Barry McStay

Barry McStay is an Irish writer and actor based in London.

His first play, Our Island (dir. Maisie Lee) ran at the Project Arts Centre at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2015. It was nominated for 5 Dublin Fringe Awards and shortlisted for a Writers Guild of Ireland Award. Vespertilio (dir. Lucy Jane Atkinson) was his UK debut play, winning a Show Of The Week Award at VAULT Festival 2019. It later ran at Smock Alley at the Dublin Fringe Festival in September 2019 before being streamed as part of King’s Head Theatre Plays On Film in April 2021. Other work includes Bir Tawil (dir. Caitriona McLaughlin, Druid Theatre, Galway International Arts Festival 2017) and The First (dir. Emily Jenkins, VAULT Festival 2020).

He has created interactive theatre games for Gideon Reeling and written short plays for Miniaturists and the Abbey Theatre. In 2018, he was one of 30 writers selected to create A Play For Ireland by Fishamble: The New Play Company and in 2021 his short play Come On You Boys In Green was named one of Fishamble’s Tiny Plays For A Brighter Future. His writing has been longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize, the Theatre 503 Playwriting Award and the Papatango Prize.

Barry has a BA (English Literature & History) from Trinity College Dublin and an MA (Acting) from East 15 Acting School. He co-hosts the podcast Worst Foot Forward.