Catrina’s Blog
Catrina McHugh MBE is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Open Clasp Theatre Company.
A multi-award-winning playwright, she has dedicated her career to making theatre with women and young people on the margins of society. Her work gives voice to those often unheard, shaping stories into powerful productions that challenge injustice and create change.
In this blog, Catrina shares reflections from the rehearsal room, insights into her creative process, and the political and personal moments that fuel her writing. From behind-the-scenes glimpses to wider commentary on feminism, activism, and community, her posts offer a deeply personal look at the heart and craft of socially engaged theatre.
The MAC and a Black Cat
I’m late with this blog as I’m having some health issues. This time three years…
Mycelial: End of an Era
The is the last blog in the series of blogs to celebrate 25yrs of Open…
Don’t Forget the Birds, Lasagna and Rupture
I’m writing blogs to celebrate 25yrs of Open Clasp, this is the penultimate last in…
World Environment Day 2024
We’ve been talking this morning, the team at Open Clasp – about World Environment Day,…
Legends – Key Change, Rattle Snake and Sugar
These blogs are to celebrate 25yrs, each one has been long because each production has…
Meeting Myself Coming Backwards
Swags & Tails, The Space Between Us and Jumping Puddles I’m writing blogs to celebrate…
Being Lesbian, Open Clasp and Me
I am writing blogs to celebrate 25yrs of Open Clasp work, collaborating with communities of…
Has Anything Changed?
Falling Knives & Runaround Wives, Stand ‘n’ Tan and Tonic After Her Death (AHD) could…
Rewind to After Her Death: 1998
Buster died suddenly last week; we had him for 10yrs. It was a huge shock,…
Pure Art and Politics- our highlights
People seemed to do the highlights of the year or standout shows or companies, so…
Laura Lindow, Mycelial and Me
This is Laura Lindow last show with us as Associate Director. Laura and I keep…
The Drowning Dog, Mycelial and Me
The dog was drowning, yelping, and calling to its owner. I had gone out for…
Being 60, Mycelial and Me
Being 60 My mum died at 60, I’m the youngest of five, and I think…
Changemakers 2022
We close the year as one of the Big Issue’s 2022 Changemakers who made an…
Marking the Moment, Open Clasp and Me
We (Open Clasp) have commissioned four new writers, five facilitators and one Assistant Director to…
Dark Skies, Day Break and Me 
Buster [brown and white dog sleeping on a yellow and brown blanket] I’ve been working…
Breast Cancer Review, a New Play and Me
I’ve just had my mid-year review with the Breast Cancer nurse, holistic, looking at physical…
Breast Cancer, Trains and Me
It’s been 14 weeks since diagnosis, 11 weeks since the operation and one month since…