The play was positively received by audiences, with many commenting on the powerful effect of the music and singing. The feedback shows that it evoked very personal reflections on individual family histories, as well as wider thinking about historical and contemporary issues. Here are a few selected comments from audience members in Coventry and Dublin, with images of the production.

“The fact that it has historical relevance based on research was important. The play felt more real.”

“Really interesting to see academic research presented this way.”

“It made me think about my Dad's family who are from the west of Ireland. I wondered if any of them had similar experiences to Sarah.”

"’Sarah Collins’ struck a chord with me. My mum Irish immigrant from 1950s has suffered mental health issues……”

“We are Americans and constantly dealing with issues of immigration. My father was an illegal immigrant from Greece and it coloured his whole life. My son and I are still dealing with some of the issues immigration created in my family and my husband's Eastern European Jewish family. It is interesting to us that the Irish are still aware of the heavy toll immigration took on the Irish”

“I, myself am a grandchild of migration from Ireland to Argentina and through the performance I am becoming to understand strange behaviours - mental and psychological - of my grandparents”

“Exposed me to the reality of mental health - how passing a threshold can break someone - e.g. displacement, isolation, fear, uncertainty”

“Helped me think about all the different aspects of migration and loss of connections with people, places and identity - so much of what is necessary for our mental health.”

“Helped me think about how some ideas of mental health have changed but also reflected that much of the same prejudice and stigma remains.”

“It reminded me that m.illness is[n’t] 100% understood even today. More devotion to patients is needed, not just to science.”