Neysa Killeen has taken some time out to chat ahead of her performance at the Lambeth Fringe this weekend.

The name of the show is “Irish Storytelling for Children” and you can find me at Vauxhall City Farm at 1 pm on the 4th of October. 

 

What was the inspiration behind your show? 

I’m inspired by the incredible folklore and rich storytelling tradition of Ireland. I grew up with these stories and I’ve met great storytellers who make words come alive. I wanted to be part of that ancient tradition and encourage children to become storytellers too. For this performance, I’m focusing specifically on Ireland’s most iconic tales: How Cú Chulainn Got His Name, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, The Salmon of Knowledge, and Oisín i dTír na nÓg (Land of Youth). 

   

How long has your production been in progress?

“Officially” since March 2025, but it really began when I heard these stories as a child. 

 

Where are planning on taking the play next?

Everywhere! I’ve been really fortunate and a lot of Irish centres and libraries have reached out and booked me. So far, I’ve been in Manchester, London, Buxton, and Leeds but there are lots more shows so keep an eye on my instagram @IrishStorytellingforChildren. 

 

 What would you like audiences to take away from your show? 

That anyone can be a storyteller and that stories are for everyone. Also, that it’s important to protect the arts or they will be lost. 

 

What are you looking forward to most about performing your show? 

Meeting children. Every single time I’ve performed this, a really clever child has put their hand up and asked a question that I haven’t thought of before.  That’s exciting for me because it makes me think about the stories in new ways, and it keeps me on my toes. 

 

Why did you choose your particular Fringe venue?

London has a huge Irish diaspora, so I couldn’t leave them out. Vauxhall City farm is an accessible and family friendly venue. Also, there are lots of cool animals so it’s a great day out. 

 

 Which shows at the Fringe are you planning on watching?

I’m excited to see Jude Simpson’s A Noise Annoys. It’s a poetry show for kids and she’s an amazing musician.A Noise Annoys is also on at Vauxhall City Farm on the 4th of October. 

 

 

 Have you had any major hurdles to overcome to get this production on the stage? 

It’s challenging for emerging artists at the moment. I created this show around my full-time job, so I didn’t have much free time for a couple of months. I was really fortunate because Z-arts in Manchester gave me a lot of support-in-kind. I got dramaturgical feedback from their team and I also got to share my first version of the show with the Brightsparks children, which were the most important opinions of all! 

https://lambethfringe.com/events/irish-storytelling-for-children

Instagram: @IrishStorytellingforChildren and @Neysa_Killeen