Award winning writer, actor and director.
“In no time Bowden has you eating out of her hand, serving up a one woman performance of utter charm”
Upcoming shows
Plus (N)one
Written and performed by Daragh Cushen, directed by Rosa Bowden.
Union Theatre, London SE1 0LR.
18th May 2026, 8:30pm.
About me and my work
I’m a theatre-maker from Dublin based between Dublin and London. I make work bold work that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. My play Frigid, which I wrote and perform in, debuted at Dublin Fringe Festival in 2022. It won the prestigious Bewley’s Little Gem Award and was nominated for Best New Play and Best Performer at the Festival. In 2023, I performed it at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Underbelly Cowgate, to sellout audiences and to critical acclaim. I’ve toured the play extensively around Ireland with performances at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre Dublin, Civic Theatre Tallaght, Blackbox Theatre Belfast, Cleere’s Kilkenny and Ballina Fringe Festival. In 2025, I performed it at Electric Picnic, Ireland’s largest music and arts festival.
As an actor, I am experienced in comedy and solo performance. I appeared as Don Murphy in Eva O’Connor and Hildegard Ryan’s hit play Chicken at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024, supported by Culture Ireland.
I’m an accomplished director and have worked with writers to help bring their work to the stage. Credits include Plus (N)one by Daragh Cushen, Union Theatre London; I AM SAILOR! by Clara Harte, Rosemary Branch Theatre London; Sepondment by Sinead Brady, Camden People’s Theatre London, Derby Theatre and Belgrade Theatre Coventry; Get RREEL by Eva O’Connor at Vault Festival London and Edinburgh Fringe Festival; Free EU Roaming by Rule of Three Collective at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre and Dublin Fringe Festival.
I co-founded BUMP&GRIND Theatre Company and directed and co-wrote the company’s debut show Bump at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017. I have a MA in Theatre Practice from the Gaiety School of Acting and UCD. In 2025 I trained in clowning at Ecole Philippe Gaulier in Paris.
When I’m not making theatre, I’m busy working as Content Production Manager at digital health platform Healthily. I have a beautiful black cat called Willow and spend a lot of time vying for her love. I also love cooking, yoga and dancing with my pals.
Poster for ‘Frigid’ at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre. Photo: Nicholas O’Donnell. Design: Sophie Fuller
Production shot from ‘Frigid’, photo: Hazel Coonagh
Sinead Brady in Sepondment, directed by me.
Rosa Bowden in Chicken at Summer Hall, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024.
Get RREEL by Eva O’Connor. Vault Festival 2019. Directed by me. Photo: Ali Wright.
Reviews
“Bowden’s sharply written script is from Niamh’s sardonic, dreamy perspective, and her performance is evocative and physical.”
“She’ll make you laugh with embarrassment, then cry from nostalgia, then laugh all over again.”
— Euronews
“Frigid is easily the funniest show I’ve seen at this year’s Fringe and should be seen by anyone who loves comedy, Irish accents, and/or Rihanna’s third album.”
— The Student
“Frigid is an amazing comedy, with heart wrenching and tender moments, and a brilliant atmosphere all round.”
“Bowden puts in a first-class performance, impressively inhabiting each character and marrying accents and physicality to great comedic effect, while also packing a punch in more serious moments.”
— Fest Mag
“Bowden has the audience captivated by her storytelling. She flips between characters effortlessly and brings each one alive.”
— The Indiependent