David Ireland in conversation with Donald Smith

‘The Fifth Step’ is David Ireland’s grimly comic and provocative play about recovery, intimacy and faith. It was produced in 2024 by National Theatre of Scotland, and after a short run, transferred to @sohoplace, where it was produced by Playful Productions and Neal Street, starring Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden. In the play, Luka, newly arrived at Alcoholics Anonymous, is searching for a sponsor, and James, older and long established in the programme, seems the ideal guide through the twelve steps. Ireland’s recent ITV drama ‘Coldwater’ (2025), also explores gripping themes of faith, masculinity, mistrust and secrecy, taking place within a small and intimate Scottish community. The event will be chaired by festival favourite Donald Smith, and the two will speak about the themes, questions and ideas that run throughout all Ireland’s work.

In association with the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

David Ireland is an actor, playwright and scriptwriter, born in Belfast and trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is the writer of several celebrated plays, from ‘What the Animals Say’ (Oran Mor, 2011) to his recent ‘Most Favoured’ (Soho Theatre, 2025). He was Playwright-in-Residence at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast in 2012 and went on to win the Meyer Whitworth Award in 2012 for his second play, ‘Everything Between Us’ (Tinderbox Theatre Company, Belfast). In 2016 ‘Cyprus Avenue’ played in Dublin, London and New York, winning the Irish Times Award for Best New Play and the James Tait Black Award in 2017. In 2018, ‘Ulster American’ (Traverse Theatre) won a Scotsman Fringe First and the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play, and was revived in London in 2023, featuring Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland. His more recent works include  ‘The Fifth Step' (National Theatre of Scotland, 2024; Playful Productions and Neal Street), and 'Most Favoured’ (Soho Theatre, 2025), starring Lauren Lyle and Alexander Arnold. He has also written two TV series: ‘The Lovers’ (Sky Atlantic, 2023) and ‘Coldwater’, featuring Andrew Lincoln (ITV, 2025). As an actor, he is best known for playing Clare's Dad in ‘Derry Girls’.

Donald Smith is a storyteller of Scotland and noted performer. Inspired by his time at the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh, Donald became Director of The Netherbow Arts Centre and founding Director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre. In 2023 he received the Hamish Henderson Award for lifetime service to the Scottish arts. He is a longstanding activist in Earth Charter International, and co-founder of The Earth Stories Collection. Donald has written or co-authored nearly forty publications ranging from culture and religion, and literature of place, to fiction, drama and theatre history.