The Lunch Punch Power Hour in Conference Room 4 Review at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin

Caitríona Daly’s new play makes its world premiere at the Peacock Stage of the Abbey Theatre with a sharp, witty, and tightly paced 90-minute production.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always love seeing work at the Peacock. Its intimate size feels like stepping into someone’s living room, or in this case, a corporate conference room. Daly’s script thrives in this setting, pulling us into the behind-the-scenes negotiations of an Irish corporate firm. Complimented with Ronán Duffy’s striking set design, we’re instantly transported into the slightly sterile yet familiar world of office culture.

The premise is simple but intriguing: three employees spend their lunch hour deciding how to allocate the company’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility budget. What unfolds is a hilarious, and at times biting debate that reveals, as stated in the bio on the Abbey Theatre's website, hidden passions and uncomfortable truths.

Daly’s writing is razor-sharp, brimming with quick wit, corporate jargon, and surprising turns. Her monologues are particularly strong. Clodagh’s speech about the challenges women face in the corporate world stands out, powerfully delivered by Caoimhe O’Malley.

O’Malley gives Clodagh just the right mix of cockiness and vulnerability, all the while looking effortlessly sharp in Saileóg O’Halloran’s sleek suit, which evoke a Severance-style aesthetic. Fionn Foley provides a vibrant counterbalance as Daniel, a hyperactive work-from-home dad whose comic energy fills the stage. Emma Dargan-Reid delights as Jess, the quietly bewildered secretary. Her subtle choices offering unexpected laughs, while Helen Norton rounds out the ensemble as HR officer Susan, played with great comedic timing and command of the stage.

What makes this production sing is the balance: no one performer overshadows the others, and together they form a dynamic ensemble under Raymond Keane’s deft direction. Keane keeps the pace brisk, while Dara Hoban’s lighting design adds striking shifts during key moments, heightening both comedy and tension.

The result is a hugely entertaining night at the theatre; funny, surprising, and delivered with style.

Ticket Information for The Lunch Punch Power Hour in Conference Room 4

The Lunch Punch Power Hour in Conference Room 4 runs until the 6th of September at The Peacock Theatre, Abbey Theatre Dublin. Tickets are available here.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Date of Review: 21 August 2025

Location: The Peacock Theatre, Abbey Theatre, Dublin.

Disclaimer: I was invited to this show on August 21st, 2025 in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own and were not influenced by the invite.