Cara Christie: ‘This play highlights how autism presents differently in women, often masked and under-recognised’
Writer, actor and theatremaker Cara Christie’s play Brambles is a tender, honest look at autism, family, and the stories that shape us. She speaks with us about finding inspiration in human behaviour and exploring what it’s like growing up neurotypical alongside someone who experiences the world so differently.
Cork actor, writer and voice over artist Cara Christie is about to present her sophomore production on stage at The New Theatre as part of Dublin Fringe Festival. Entitled Brambles, the story follows newly reacquainted sisters Holly and Claire, who have been thrust back together and how they negotiate living with each other as adults.
As Claire digs into their family’s past, Holly’s busy burying her own, while Holly’s partner Glen just wants to move forward. As old wounds resurface, this sharp, heartfelt drama asks: are we protecting those we love, or just shielding ourselves?
Was a career in the arts something you always aspired to?
In school, I always enjoyed the more creative subjects like English and Art. Outside school, I adored youth theatre so I knew it may have been something like journalism or studying English. But when I heard I could train to be an actor at university, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.
How did you venture into becoming an actor, writer and voice over artist?
I started in youth theatre when I was ten and always wrote stories growing up. After school I auditioned for the Bachelor in Acting Studies in the Samuel Beckett Centre at Trinity College but I didn’t get it. I got a place in UCC studying Drama and Theatre Studies and after a year I auditioned for the Trinity course again.
This time I got it so I dropped out of UCC and moved to Dublin. Once I graduated I focused on acting and voice overs. Just before lockdown I read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, which opened up other ways to be creative and I revisited writing. Because of that, I wrote my first play Influenced, followed by Brambles.
Tell us about Brambles. How would you describe the show?
Brambles is a funny, heartfelt show about repair. It follows the unexpected reuniting of two sisters, Holly and Claire, who have been thrust back together and how they negotiate living with each other as adults. Old wounds resurface as a Bram Stoker obsession takes them through Dublin and their past while Holly’s partner Glen just wants to plan for the future. It’s about identity, sisterhood and the stories that shape us.
The story was inspired by your own upbringing, the relationship between neurodiverse and neurotypical siblings. Tell us about translating that lived experience into a show.
Growing up, I watched my younger brother navigate a world that didn’t speak his language, until I learned in late childhood that he was autistic. That knowledge resonated long after I moved from Cork to Dublin at 19. The physical distance between us opened up a new emotional, unspoken space, filled with missed moments. With Brambles, I wanted to explore this space; what it’s like growing up neurotypical alongside someone who experiences the world so differently. What would it look like if siblings like this had spent years apart to be thrust back living together, all while negotiating their own personal challenges? I wanted to highlight how autism presents differently in women, often masked and under-recognised, so Brambles became a story about sisters.
What is the best part of your job?
As a writer, seeing it all come to life when it has been sitting in my head for years. As an actor, being able to laugh, fail and succeed in the rehearsal room with such brilliant collaborators.
Who is someone you look up to in the world of Irish theatre?
Cork actors like Fiona Shaw and Eileen Walsh and the incredible careers they have built.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Writing, producing and acting in my first short film, which I made surrounded by my amazing friends, husband and collaborators.
What is one thing you wish everyone knew about working in the arts?
Learning lines is a muscle. The more you practice, the better you get (though it can still feel like homework).
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone hoping to have a career in the arts?
Make your own work.
Cara Christie’s life in culture
The last thing I saw and loved… The Misanthrope by Sugarglass Theatre.
The book I keep coming back to… The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
I find inspiration in… Human behaviour.
My favourite film is… Mean Girls.
The song I listen to to get in the zone is… ‘Work Bitch’ by Bitney Spears.
The last artist I recommended is… Ed Williamson, an ex rugby player turned fine artist.
I never leave the house without… My phone.
The film/performance/piece of work etc. I still think about is… Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More.
My dream job would be… acting with Andrew Scott, Carey Mulligan or Michelle Williams.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… Be yourself, you can’t be anyone else.
The art (book/film/performance/show etc.) that means the most to me is… a commissioned Karen Lee painting of the lighthouse in Cascais, Portugal where my husband and I got married.
The most challenging thing about being on stage is… remembering all those lines.
After a show, I… pop out to any friends and family that were in.
If I wasn’t working in the arts, I would be… a journalist or a personal trainer.
The magic of theatre to me is… the shared live experience that can never be replicated.
Photography by Natalia Kostrzewa and Paul Donegan.
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