50 Ways Jesus (Almost) Ruined My Life coming to Mayo stage

IN 2024 two comedians-turned-real-life-friends decided to go to the largest performing arts festival in the world with a comedy show about their vastly different lived experiences with religion.

Mari Volar was born into an atheist authoritarian regime in the USSR, whereas Sharon VS semi-accidentally self-radicalised in her teens and became a full time Jesus superfan for more than a decade.

The result of this unorthodox union is the show 50 Ways Jesus (Almost) Ruined My Life.

After a full run at Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2024, the show has become even bigger and better and is now making its way to Ireland.

February is set to bring biting winds and brazen blasphemy to the Linenhall in Castlebar when, following on from Jesus' ever popular birthday celebrations, the comedy show examines the impact of his later life choices on society today.

The theatrical production contrasts the experiences of the two women. One born in the UK who spent her teens and twenties as a born-again Christian before realising it’s a cult and subsequently snapping out of it. The other was born in the Soviet Union, where the only religion was state-sanctioned alcoholism and is now desperately trying to understand what all the fuss is about.

In this hilarious yet poignant show, in the form of a made-up religious service (that is in no way inspired by Catholic mass because the performers have never been to one), Sharon VS traces the root of all her mid-life crises to divine self-radicalisation in her teens and Mari Volar questions if God is really a bad guy, or just made up.

This show is for you if you’ve ever tried to solve life’s problems by asking “what would Jesus do?” and if you’re curious about what happens when a heathen buys a Bible?

Tickets for the February 12 show at the Linenhall Arts Centre are available here.