Auntie Empire: Disaster Plan

Auntie is a sweet old dear. All she wants is to regale us with tales of dear old Blighty, but her body is falling to bloody bits. Oh dear. Somebody better clean that up...!

AUNTIE EMPIRE is an outrageous satire on Britain and the grotesque absurdity of her imperialist self-regard. After conquering the screen as a short film co-directed by Niamh McKeown (BBC/Hulu’s DINOSAUR), and premiering at Manipulate 2026, Auntie is coming to Galloway!

Auntie has gathered us to relive and celebrate our glorious shared past, but unfortunately she also has some tragic, terrible, and most pressing news. And she needs your help. 

An absurd and rambunctious solo show blending bouffon, satire and audience interaction, AUNTIE EMPIRE is a messy, hilarious and timely lampoon of the myths of nationhood.

Creative Team: 
Lead Artist - Julia Taudevin
Performance Director - Tim Licata 
Dramaturgs - Sara Sharaawi and Kieran Hurley
Sound Designers - Niroshini Thambar and Nik Paget-Tomlinson
Lighting Designer - Emma Jones
Puppetry, Effects and Costume Designer - Fergus Dunnet
Costume & Puppetry Effects Maker - Gretchen Maynard-Hahn
Set Designer - Fraser Lappin
Photographer and Graphic Designer - Brian Hartley
Trailer Creator - Connor O’Toole
Production Manager - Rosie Ward
Producer - Wezi Mhura

Age guide 16+
Audience Participation, distressing or potentially triggering themes, sexually explicit and scatalogical content and references to and themes of colonialism and colonial oppression.

A small amount of water based haze is used in the show and flashing lights. 

Katharina Siebert - Production Manager / Stage Manager 
Aoibheann Moriarty - Technical Stage Manager
Auntie Empire is supported by Creative Scotland, and Summerhall Arts. It was originally developed through a Summerhall Lab, an IASH creative fellowship and Traverse Theatre commission and in association with Jordan & Skinner with direction from Caitlin Skinner and Melanie Jordan and Paisley Arts Centre and One Ren. The character can also be seen in the short film Auntie Empire directed by Niamh McKeown and Julia Taudevin.