Mary Goggin tells her autobiographical story of drug and drink abuse, sex work, motherhood and eventual sobriety in a fast-paced monologue that covers her experiences without delving too deeply into the motivations or psychology behind the trauma. Ultimately optimistic, it begins with a fairy-tale version of Irish history and her parents’ meeting, which rapidly slides into her more nightmarish real-world of childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

^{Picture: Luigi Scorcia}

While Goggin has had an event-filled life and deserves praise for honesty and recovery, the dramaturgy of this monologue is limited. Different stages of her life are marked by allusive costumes, and she does embody various characters with an impressive physicality. But the amount of story she has at her disposal means that many episodes are rushed; it’s rare that the narrative sequences connect and build towards a cohesive description of her growth as a person. That sobriety came as a moment of grace is a beautiful thing, yet it is dramatically unsatisfying.

Like much autobiographical performance, it is the person rather than the production that impresses. This is a testimony to a life redeemed, with the dangers explicit but not explored. It’s certainly a story that deserves to be told but it needs a more dynamic performance.

Greenside @ Infirmary Street, until 27 August, 2.55pm.