DIRECTED BY

BENJAMIN GOULD

www.commediaoferrors.co.uk

Rose+Bud

Derry Freshers’ Week, closeted Bud is in for a rollercoaster of tequila, tiaras and transitioning. Lucky they have Rose keeping them on the not-so-straight and narrow. This hilarious doubleact was described as the 'Queer Philadelphia, Here I Come' at Dublin Fringe. Witness this heartfelt and heartbreaking comingof-age story about transitioning from Belfast's superstar Rose Coogan. Join Rose and Bud as they discover what it means to be yourself, or maybe yourselves. 'A remarkable piece' (IrishNews.com).

'This production nails it' (AlanInBelfast.blogspot.com).

Written by Rose Coogan and directed by Benjamin Gould Rose+Bud is a heartfelt and heart-breaking, queer comedy about self-acceptance. Needed now more than ever, this semi-autobiographical piece shares a much-needed positive trans narrative.

Developed and produced in association with Lyric Theatre, Belfast. Orginially developed with Scene + Heard. Funded

by Arts Council NI. Main Photographer Jonny Fraser.

Production Shots Amanda Doherty

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Rose Coogan (she/her)

'Rose' and Playwright

Rose Coogan is a writer and comedian from Northern Ireland. Rose studied performing arts at Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry.

After graduating in 2020, Rose made her professional debut at Outburst Queer Arts Festival. Rose collaborated with Outburst for three years as part of their Transforming stages programme.

In 2021 Rose began writing her first play, Rose+Bud, as part of the Lyric New Playwrights Programme. This development lead to a successful tour of the production in 2024 to Dublin Fringe, the Lyric Theatre and the Derry Playhouse. Alongside her theatrical endeavours, Rose is also a well known stand up comedian in the NI scene and was recently shortlisted for the BBC New Comedy awards.

Conor Cupples ‘Bud’

(he/they)

Conor is an actor and theatre maker from West Belfast. Their work has a queer focus and they are a recipient of the 2024 SIAP award exploring Drag and Burlesque in performance.

Conor created their own show “He’s Perfect” which explored alt-right radicalisation through a queer lens. Debuting at the Dublin fringe festival and selling out its run with the Outburst queer arts festival in Belfast.

Conor will be returning to Belfast with a writing commission with Kabosh theatre company and performing a remount of Kat Woods award-winning show ‘Belfast Boy’ (Winner of The Stage Award for Excellence, The Fringe Review Award for Outstanding Theatre).Some recent credits include: Gadget Between Galaxies, Replay Theatre, Prometheus - Carbon Women, Dumbworld Theatre, Dion - “He’s Perfect”, Dublin Fringe and Outburst Arts Festival, Finn - A Kind of Spark, BBC iPlayer, Francis - Tracey, Short film Barry - The Talk, Short film (BAFTA Nominated)

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Benjamin Gould (he/him) Director

Benjamin founded Commedia of Errors in 2014 and is Artistic Director of the Company. He holds a BA (Hons) Drama (1st Class) from Liverpool Hope University, and an MA Professional Acting from Alra, London. His productions have toured across Ireland, the UK, Italy and the USA. He won the 2019 John Fernald Award for Emerging Directors in UK and Ireland and is a multiple Arts Council Northern Ireland and British Council Award winner.

Recent credits as director / producer include: "The Gap Year" (Lyric Theatre), "Lily" (VR Film), "The Gap Year" (1st Irish Festival, New York), "I Am Maura" (Lyric Theatre and NI Tour), "That Scottish Play!" (Lyric Theatre and NI Tour), "Women Troubles" (CQAF), "Shakespeare’s Women" (CQAF, Lyric Theatre and National Tour), "The Tain" (Milan, Italy and tour of Ireland) and "Romeo and Juliet" (Hen & Chickens, London).

As Assistant / Associate Director: "Three Sisters" (SITI Company, Singapore International Arts Festival), "Molly Sweeney" (Goodman Theatre Chicago), "Sweeney Todd" (NI Opera / Lyric Theatre), "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (Terra Nova).

Tracey Lindsay (she/her) Set Designer

Tracey trained at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth receiving a BA Honours in Drama and Scenography.

Recent design credits include, Set Design ‘Little Woman’ (Lyric Theatre); Set and Costume Design ‘The Headless Solider: An Opera Triptych’ (The Belfast Ensemble); Set Design ‘Rhino’ (Tinderbox Theatre Company); Set Design ‘The Hen Do’ (Martin Lynch & GBL Productions); Instillation art piece ‘The Molly Bed’ Arts Over Boarders.

Credits include, Set Design ‘Hume-Beyond Belief: The Life and Mission of John and Pat Hume’ (Playhouse, Derry); Set and Costume Design ‘Silent Trade’ (Kabosh Theatre Company); Set and Costume Design ‘Big Man’ (Lyric Theatre); Set and Costume Design ‘In The Name Of The Son -The Gerry Conlon Story’ (Green Shoot Productions) 3

Garth McConaghie Sound Designer (he/him)

Garth has worked extensively as a Composer, Sound Designer, Musical Director, Arranger and Music Producer for studios, theatre, film and television.

Recent TV/Radio Credits: Derry Girls (Hat Trick Productions, Channel 4), Flight (BBC 1 / BBC 4), My Mother and Other Strangers (BBC 1), Malaria, (BBC Comic Relief), and many more.

Recent Theatre Credits: The Night Before Christmas (MAC, Belfast), Burnt Out (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Rhino (Tinderbox Theatre Co.), and many more.

Ally McConnell Costume Desginer

(she/her)

Ally is a 21-year-old costume designer born, raised, and currently operating out of Belfast. Her passion began with her mother teaching her to sew from a young age. She went on to study Art and Drama at GCSE level and Production Design in college. She developed a fascination with how costume design can convey so much about a character, beyond just their actions and the world they inhabit. It reflects their outlook on life, motivations, feelings, true inner self, or the mask they wear. Telling a story through costume is her goal. After two years building her experience and skill set at the Lyric Theatre, learning from incredible, inspirational people, she is enthused to be designing this wonderful piece.

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Jonathan M. Daley (he/him) Lighting Designer

Jonathan is a writer, producer and lighting designer based in Belfast. Recent lighting design credits include: ‘All Growed Up’ (BYMT), ‘I Always Liked The Name Marcus’ (Tinderbox Theatre Company), ‘Holding Ground’ (Tinderbox Theatre Company), ‘Waiting For The Offo’ (Bosco Productions), ‘Mirrorball’ (Replay Theatre Company), ‘No Citation’ (Bourke Productions), and ‘The Untold Truth of Captain Hook’ (Replay Theatre Company).’ His upcoming work includes: ‘Rose + Bud’ (Commedia of Errors), ‘The Tragedy of Richard III’ (Lyric Theatre, Belfast) and ‘The Adventures of Red Riding Hood’ (The Mac, Belfast).

Clare McMahon Co-Creative (she/her)

Clare McMahon is a playwright and actor based in Belfast and is Co-Creative of Commedia of Errors. A graduate of the Lir Academy’s MFA Playwriting previous plays include: 'Shakespeare's Women' & 'Women Troubles', 'I Am Maura', 'Mary Ann McCracken', 'The Pirate Queen', and recently 'The Gap Year'. She manages marketing and development for CoET and has been a playwright mentor for Rose throughout this process.

Michael Curran-Dorsano (he/him) Company Manager

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Michael graduated from Juilliard and has been acting on stage, screen and behind the mic in the US, EU and UK for 15 years. In 2020, he received his MA in Writing at NUI Galway. His first full collection is slated for publication in 2026 with Wayfarer Books.

As an arts organizer, he co-founded independent soundstage and arts collective Cinema Collaboratorium, a community based resource sharing initiative for independent filmmakers.

He also initially consulted Headwaters Entertainment on their workforce development programs and co-op soundstage in Northern Minnesota. Here in Belfast, he served as Sales and Development officer at Retinize LTD, helping launch their groundbreaking VR based 3D animation software Animotive. 5

The Company British Theatre Guide's Highlight of 2022- 'The Gap Year'

Commedia of Errors is an award-winning independent theatre company based in Belfast, creating art that responds to, challenges and questions the changing times in which we live. Following on from their highly acclaimed and sell-out show I Am Maura and the smash-hit The Gap Year with the Lyric Theatre, the awardwinning organisation are making their Dublin debut before bringing the show home to Belfast & Derry.

SHAKESPEARE’S WOMEN 6

Support

Rose+Bud adds to the exceptionally small canon of trans work and trans voices being put on the stage across the UK & Ireland. We are proud to present a Northern Irish, trans, working class voice on an international platform in 2025. It's needed now more than ever. We'd love your support to get the play to Edinburgh.

Please visit our GoFundMe view the link below or send a friend in either Belfast or Edinburgh.

Visit the link or scan the QR code to donate. https://crowdfund.edfringe.com/p/help-get-rose-bud-to-edinburgh Rose+Bud plays at Bunker 1, The Pleasance Courtyard 25th July - 30th July, 1pm

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www.commediaoferrors.co.uk Reg Charity: NIC108049 Company Number: NI676327

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