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Aim: Help get 'Rose+Bud' to Edinburgh! Support this coming-of-age trans comedy by Belfast's Rose Coogan.
"Rose+Bud'' is a coming-of-age story by Rose Coogan playing at the Edinburgh Fringe this Summer.
''Being trans isn’t easy. Being Northern Irish hasn’t been particularly easy either. Trying to be both has been hell! But it is a hell I’ve made my own, wrapped in a stylish bow and presented for your viewing pleasure in this play Rose+Bud! So we're asking for help. If you can afford to throw a few quid to help us get to Edinburgh we'd be so grateful.'' ROSE
Why support 'Rose+Bud'
- you believe in showcasing marginalised trans voices
- you want fresh, new theatre to make it to an international platform despite the costs
- you're fed up of negative, villainous portrayals of trans people and want to support a positive, uplifting, authentic story
- you want to celebrate trans, queer, young people's voices
- you're a buffy the vampire slayer stan
- you're generally just a good egg
If you answered yes to at least one of these you must be interested in supporting Rose+Bud in its journey in Edinburgh Fringe 2025. Hurray!
The Arts in NI are the least funded across the UK and Ireland per head. Rose+Bud has had some funding in the past (2024), but for this opportunity to showcase our play at Edinburgh Fringe we are relying on ticket sales, in-kind support and our savings to make this happen. Anything donated to this fundraiser will help pay for accommodation, food, and actors wages.
“Rose+Bud” is a semi-autobiographical show based on Rose Coogan’s experience of transitioning during her first year at university. She was torn between her past self - a scared schoolboy with a doomsday prepper’s approach to being queer in Northern Ireland and her internal life as a desperate showgirl eager to finally be under the spotlight. These two halves are played lovingly by Rose and co-star Conor Cupples, as well as playing everyone else in the world of the play.
It is a physical, multi-role comedy, full of energy, tenacity and pure Belfast company Commedia of Errors' style. A Stones in his Pockets – meets Drag Race – meets Philadelphia, Here I Come!. Described at the Dublin Fringe as, ‘Outstanding! A wonderful physical representation of the realities of transition.’ It is a unique and wonderfully heartfelt look into an authentic trans POV, specifically from the North.
It was first developed at the Lyric Theatre’s New Playwright’s Programme 2021. There it received dramaturgical support and Rose was partnered with Commedia’s Artistic Director Benjamin Gould. Benjamin and Rose creatively connected, and Ben began developing and advocating for Rose’s work. The play was further developed by Commedia and presented at Scene and Heard New work festival, Dublin 2023. It was consequently selected for the Dublin Fringe Festival 2024 and enjoyed a short run in Lyric Belfast & The Playhouse Derry. The original run was funded by Arts Council of NI and the production enjoyed a full creative team including Jonny Daley (Lighting), Tracey Lindsay (Set) Garth McConaghie (Sound) & Ally McConnell (Costume).
It is a wonderful representation of the talent of Northern Irish artists, living and telling the stories of our current day.
Rose+Bud adds to the exceptionally small canon of trans work and trans voices being put on the stage. We are proud to present a Northern Irish, trans, working class voice on an international platform in 2025.
To end in Rose’s own voice:
‘‘I’m hoping that audiences who come to see our show walk away with a smile on their face. We are facing an unprecedented shift towards evil in how trans people are being treated across the world. I’m hoping that the queers and allies who come to see my show find some much needed solace and joy, I am by no means a great political mind, so I offer my services as a humble clown. Art is how we process the world around us, and if working class people aren’t part of that conversation it becomes nothing but the worldview of the perpetually unaffected.’’
We hope you can support here via our GoFundMe or even buy a ticket for the show in either Belfast or Edinburgh.
thanks and love
team rose+bud xx
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 8th September 2025 at 12:00pm