An image of an actor on stage, wearing a spacesuit. The stage is darkly lit. There is a steel outline of a habitat behind the actor and to the left a lit exit tunnel.

Diary of a Martian Beekeeper

Co-created by Niamh Shaw and Sarah Baxter. Rory Gallagher Theatre, Cork, Science Week 2017. Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, Festival of Curiousity 2018.

One woman’s goal of being an astronaut makes for an imaginative space oddity. Show of the week. **** The Irish Mail on Sunday

The Diary of a Martian Beekeeper impressively marries science and theatre. This is an impressive marriage of science and theatre in a futuristic story that is not fanciful but based on real science and real experiences. Because although it is very accessible, futuristic and often humorous, it’s about real things, like relationships, and big topics: the future of humanity and challenges for the planet. - The Irish Times

It’s now 2036.

Niamh is on Mars and a member of Crew 173, on a long duration mission to investigate new ways of growing food in this arid foreign land. As their 2 year mission comes to an end, one crucial experiment remains for Niamh. But will she overcome her personal struggles or put the whole crew and the mission in danger?

A highly visual exploration of future interplanetary human exploration, Shaw and her creative team create a new world order, reminding us of the power of the collective, the fragility of the solitary human and the united will behind all major breakthroughs. Because we may one day leave the cradle of Earth, but we will always be human.

An actor in a space suit standing onstage. The set is a steel frame of a habitat and there is a tunnel on the left with a transparent cover and a light coming through it.
An actor onstage, mid dressing of a beekeepers suit. Behind the actor hangs a spacesuit. On the right there is a screen showing a footage of two people in beekeeper suits.
An actor mid jump, in dark exercise clothing. Above her on a screen is a video screen with a man on it. There is a steel frame set and costumes hanging.
An actor stands centre stage in a blue jumpsuit, mid conversation. There is a steel frame set and costumes hanging.

Cast: Niamh Shaw Voice cast: Dr. Michaela Musilova, Richard Blake, Brid Ní Chumhaill and Martin Maguire.

Creative: Co - created by Niamh Shaw and Sarah Baxter Director - Sarah Baxter Writer - Niamh Shaw Producer: Aoife White Set Designer - Ger Clancy Costume Design - Sarah Baxter and Niamh Shaw Lighting and Sound Designer - Bill Woodland AV Design - Áine O’Hara  Stage Manager - Sinead Heavin Production Manager - Eoin Kilkenny Contributors: Paolo Nespoli (ESA), Bob Thirsk (CSA), Aidan Cowley, Jon Scott, Romain Charles, Patrick Jaekel and Antonio Fortunato (ESA)

Photography by Ros Kavanagh

Created in collaboration with CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, ESERO Ireland, European Space Agency & ESA Astronaut Centre.  Funded by Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme 2017 and Dublin City Council.

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