Rachel Thornton is a writer and director from Co. Kildare.
She started writing at a very young age and won several national writing and film awards in her youth. As a teenager, she was a member of the Kildare Youth Theatre and her love of writing for theatre was encouraged and facilitated at Fighting Words in Dublin.
Rachel’s work has been showcased on the main and Peacock stages of The Abbey Theatre, The Gate Theatre, The Moat Theatre and The Everyman, Cork. Her writing has been featured in The Irish Times, on RTÉ2 and she has presented as a roving reporter for 'Colm & Lucy In The Morning' on Classic Hits FM.
In 2019, Rachel became the first person to receive a UCD Ad Astra Scholarship for Performing Arts as a playwright/director. Upon graduating with a BA in Drama & Film Studies, Rachel was awarded a scholarship under which she studied MA Theatre Practice with UCD and the Gaiety School of Acting.
She was an active member of DramSoc in UCD, writing and directing her own work and acting in several other productions. In three consecutive years 2022-2024 she won the Best Original Script at the Irish Student Drama Awards with “The Last Wolf In Ireland”, “Magical Girls” and “Zombie Monologues” and these productions won multiple other awards including Best Overall Production in 2024.
“The Last Wolf In Ireland” had a very successful run in the Smock Alley Theatre in March 2025 and received widespread positive reviews. Rachel looks forward to bringing you the world of THE ZOMBIE MONOLOGUES!
Rebecca Ngoie
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
she/her
Rebecca Ngoie is a Dublin-based actor, theatre practitioner and a UCD graduate with a BA in Film and Drama. A skilled theatre-maker, Rebecca's versatility has brought her work to a number Ireland's most exciting festivals.
Rebecca made her Dublin Fringe Festival debut in 2024, when she worked as a costume designer for 'Ololufé', written and directed by Praise Titus and Tishé Fatunbi.
In January, she served as assistant director for UCD DramSoc's 'King Lear'. She has performed in the 'It's F', written and directed by Ishbel Clarence-Ray and served as costume designer for 'The Big Chop', written by Dorothée Karekezi and directed by Jordan Rae Heron. Both plays were shown at Scene + Heard 2025. Rebecca's work in make-up artistry can be seen in Michael Antonio Keane's short film, 'Into The Silence' (2025); which was shown at Mallow Arts Festival.
Rebecca is excited to assistant direct, and work with fellow make-up designer, Luke Duffy, on this LASTA Festival production of THE ZOMBIE MONOLOGUES.
Aifric O’Donnell
PRODUCER
she/her
Aifric O’Donnell is no stranger to the world of drama and musical theatre; having began attending classes with Take2 as a child. She was awarded first honours and distinctions in all her grade exams to follow, along with medals in the Annual Speech & Drama Feis.
She's held multiple acting, singing & dancing roles in Take2's musicals along acting and production credits on UCD DramSoc productions, The Lir Academy (2021), and in her own play, 'Frustrated and Uneducated' (2022) in the Smock Alley Theatre.
Aifric landed her first screen role aged 13 in ‘Game of Thrones’ playing "Aya" in season 5. Aifric has also featured in commercials for Vodafone, Tayto, and in RTÉ2 children's mini-series, 'Miss Mogul' (2016).
Having completed an acting course in London, Aifric returned to Take2 Online Acting School; this time as an Acting Coach!
Aifric is delighted to help bring you this LASTA Festival production of THE ZOMBIE MONOLOGUES.
Joshua McNutt is a writer, actor, composer and singer-songwriter from the North of Ireland.
He has been performing and writing music since he was sixteen in genres such as Punk, alt-rock and folk. In 2020, he was awarded an Ad Astra Performing Arts Scholarship, under which he trained with Kellie Hughes for five years.
Recently, he has made synth-heavy ambient scores for productions like Monere and collaborated with Rachel Thornton on The Last Wolf in Ireland, receiving critical acclaim.
McNutt's work explores various genres, stylings and sounds.
Poster Design: Luke Duffy