Stage & Screen

Something Borrowed . . .Something Blue: New Voices at the Abbey Theatre.

If the stage of the Abbey Theatre is seen as the heart of the National theatre, then its Literary Department is very much the pulse. Tucked away on the upper floors of the Abbey Street theatre, the Literary Department is very much a haven for new writers, for new stories and for new voices. Aideen Howard, Literary Director, talks to Barry Houlihan and Writing.ie about the work of the Literary Department, about supporting new plays and new playwrights and about finding that new voice in Irish theatre.

In an average year, some three hundred unsolicited scripts find their way to the Literary Department of the Abbey, each hoping to be lifted from obscurity and to see their work produced. If anyone thinks that a play is submitted, read and then magically appears on the stage in the following season, they are sorely wrong. Aideen Howard explains the mammoth task of sifting through these plays, reading, assessing and responding to each and every one and working with those few chosen for further development. She is quick to point out her work as Literary Director is a long-term investment in the Abbey’s and Irish theatre’s future. The fruits of this work may not be fully seen for a number of years to come.

Read more: Something Borrowed . . .Something Blue: New Voices at the Abbey Theatre.

Damian Kearney and his Flamboyant Bird

From songwriter to French teacher to actor and, finally, writer, Damian Kearney’s path to showcasing ‘The Flamboyant Bird’ in this year’s Absolute Fringe Festival was not quite long and winding but certainly had a few sharp bends and detours along the way.  The Flamboyant Bird, which Damian wrote and stars in, debuts at The Smoke Alley Theatre in Temple Bar on September 14^th for a five night run.  Writing.ie’s Kevin Massey sat down with Damian Kearney to discuss his upcoming show and plot his journey to this stage.

Damian Kearney is a face you may recognise from his turns in Raw, The Tudors and The Wind That Shakes the Barley but his first foray in the creative arts was in song-writing rather than acting. Damian told me "After studying at UCC I spent a full year making music with a good friend of mine in Cork who is a really top-class songwriter - Senan Quinlan - and he got me interested in song-writing, I'd say by example. The Flamboyant Bird has three original songs, and Senan's partly to blame for that". 

This pursuit did not last long as Damian took to the books, qualifying as a French teacher.  It was only after his completed his studies that he "stumbled into an amateur play and within weeks had decided to be an actor". A place at RADA in London soon followed and Damian spent 12 years from 1996 to 2008 as a stage and screen actor.  His goal was always to return to Ireland - and The Flamboyant Bird was his ticket to do so.

Read more: Damian Kearney and his Flamboyant Bird

Unspoken: Writing Satire with Gerry Stembridge

Limerick born Gerry Stembridge worked as a secondary school teacher for five years before deciding to give it all up to pursue his dream of working as a writer and director. To date he's made films such as  Nora, Guiltrip and the hit romantic comedy About Adam as well as writing the script for Ordinary Decent Criminal. As a television producer he bought us Nitehawks and with the late Dermot Morgan he was the driving force behind the radio series Scrap Saturday. His satirical sketch show The State of Us was another hit.

Gerry Stembridge's third novel Unspoken was launched this month, and was described in The Irish Times, as  'Set in the 1950s and 1960s, Unspoken is a cheerfully rambling tale, with an old-fashioned tone that focuses on five Limerick children – born on the same day in 1959 – and their families. Reading it is a little like watching Reeling in the Years '.  

For anyone who feels their work could benefit from Gerry's vast expertise, he will be facilitating a Character Building workshop for the Mountains to the Sea Festival in Dun Laoghaire Co. Dublin on Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th September, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm each day. Writers must submit work to be selected by Gerry in order to get onto the workshop, so you will be getting much more than an ordinary workshop, but focused assistance from someone familair with your work.

Recently a crowd puller at the Listowel Writers' Festival, Gerry chatted to Steven Byrne of Digivue about writing satire. This is an exclusive extract of Steven's documentary that celebrates 40 years of Listowel.

Read more: Unspoken: Writing Satire with Gerry Stembridge

The Smaller Whispers: Talking Madness and Movies with Terry McMahon PART II

“Filmmaking is a sickness that takes over you, destroys all elements of character and ego, and renders you its humbled servant. What’s not to love?”

Terry McMahon is a Dublin filmmaker who recently caused a stir with his debut feature, Charlie Casanova, starring Emmett Scanlan. Having had it turned down for funding several times, Terry called for assistance from willing cast/crew on Facebook, braved an arduous shoot and the rest is history. In this second part of our interview with him, Terry he talks to writing.ie about Charlie Casanova and his thoughts on why the art of filmmaking can be a treacherous mistress.

What were your primary inspirations for this story?

Read more: The Smaller Whispers: Talking Madness and Movies with Terry McMahon PART II