As a visual storyteller and mental health-informed artist, photographing Nancy Boy Shenanigans by Micheál Kerrigan felt less like documentation and more like translation. My images did not just record. Instead, they echoed. Ultimately, this production was more than narrative. It was reclamation, defiance, and lived truth for LGBTQ+ communities in Northern Ireland and beyond. Therefore, my camera was not there to observe. It was there to participate. To feel. To echo.
The cast features a single performer: Andy Doherty. Through his craft, he shifts between characters with ease. As the story unfolds, he guides the audience from 1972 to 1975 through the eyes of Michael Kerrigan. Along the way, the narrative follows Michael’s first steps into the Gay Rights movement at Trinity College. As such, it is personal history. Moreover, it is collective awakening.
Capturing Queer Resistance
From the outset, it was clear this production did not seek palatability. Instead, it was raw, intimate, and unapologetically queer. Visually, the lead image—an anonymous figure facing a wall with shadows stretching long behind—symbolised the tension between shame and strength. Meanwhile, the boots left behind, with a handwritten note, stood as a marker. Together, they signalled departure from societal expectations. At the same time, they marked preparation to step into truth.
Liminality, Power, and Poetics
Much of the visual story focused on the in-between—the liminal spaces where queerness often lives. After all, theatre itself is already liminal. However, this production added visceral physicality to that threshold. The body became a battleground. The stage became shelter. The audience became witness. In response, my role as photographer was to meet that emotional pulse with equal vulnerability.
Working with the Cast and Crew
The production team’s openness allowed space for experimentation. Consequently, we worked with minimal lighting to heighten contrast and emotional texture. Furthermore, my background in photographing trauma-informed projects guided my approach. With this in mind, I entered each scene with empathy and attentiveness. Above all, I ensured the cast felt seen rather than exposed.
Reflective Note
This was not just another theatre shoot. On the contrary, it became an emotional act of solidarity. For me personally, as someone navigating recovery, identity, and creativity, this collaboration offered a chance to see not only performance but also truth in motion.
F.A.Q
Q: Who photographed Nancy Boy Shenanigans?
A: Teresa Lyle captured both promotional photographs and video for the production.
Q: What is the theme of Nancy Boy Shenanigans?
A: The play explores queer identity, shame, and resilience in a raw, performative setting.
Nancy Boy Shenanigans was directed by JP Conaghan, produced by Shá Gillespie, designed by Caoimhe Sweeney, with costumes by Sara Ní Chuireain, stage management by Grace Doherty, and written by Michael Kerrigan.
Further Reading
1. Historical & Local Context
“Nancy Boy Shenanigans: A Play Reading with Micheál Kerrigan”
Insights from a reading event with the playwright and live music, offering deeper context into the creative process. Visit Derry · Wikipedia
“Michael Kerrigan’s New Play ‘Nancy Boy Shenanigans’… Focuses on his Role in the Battle for Gay Rights”
This review places the play within the 1970s Derry and Trinity context, tracing Kerrigan’s journey from civil rights protestor to gay rights pioneer. It grounds the narrative in both personal and political struggles. International Journal of Communication · Derry Journal
“Review: Nancy Boy Shenanigans – A Beacon of LGBTQAI+ Theatre”
This critique highlights the show’s emotional resonance, minimalist staging, and its ability to provoke both laughter and tears. Derry Journal
Academic Perspectives on Queer Masculinity & Theatre
- “Masculinity and Queerness” (Aurora Center, UMN)
Explores how toxic norms marginalise queer men. This framework helps interpret Kerrigan’s defiance of heteronormative masculinity. aurora.umn.edu · PMC - “Reported Effects of Masculine Ideals on Gay Men” (PMC, Sánchez, 2009)
A study of how gay men navigate social pressures around masculinity, relevant to Kerrigan’s performative choices. PMC · International Journal of Communication - “Tackling Toxic Masculinity through Musical Comedy”
While centred on musical theatre, this thesis provides parallels in using performance to challenge masculinity norms. capartscentre.com
3. Theatre, Masculinity & Inclusive Identity
“Not Just for Gays Anymore: Men, Masculinities and Musical Theatre” (Lovelock, 2017)
Examines stereotypes of masculinity in musical theatre and how LGBTQ+ performers subvert them, echoing themes in Nancy Boy Shenanigans. University of Birmingham
“Unpacking Asian Queer Masculinity in Theatre and Cinema”
Offers a postcolonial lens on queer masculinities, resonating with Kerrigan’s portrayal of marginalised identities. International Journal of Communication
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