Dublin Theatre Festival 2025: What Are You Afraid Of?

Peter Hanly in What Are You Afraid Of? Image, Ros Kavanagh

*****

What are you afraid of? Actor Peter Hanly is afraid of blanking, or drying. Terms used to describe when an actor forgets their lines. Not that Hanly, once one of the countries most sought after actors, ever blanked in a thirty year career. But for some inexplicable reason he began to fear he might. Beginning with a production at The Gate of Molly Sweeney in 2011, later mutating into TV and movie roles. So severe he began walking away from projects, costing him an income, a career, a sense of vocation and a sense of self. In What Are You Afraid Of? Hanly attempts to understand his crippling anxiety. If understanding proves elusive, Hanly’s relentless efforts still lead towards a possible new beginning.

It's a clever conceit, one of many, Hanly being called onstage by an angry stage manager from where he sits in the audience. He's not meant to be in plays anymore. And yet, here he is, onstage, in a play he wrote. With an imaginary grandfather who serves as a supporting guardian angel, lovingly rendered by Domhnall Herdman, and a rota of judges, counsellors and questionable healers made infinitely engaging by a superb Niamh McAllister. The blind leading the blinded as they try help Hanly understand his fear of the scrutinising spotlight, his parent's progressive dementia, or imagining being naked on stage before a live audience. Needing to clutch his script like a security blanket, or be supported by cleverly inserted screens with surtitles just out of the audience’s direct view. Hanly worried his obsessive focus on recalling words, rather than on what lies beneath them, will impact on his performance. On his of sense of self. He is an actor. That's all he’s ever wanted. But God, it’s become exhausting. Virtually impossible. How can you change what can’t be changed, or find the wisdom to know the difference?

Peter Hanly, Domhnall Herdman and Niamh McAllister in What Are You Afraid Of? Image, Ros Kavanagh

Echoing Hanly’s directness and simplicity, set and lights by Zia Bergin-Holly, a text heavy video design by Eoin Robinson and simple, effective costumes by Sorcha Ní Fhloinn add to a sense of pared back vulnerability. Beautifully teased out by Lynne Parker’s delicate direction, crafting a delightfully easy-going, yet powerfully engaging piece of docu-theatre. You might argue it’s the equivalent of watching someone else’s drama therapy. Reinforcing ideas of anxiety as something that can never be healed. A theory up for debate given Hanly appears to have found the worst possible charlatans to support him; MacAllister hilarious whilst working on his aura. But if you can make the argument, you'd be hard pushed to make it stick. Also, it’s the wrong argument. The clue hidden in the title: what are you afraid of? A series of red cards distributed before the performance invite the audience to anonymously write down their own fears, a selection of which are read aloud. Making it clear anxiety is not an exception, it's the rule. Only when crippling does it become noticeable. Mostly we muddle through, like functioning alcoholics. Till we can’t. Leading to even larger questions as to why and what to do when rendered powerless? How do you go on when you can’t go on? Not understanding what anxiety is, why it happened, how to make it go away?

Ordinarily, confessional autobiographies speak after the event, when the protagonist has overcome their issue or obstacle. In What Are You Afraid Of? you're right in the thick of it. The hunt for healing, the idea that it might be achieved still ongoing. There might be no immediate answer but Hanly’s refusal of powerlessness through courageous acceptance opens a way forward. You cannot change what you have not honestly accepted. Living in honest, daily engagement with anger, rage, panic, humour, hope, bewilderment, confusion, loneliness Hanly's ongoing struggle is manifest onstage. His battle fought in the very arena he strives to avoid. Bearing his wounds, joys and terrors without the protection of a character to hide behind. And it is beautiful, brave and breathtaking. Originally premiering at this years Kilkenny Arts Festival, you’d be hard pressed to find a performance that asks more of itself, or gives more of itself. What Are You Afraid Of? A privilege to behold.

What Are You Afraid Of? By Peter Hanly, presented by Rough Magic and Kilkenny Arts Festival runs at Smock Alley Theatre as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 2025 until October 4.

For more information visit Dublin Theatre Festival 2025