Our big project of 2011 was In The Future When All’s Well which was our biggest project ever in fact. Three plays in six months and two of them hit the road. We kept busy for the rest of the year though… and now we’re absolutely, fucking wrecked. But happy.

Here’s what we did:

Scratcher

Written and directed by John Morton, produced by Ken McGuire, Angela Barrett and Paddy Dunne, it took its bow on February 17th in Project Arts Centre as part of The Theatre Machine Turns You On Volume II. It played in Kilkenny Arts Office from 22nd – 26th February in Kilkenny Arts Office.We may just bring it back if it stays relevant… and so far, it is.

Shifting

Written by John Kennedy, directed by John Morton, produced by Ken McGuire, Angela Barrett and Paddy Dunne. Shifting played 18th – 23rd April in Kilkenny Arts Office as part of In The Future When All’s Well. It turned out to be our biggest hit of the year.

Smitten

Written by John Morton, directed by Angela Barrett & John Morton, produced by Paddy Dunne and Ken McGuire. Smitten opened in Solstice as part of Cork Midsummer Festival on June 16th and played Kilkenny Arts Office from June 26th – July 2nd as part of In The Future When All’s Well. We liked it better this time.

Bash: Latterday Plays

Written by Neil LaBute, directed by Ken McGuire, Annette O’Shea and John Morton. Produced by Angela Barrett. It played Cleere’s Theatre from October 17th – 22nd. This was the first time we went serious… no one laughed. Much. In fact, some people walked out. That’s what it’s all about for us – keep them coming back for more, but keep them guessing.

And…. we capped off the year with a small little piece of Bard from some of our troupe in…

TEXT | Messages

Pyramus and Thisbe from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, directed by John Morton, performed by John Doran, Amy Dunne, Ken McGuire, John Morton and David Thompson on December 14th in Project Arts Centre, Dublin.

The people who made all of this were:

Amy Dunne, Alan Butler, Ross Costigan, Paddy Dunne, Ken McGuire, Annette O’Shea, John Morton, David Thompson, Angela Barrett, Alex Christle, Linda Hanbidge, Eddie Brennan, Lucy McKenna, Richie Cody, Geoff Warner Clayton, Louise O’Connor, Sorcha O’Boyle, Alan Slattery, Darragh Byrne, Nathanael McDonald, John Kennedy, Eleanor Walsh, Peter O’Connor, Ruth Phelan, Jessica Walsh, Colin O’Brien, Rhian Gibson, Aoibhín Murphy, Adrian ‘Razor’ Kavanagh, Connie Walsh, Alan Doyle, Shaelin Vellani, Stephanie Cassin, Aidan Doheny, Jack O’Leary, Kevin Mooney, Gemma Grant, Suzanne O’Brien, Maria Murray, Lynsey Moran, Thom Dowling, David Sheenan, John Doran, Niamh Moyles.

Also major thanks to everyone who facilitated, sponsored, programmed, funded and supported this work: Kilkenny Arts Office, Mary Butler, Niamh Finn, THEATREclub, Lara Hickey, Zia Holly, Solstice, Dawn MacAllister, Ruairí Donovan, Shirley Somers, Eszter Nemethi, Cork Midsummer Festival, Johnny Holden, Paul McCabe, Cleeres Theatre, Project Arts Centre, Maeve Butler and everyone on our friends of programme: John Cleere, Darragh Doyle, Anthony McGuiness, Enda McEvoy, Darren Byrne, Steve Aylin, Tess Felder, Gemma McGirr, Patricia Walsh, Tom and Angela Barrett and Willie Byrne. Thank you all.

While we have them namechecked above, we couldn’t have completed the year without the help from Mary Butler and Niamh Finn at Kilkenny Arts Office with the backing of Kilkenny County Council. In times when funding for arts is being cut left, right and centre, and indeed decimated in other areas, they continued their support of our company by putting a roof over our heads for six months to develop personally and professionally. Our residency gave opportunity to 44 individuals to work in a theatre space for six months of the year, to hit the road to Dublin and Cork and see what it’s like to make theatre both on and off the stage. They have been firm supporters of our work since our inception in 2006 and they continued their support after the residency finished at the beginning of July by handing us the keys for our new home at The Maltings under the Not An Empty Space initiative. While it’s up to us to pay the rent and the bills, they arranged everything for us, including the setup costs (which we must pay back) but as a result, we were able to produce works like bash and Pyramus and Thisbe for TEXT | Messages.

We’ve also stepped things up on the organisational front as well and now boast the letters LTD after our name. Check that. Boom.

Next year will see us return to the Watergate Theatre in July with a new(ish) play written by Connie Walsh and John Morton, a return to radio theatre, a prospective festival jaunt, John Kennedy scribbling a new play and a crash course play clinic with the wonderful people in Fishamble. More elaborations on all that and a lot more besides will follow as we kick off 2012. And again, hopefully all will be well.

So from ourselves (Angela, John, Ken, Paddy), our thanks again to everyone who made our 2011 possible. As much as we make theatre for ourselves, we do it for you too and it is you who drive us to continue to make more. Have yerselves a deadly Christmas, enjoy the time off and we’ll see you again in the New Year.

By Liam Murphy

From the July 8th edition of The Munster Express

The excellent Devious Theatre Company completed their residency with Kilkenny Arts Office with an updating of another John Morton play – Smitten – a Kilkenny love story, a play that wants to be a musical. As ever there is a newness, a freshness, an in-your-faceness about Devious that does not have a Waterford equivalent – mores the pity. They seem to assemble excellent casts, time after time and convert spaces into site-specific performance places.

Smitten is a contemporary love story, as evocative as the movie Love Actually and as episodic. But by introducing a song and dance approach you got a trivialisation that is the staple of moon and June, Singin’ In The Rain type shows.

In Act I the stage changes to song and dance mixed with sketch type Fast Show routines diluted the contemporary message and even the bad guys and girls were beneath it all, good people – In The Future When All’s Well.

However, in Act II a more edgy darker story emerged but drunks were good drunks addicts didn’t OD and people agreed to begin again, give it another go, another lash as it were. Once again, the individual work of the ten person cast was impressive.

Director and writer John Morton played a pivotal role as easy-going tattooed Tommy but maybe this was a dance too far. Amy Dunne was a wonderful contradiction as the librarian who swore a lot. Ken McGuire was Dave the unemployed, remorseful drunk and he made the most of his appearances. David Thompson becomes characters and I loved his emigrating carpenter whose hands were always in bandages. He was the accident that kept on happening. Suzanne O’Brien was luminous as the ditsy Daffney Molloy was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz but there was no Yellow Brick Road in Kilkenny. However, it was Annette O’Shea as Claire the nurse who went and came back that brought a quality to an amazing place. I felt the standing ovation was particularly for her and a theatre company who make new theatre, obviously.

Photos by Pat Moore and Nathanael McDonald.

In short, it went really very well and the feedback to the show was absolutely spectacular. We enjoyed some lovely compliments and warm, receptive audiences. In fact, as the parting shot of our 6 month, 3 show In The Future When All’s Well season, it was the perfect ending to the residency, the season and our time living and working in Kilkenny Arts Office.

We’re currently wrapping up the residency (and doing a hell of a lot of cleaning up) so it will be another 2 weeks until we vacate the premises. On that note, we’ll have some very exciting news coming very soon. But until we make it, we’ll be striking, painting, cleaning and rebuilding.

But yes, if the word smitten means to be struck with a hard blow, well then consider us knocked out cold. Thanks to our wonderful cast, amazing crew and all our supporters and audience members.

You are the flutters in our hearts.

What can you tell us, if anything, about Daffney Molloy?

She’s a absolute doll. I’m afraid that if I say anything else, I’ll be cut from the play so I’m keeping my lips sealed!

Does the play give an accurate representation of Kilkenny…like?

The references to and representation of Kilkenny are my favourite parts of the play! Everybody knows a Tony, Claire or Dave and that’s what makes it so much fun. It’s the most real-life make-believe I’ve ever played!

How does it feel going back to an old character after this period of time?

It’s nice. I love Daffney and if I was given a choice, I’d play her everytime. I had very little rehearsal the last time because I was away until two weeks before the show so it’s great that this time round I’ve had a bit more time with the character. Plus it’s completely different being Daffney with the John-Tommy as opposed to Daffney with the Ross-Tommy. It almost makes it seem like a whole new experience!

You’re being well kept out of all the promotion (apart from this). How does that feel?

Ah sure lookit, it’s grand. It’s fun to be the character who’s doing something a little different to everyone else.

What’s your favourite musical? And why?

I’ll never grow tired of High Society! It’s something you’ll watch again and again and again and every time, you’ll laugh and cry and swoon in all the same places. The fifties were just magical, weren’t they?

How did you imagine Daffney in your head when you read the script?

I remember being in the Gaeltacht when I first got the script three years ago and having to hide it under my pillow because it was written in English. Because I was away from the cast, crew and play for so long, I didn’t know what to do with her on my own. I just concentrated on learning my lines so that when I got home, I could delve straight in. And it worked! But this time, getting to spend more time with both the script and stage together has definitely helped!

What was the experience of doing it in Cork like?

I was not prepared for how great it was going to be. I had it in my head that we would go down, do the play, and come home. But we got a standing ovation from a crowd that didn’t know us and everyone just loved it! Niamh liked it so much that she said she might even come see it in Kilkenny next week. You can’t get much better than that, lads.

Smitten runs for the next 2 nights in Kilkenny Arts Office. Seats are limited! Call 056 – 7794138 for reservations.

You’re three for three on the directing front this year, in such a short space of time. Did you anticipate as much directing work leading into the residency?

No, not really. To be honest, I was only looking forward to directing Shifting. Scratcher and Smitten ended up being the first times I’ve directed something that I’ve written too which is a whole other head fuck. And then I went and fucking well acted in them. The directing just ended up being a by product of having more time than anyone else to do it on the residency.

How does it feel to see Dave Thompson step into the roll of Kevin, and namely yourself into the roll of Tommy when compared to 2008?

It’s been weird and cool. I’d initially written Tommy with Dave in mind years ago. Dave played the character in a film I did with YIFM when I was 18 called Skegs and Skangers and it’s basically the Smitten characters but as teenagers. So I always thought Dave should still play it. But it just didn’t work out this time either, much like 2008. All the bits in this version where Tommy sings and plays guitar have quietly been phased out the past few weeks because frankly, I am no David Thompson. As for Kevin, he’s basically the straight man, which I loved playing, but I figured it’d be a good fit for Dave. Also, because he’s the straight man he can’t ad lib as much. The ‘stairs and pogo sticks’ line has nothing to do with me.

Four years no touring, then six months and two festivals. In writing Scratcher and reworking Smitten, was there a focus on being able to take the shows on the road?

Ah yeah. It’s great to work for a company that has faith in my writing so it’s a lovely vote of confidence to put these shows in front of new audiences in new cities. And luckily, they’ve worked. Apart from that girl who really hated the Rohypnol gag down in Cork. Poor beor.

Can you actually dance in real life or are you just using your acting?

I did 3 years of dance in college. At first I thought it was going to be all amazing sequences and toe tapping routines and I’d leave being able to move like Gene Kelly. Turns out that it was all kinda abstract movement stuff. Fuck that. I wish Gemma Grant had been my teacher. She’s the greatest dance teacher I’ve ever had. Also, using my acting helps.

If you could pick one of the three residency pieces as your favourite, what would it be and why?

Shifting, hands down. New writing, new cast, new audiences and it was a lovely, beautiful, unique challenge. Also, I did just one job instead of multi tasking. John Kennedy just nailed that script and I loved working with him. The cast were also amazing. Scarily talented bunch. I was insanely proud of that play. I’d do it forever if I could.

So where next for Smitten? A book? The big screen? Another version in three years time with even more dancing and singing?

I’d love to do it again in 3 years but I think it would probably be more beneficial to use the same characters when I’m in my 30′s to talk about my 30′s. I have a screenplay and there has been some interest in it (which is me not trying to jinx it by saying from where) so I think ideally, I’d love to see it being made into a film. But yeah, I’ve been writing those characters since I was 17 and I figure I’ll get a lot more out of them. Whether people want to listen to them or not is another thing entirely.

What’s your favourite musical?

Singin’ In The Rain. But shur, that’s an obvious one once you’ve seen the play.

Smitten runs until Saturday night July 2nd. Tickets are still available from the venue and bookings can be made on 056 – 7794138. They’re starting to sell out though!

By Darragh Byrne

From the June 29th edition of The Kilkenny Reporter

The trilogy of plays which have kept audiences in Kilkenny entertained finally comes to an end this week in the Arts Office with the last of the series, Smitten. Devious Theatre have used social media, clever marketing and brilliant design like no other group in the country to draw people into their crazy world.

It surely lives up to the hype – a pitch perfect blend of humour and pathos. Not one beat of this play fails to get a laugh or raise an emotion. It is an ensemble piece about a group of friends in their twenties whose love life it depicts in all the shades from technicolour to grey. This play is about the gap between our fantasies and the harshness of reality. The whole thing was like a beautiful dream which suddenly wakes you up to the horror of mundane life in Kilkenny. The main character returns from abroad to try to make amends for dumping her boyfriend by helping out other people’s doomed affairs.

The sense of place is very profound in the writing with names of streets and rituals raising a laugh of recognition. This work resonates beyond the colloquial though by finding truths in love affairs that everyone can understand. There are many techniques used to break it out to the audience and it never bores for an instant. This is Devious Theatre’s most straight forward and yet most manic piece, shifting gears constantly but never letting up for a second.

The use of the musical numbers is very clever. For anyone who groans at the way a Hollywood movie breaks out into song and everyone starts dancing, this will provide a cure. Too often we cynically dismiss these films whose romance and innocence hold a lot of emotion for our childhood selves. There is jazz hands but this is definitely a musical for people who hate musicals. A great big helping of filthy wit is at hand to contrast with the spectacle of umbrellas twirling and hoofing thesps.

The performances are as always uniformly superb. The two leads Annette O’Shea and Dave Thompson prove themselves to be the two finest actors to emerge recently from Kilkenny and it seems only a matter of time before casting agents come calling from the big time. Jack O’Leary and Amy Dunne are both hilarious as an odd couple who can’t stay away from each other. Ken McGuire and Maria Murray are really believable as the pair dealing with pregnancy, with the finest example of drunk acting I have ever seen on stage. John Morton equips himself well as the nice guy with a dark past and Suzanne O’Brien is just right for the girl lost in musicals. Even the stock characters played by Kevin Mooney and Lynsey Moran are made real by two lovely comic performances.

It is really sad for fans of great theatre that this residency is over. Everybody in the local arts office must be applauded for their vision in helping to make this the cultural event of the year in Kilkenny. If you don’t have a ticket for this play go and get one straight away. People will be teasing you for years to come that you missed it. The most important play and funniest night out you will ever experience in this city. You will leave it singing and dancing with a huge rush of joy to your heart. Theatrical Prozac!

Photos by Nathanael McDonald.

What’s the biggest difference between this Smitten and the last, apart from playing a new part?

I’m not sure. It feels like an entirely different show. The cast has changed, the script is different and now we all dance around like fairies. There’s a lot of big differences.

What’s it like to swap parts for this production?

It feels like me and Ken have switched ends during a gentlemen’s spit roast. It’s great though. The character of Dave didn’t slap half enough arses for me. Now Niall, on the other hand…

How did you feel about having to sing and dance in this one?

Everybody knows that I’m a natural dancer and I’ve got the voice of an angel. I just hope the rest of the cast can keep up. It’s been like a real life musical at times during rehearsals, with people spontaneously busting into song and dance routines. Most people do it for the practice. I do it to show off.

What was the reaction to Cork like and how has it prepared you for Kilkenny?

The reaction in Cork was fantastic! Everyone was like “Ooooh” and “Ahhhh” and I was like “Mmmmmm”. There were LOLs too, and ROFLs. It’s really great to be able to tour a play and gauge the reaction of an audience before we launch into it for a week in Kilkenny. There’s work still to do, but I’m really looking forward to the ROFLing.

Having directed and produced so many plays for us, were you excited to just be acting this time?

Yes. It’s nice to just worry about your own performance. I haven’t been onstage in quite a while though, so I was a bit nervous about getting back into it and shaking the dust off. But I’m really enjoying concentrating on the acting side of things. It’s been both relieving and terrifying.

What’s your favourite musical? And why?

Cannibal! The Musical. All singing, all dancing, all flesh eating!

Smitten plays until Saturday night July 2nd at Kilkenny Arts Office. Tickets can be bought at the venue or booked on 056 – 7794138 or online here.

Our romantic comedy about rain, recession and why dance sequences are harder in real life kicks off at 8pm tonight and runs until Saturday night July 2nd.

Box office is open at the venue from 10am to 6pm daily. Tickets can also be bought online at this very website and can be booked on 0861048191. Kilkenny Arts Office will reopen tomorrow morning and ticket bookings can also be made there on 056 – 7794138.

We hope to see you there!

What’s the biggest difference between this Smitten and the last? Both as an actor and a producer?

I’m much less of a cunt in this one than the first one. That’s pretty much the only difference. Actually, in fairness, a lot has changed. Visually, the show is much different, the story works a little differently, there’s plenty of dancing to be had and we’ve had a great rotation of actors around the characters. Plus, the relationship between the actors has been greatly strengthened over the past few years, some of us having worked on all three productions in the residency. That close-quarters working relationship has really added to the chemistry and energy around the production, hopefully all of that feeding back into the show on stage.

As a producer, it seems business as usual, though if we were busy in August 2008 then we’re incredibly busy now. We walked into a venue the last time (at The Barn) and this time around we’ve built the venue setting from the ground up at the Arts Office. On that note there’s been a lot more to organise than previous – the technical requirements and configuration of the venue are much more demanding.

What’s it like to swap parts for this production?

It was a bit confusing at first. Stepping onto the stage for the first time I’m like “oh, I’m a grown up alright” and every time Kevin Mooney takes to the stage I’m mouthing my old monologue. Rumour has he’s the same. It’s nice to change it up though. It would have been incredibly easy for everyone to fall back into the same roles as the 2008 production but I think the change up has added a new element to it as well. We’re all conscious of how the roles were played before and we’ve all been looking to move away from how the characters were delivered. Not that they were delivered in a bad way in the first version, but we’re treating it as a new production, new roles, new characters and really playing to the strengths of that.

What was your reaction to the uptake of singing and dancing in this version?

I’m all over it. There wasn’t half enough dancing in Cannibal! (2007) and the last time I danced on stage I wound up getting shot in the head as a result. I learned my lesson. Flash forward four years though and I’m looking forward to it. The dance rehearsals have been good craic and fair play to Gemma for putting up with us for the past few weeks. If you’re able to get over the fact that you’re dancing and prancing around like an eejit, then you’re sorted.

How has the Cork performance at Solstice prepared you for Kilkenny?

Cork was fantastic. In fairness, there was a lot of cuts made to the production and we were still making a few changes the afternoon we opened in terms of how some scenes would operate but to go down, perform the show to the crowd that was there (primarily newcomers to our work) and to get that kind of reaction and feedback, I don’t think we could have really asked for me. I’d been talking to some of the folk who had been to see Scratcher in Dublin and when asked how I thought the show had gone my response was “It’s served exactly the same purpose as Scratcher”. At the time, we didn’t know what the purpose of it was other than to show off the work, but it focused the cast more and with the bones of a week to go before the Kilkenny opening, it’s great to know that the content, the humour and most other parts of the show work, and work well. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the Kilkenny run, and putting my feet up in the evenings for a few weeks afterwards.

How do you think it measures up to the other plays in In The Future When All’s Well?

It beats the hell out of Shifting. End of. Those youngsters didn’t know what they were doing at all. Pretending to use their acting, sitting around drinking and giving out for an hour, sure that’s not theatre at all. I think Smitten has been the party we’ve been waiting for, at least us older heads. It measures up well to the previous pieces in the residency. Scratcher had the humour but was quite serious at the same time, focusing on a lot of frustration with the state of the country at the time (what’s changed, eh?). Shifting was great for me – the first production since we’ve started that I’ve not been on stage in (and equally freed me up for much more production work, which really sealed the success of the show in fairness). We’ve been down the road of Smitten once before but if people thought we knocked it out of the park back then, we’re knocking it out of the city with this production. Boom. So does it measure up? Absolutely. And how.

What’s your favourite musical? And why?

Where do I start! Truth be told, that’s where my interest in theatre sprang from and it’s only from our own work over the past 10 years or so (stretching back to the pre-college days). I’ve a grand collection of musical soundtracks, have worked on productions of Joseph, Jesus Christ Superstar, Half A Sixpence and more. I’ve been to see Les Miserables, actually went to the cinema to watch Phantom Of The Opera and own a copy of it on DVD. If I was to pick a favourite musical, it would be phantom. Definitely not for the film version, but more for the soundtrack. I listened to it for years before actually reading the book and various scripts. If I could see the West End version of it, I’d be happy out. Second to that would be Cannibal! All time musical craic.

Smitten opens tomorrow June 26th in Kilkenny Arts Office and runs until Saturday July 2nd. Tickets can be bought at the venue or online at tickets.devioustheatre.com. Bookings can be made on 0861048191.

The past few days have been a flurry of building, painting, rehearsing, teching, ticket selling, promo releasing, tea drinking, cleaning, dressing and overall general show building. We’re all wrecked. Wrecked but exhilarated. Exhilarated but unwashed and cut off from our loved ones.

After having spent time building a Cork version of the show for Solstice (different entrances and exits, etc.) we’ve been building the show back into the Kilkenny space which is very site specific as we’re using the set up of the Arts Office to mirror the original Smitten set. It has an arch so that’s half the battle won.

Smitten went down really well in Cork and we got some lovely feedback. For the most part, people laughed at the show which was one of our aims (ie. Make ‘Em Laugh!) and the flights of fantasy seemed to go down really well also. Admittedly, there was also a real sense of pride in taking a Kilkenny based show down to Cork for the Midsummer Festival and that it worked was an extra feather in our caps.

So we’ve had an extra kick in our step this week as we focused on getting it together for the Kilkenny run of the show. Interest has been great so far and the trailer has got an amazing reaction which has helped the buzz about the show no end. You can paper and press all you want but the movies got it right: audio visual goes a long way.

So, what should you expect? Well, certainly a play that wants to be a musical. And on top of that a lot of comedy, a set that should make Kilkenny folk very comfortable, a lot of colour and a good solid examination of mid twenties angst. We mentioned the singing and dancing and all that jazz too, right?

There’s a lot more work to go before we open Smitten on Sunday night but I guess it’s safe to say we’re getting there. We’re all the more aware that this is the last hooray for our residency here in Kilkenny Arts Office and that our 6 month, 3 play, production fest is coming to an end. All in all, it’s very bittersweet.

Which considering Smitten is an entirely bittersweet beast, is kinda apt.

John Morton – Writer/Director

Smitten opens on Sunday, June 26th and runs until Saturday July 2nd at 8pm nightly in Kilkenny Arts Office. Tickets can be bought in the venue or else online here and also can currently be booked on 0861048191.

From left to right: Ken McGuire (Dave), Maria Murray (Bronagh), Suzanne O’Brien (Daffney), John Morton (Tommy), Lynsey Moran (Ailbe), Jack O’Leary (Tony), Amy Dunne (Cat), Kevin Mooney (Niall), David Thompson (Kevin) and Annette O’Shea (Claire)

This picture was used to headline a feature article in this weeks Kilkenny People by Tess Felder where we talked to her mostly about the play but also a little bit about the residency here in Kilkenny Arts Office.

Tickets for Smitten are starting to sell very briskly with the first and last nights of Sunday June 26th and Saturday July 2nd getting very close to selling out. Drop in to the Arts Office, book them online or else make a booking on the (changed) booking number at 0861048191.

You weren’t in Smitten the last time. Seriously, what did you think of it?

I sat with Eddie Brennan who kept making snide remarks about the actors, he thoroughly ruined my theatrical experience. When he wasn’t talking, I really liked it, and all my friends were in it! This Smitten is much better though…

Why?

…because…Pip’s not in it. . . and dancing.

Carpenters. Musicals. How does that work?

I imagine Jesus sanding a chair out on his own on the dusty plains of Bethlehem, only the sound of an auld Dodo pecking at a thirsty shrubbery to keep him company, and then he starts humming and moving his hips, and singing all the hymns while he beats out 133 bpm on an alter he’s made. This is the ‘inner’ character of Kevin.

Do you think the play gives an accurate representation of Kilkenny?

On the stage, there is a set and the set looks like Kilkenny.

Why should people come see this play?

Because all their friends are in it! Isn’t that why everyone goes to plays?

David Thompson, what’s your favourite musical?

The best musical in all the world is…..SMITTEN!!! (That money better come through by midnight)

Smitten plays Kilkenny Arts Office (No. 76 John Street) from June 26th – July 2nd. Tickets can be bought at the venue, booked on 056 – 7794138 or else bought right here!

The trailer for Smitten has just gone online and it features an intro to our entire cast and the overly theatrical world of the play. This is the third and final trailer and the third and final play of our In The Future When All’s Well season here in Kilkenny Arts Office.

Have a look here! And if you’re feeling so inclined, spread it around!

Smitten opens this Sunday June 26th at 8pm in No. 76 John Street, Kilkenny. It runs until Saturday July 2nd. Tickets are €12 and can be bought here, on this website or booked on 0861084191. Capacity is only 70 every night.

For us, it was curtains up to a great audience on Thursday evening for a 6pm performance to very warm, generous and busy audience that contained two or three familiar faces from home. But familiar faces is not totally what we’re after for a festival run, it’s all about the new faces, the new contacts, the new relationships established in a place like this.

When we to Scratcher to Theatre Machine earlier the year it was very much bring show in, perform show, empty venue, head for home or post show drinks to talk things out. There’s almost a familial atmosphere here with each company supporting each others works, performing to fellow performers, everyone providing feedback, and over the four days there’s an awful lot of it to be had.

So for us, the Smitten audience was a great test for the show itself. When we perform it in Kilkenny first in 2008, we were already established locally, were creating a particular brand of humour that had already been tested across four or five shows at a local level. Bringing that brand of humour to a new location and a new audience on Thursday evening showed that when we get to open in Kilkenny next week, home audiences are in for a real treat.

The laughs were there, along with the disgust, the sadness, the singing, the dancing, and it all seemed to go down very well. Feedback that we’ve received thus far has been extremely encouraging and it will all factor in to the Kilkenny performance. And while the audience enjoyed the show, we as a company very much enjoyed the show and we’ve been lapping up all we can of Solstice thus.

Half have returned home but those of us still in Cork have taken in shows like Red Shoes and Makeshift Ensembles comedically energetic Osteoporosis last night. As day 3 gets warm up here in the Old Fás Building on Sullivan’s Quay we’re looking ahead to a day of theatre and talk, along with a chance to catch up on some shows we missed out on at Theatre Machine in February.

The Solstice programme wraps tomorrow but there’s still a load of shows to catch before Sunday night along with the installation and exhibition pieces in the visual arts space. Take a look at SolsticeCork.com to see what awaits!

Let’s get those jazz hands ready!

Smitten opens tonight when it plays its debut show at Solstice as part of Cork Midsummer Festival.

Our romantic comedy about rain, recession and why dance sequences are harder in real life opens this evening at 6pm at Solstice HQ on the 3rd Floor of the Old FÁS Building on Sullivans Quay.

We are excited and delighted to be taking our Cork bow with Smitten and hope to see a lot of new faces there. Solstice runs until June 19th and we’ll be using our time down there to explore everything Cork has to offer. We’ve plenty to keep ourselves very busy indeed with a huge variety of theatre, music, dance and fine food establishments!

If you’re looking to get tickets for Smitten, they cost a very favourable €3 and can be bought at the Cork Midsummer Box Office at the Triskel Arts Centre or on 021 – 490 5004. Tickets for the entire days programme only cost €10.

After playing Claire last time how are you finding playing Bronagh this time in comparison?

Fun! Plain and simple, just playing with a little more sugar and a little less clumsiness. Not as stressful because I have eight weeks to get it right, instead of five and being utterly petrified.

What are the other biggest differences between this production of Smitten and the last Smitten ?

The script, the cast, the singing, the dancing, the venue, the preparation time (feeling totally on top of things), using my own hair colour, the umbrellas……

Is it hard to dance when you are playing a pregnant woman?

I haven’t actually had a chance to dance with the bump yet, but I will say I am finding it hard to dance without it, so I cant imagine dancing with it will be any easier. So my final answer is yes, yes it is. Personally I think Bronagh should just sit down with her feet up, I mean her poor feet must be getting all swollen, with a mug of hot milk. Just a thought………

How have you found dance rehearsals on this production?

I have this theory that John and Gemma have actually collaborated to dance us all to death. Feeling a pain in places I never knew existed. But it is so much fun but fast, so many fast dances. Thursday mornings were my favourite rehearsals because at least when you were doing something embarrassing everybody else was right there doing it as well.

So whats your favourite musical?

Les Miserables! Though, that’s a rock opera. They don’t dance in it. I like Kiss Me Kate too. They do both. Smitten ain’t so bad either!

Smitten opens tomorrow Thursday June 16th at 6pm in the Old FÁS Building on Sullivans Quay as part of Solstice, Cork. Tickets are €3 and can be purchased at the Cork Midsummer Box Office at Triskel Arts Centre.

How is your 2011 Tony different from your 2008 Tony?

The 2011 Tony is not nearly as intense in persona as the 2008 Tony. I mean he’s a strong character but the 2008 one just had so much… Pizazz that its hard to compare.

What are the other biggest differences between this production of Smitten and the last Smitten?

The lack of manky dreadlocks is a definite bonus but the lack of the film director’s intake is questionable. I miss the constant requests for “Close up” theatre.

Considering you’re still in the same part, which part might you have liked to get recasted to?

Bronagh.

Are all the Kilkenny references going to fly over the head of people down in Cork?

Hopefully not. But Kilkennys fascination with umbrellas… yes.

What’s the biggest difference between this Smitten and the last Smitten?

If I could be perfectly honest and I don’t even mean this on a character basis but… Niamh. I’m genuinely delighted to have Amy as me Cat as she’s the loveliest person ever! But I just miss acting with Niamh! Regardless of what part she plays. But that’s out of our control… I’m just answering questions!

So, what’s your favourite musical and why?

Coincidentally enough The Wizard Of Oz because of the very clear literal views on what the characters are, view and want. Its actually quite simplistic and basic story telling but with a unique sugar coating that I’ve never seen before… Also it works really well with Dark Side of The Moon when you’re baked.

Smitten opens this Thursday June 16th at 6pm in the Old FÁS Building on Sullivans Quay as part of Solstice, Cork. Tickets are €3 and can be purchased at the Cork Midsummer Box Office at Triskel Arts Centre.

Your character Claire is pretty much the lead in this production. How have you been finding it?

The lead? I think it’s more of an ensemble! I have been finding it… tough I guess. But very exciting and exhilarating, the craic is had everyday.  I never take for granted how lucky I am to be working with such a brilliant company and so to be apart of that ensemble is fantastic. I am just out of college going into an uncertain business in an uncertain time so to be blessed with acting work of a professional standard is great. I get to work with amazing actors and an amazing company who have taught me so much. I am currently going through a time of great transition in my own life, like Claire, so I can certainly relate to her situation in a small way. That helps. I am really looking forward to getting onstage and giving Claire a chance to say her piece.

Your character hates musicals. How do you like them yourself?

Hate is a strong word. But I have to admit I feel fairly strongly about musicals. Claire and I share opinions here also… But its just the happy, clappy, smiley ones that I have a problem with. I have the greatest respect for those blessed with song and dance but sitting through something like The Sound of Music or Mamma Mia makes me shudder. I do enjoy a certain amount of them, shows like Avenue Q and Chicago – the dirty sexy ones!

What are the other biggest differences between this production of Smitten and the last Smitten?

Well, obviously playing Claire is a nice change! Any of the cast will say the same, its a lovely challenge to play a character that in your head belongs to someone else from the last production. So you are constantly searching for  new and original ways to create the character. The shape of the play is completely different, it feels like we are playing much more as an ensemble cast this time, with more complex relationships. And obviously there is more singing and dancing!

Having studied in Cork, how do you feel about going down there to open the show at Solstice?

It will be lovely to be back in Cork, it will actually be my first trip down there since my graduation last year. Having studied drama there I am delighted to be visiting as an actor working on a show! And I look forward to meeting a lot of my class mates who are working consistently creating and promoting theatre in Cork. In fact, the Solstice team are made up of UCC Drama alumni which makes me very proud! And obviously the craic will most definitely be had.

The big question. What’s your favourite musical Annette O’Shea?

I’m no expert but Billy Elliot really tugged at my heart strings. I haven’t seen The Lion King but I imagine the athleticism and artistry that is required to create majestic animals on stage is pretty amazing!

Smitten opens this Thursday June 16th at 6pm in the Old FÁS Building on Sullivans Quay as part of Solstice, Cork. Tickets are €3 and can be purchased at the Cork Midsummer Box Office at Triskel Arts Centre.

She might be a singing librarian but tell us a little bit about Cat.

She’s loyal to her friends. Quite ambitious-likes to make plans for the future. Feels slightly trapped in her hometown at the moment. Has a dry sense of humour. Very straightforward and upfront with people. Slightly sarcastic. Likes to sing and dance when the mood takes her!

What’s the biggest difference between this production of Smitten and the last production of Smitten?

The spontaneous dancing! It’s magical.

Are you looking forward to taking it down to Cork for Solstice this Thursday?

Sure am! Never performed in Cork before so that will be cool. Funne times ahead.

You’ve done lots of (real) musicals before, with KMS and such like, how does this one measure up?

Sure it’s the best musical I’ve ever done wha!

Considering you’ve done 2 plays as part of the same season. Have you found any similarities with the concerns of your character here and your character in Scratcher?

Similar to Cat, McC was frustrated and wanted to take control of her situation. Cat is alot more reserved in her emotions but still manages to get her point across. McC however is alot more spontaneous in her actions and doesn’t think things through as much. McC would definitely beat Cat in a physical fight but I’d imagine Cat would tear McC to shreds verbally. They’re great ladies really!

So Amy Dunne, the important question: what’s your favourite musical?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show!  I plan to direct it someday. It’s on my ‘to do’ list. It has amazing songs – not your typical musical score but really class music and great lyrics! It’s quite fast paced and whacky but it’s really about a lovely, quite vulnerable transvesite who just wants to go home to his own planet. Bless.

Smitten opens this Thursday June 16th at 6pm in the Old FÁS Building on Sullivans Quay as part of Solstice, Cork. Tickets are €3 and can be purchased at the Cork Midsummer Box Office at Triskel Arts Centre.

We’re at just abouts week 8 of Smitten rehearsals. It’s gone unmercifully quick. We’ve had more time than Scratcher and Shifting but it still seems not enough! There’s never enough rehearsal time is there?

The play has really been knocked into good shape and I’m very happy with the work that we’ve done so far. In terms of the three ‘In The Future When All’s Well’ plays, it’s a lot more elaborate than the previous two productions so I’m kinda glad that we’ve been able to dedicate more time to it. Lots more props, more elaborate set, more action, more entrances, more exits, more umbrellas, more dance, more everything.

The cast have been brilliant and I think they’re going to knock it out of the park. I can’t include myself in that, I’m the one who usually feels the worse when they flub lines or miss a beat… it’s very hard to come back and give people similar direction after that. Damn those blurry lines but hey, thank god Angela and Gemma have no such qualms. Eyes are on the prize and hopefully by the time we open at Solstice in Cork next Thursday evening we’ll have the show as we want to present it. The aim is to give the people of Cork the best possible show that we can put on and we want to make sure we give them an amazing show.

One thing we can say though, is that right now, it’s entertaining. And that’s the main thing, right?

The things we still need to do are:

- More singing. There’s dancing alright, but it needs a lot more singing. We need to get the balance a bit more dead on. Singing and dancing and acting at the same time is well out of our comfort zone. (Adopts plummy accent) We’re aktors you know?

- A lot less of a play. We’re aiming for 90 minutes. We just did a dress rehearsal that was 125 minutes. That’s not good. Better get tightening or better get some pruning. We’d hate to have to chop some stuff but if we have to chop some stuff we will.

- Entrances and exits. They’re very different for both Cork and Kilkenny (probably because neither run is performed in a conventional theatre space). There are so many disorientated actors right now.

- Finish our props and costumes. We’re getting there… the things we have to mime are becoming less. Miming drinks is always a pain in the arse.

- A few more sound cues. We’ve most of our soundtrack and score in place but there’s always that confusion at this stage where actors ask questions like ‘Will there be a doorbell or am I doing the sound of the doorbell.’ The answer is that yes, the actors in Smitten will go ‘Ding ding’. And sometimes ‘Vroooom’ and sometimes ‘Beep beep’

- Finally, promote the show. So yeah, come see it when it opens in Cork next week. Why is it in Cork? It plays at Solstice as part of Cork Midsummer Festival.  Where is it on? The 3rd floor of the Old FÁS Building on Sullivan Quay. When is it on? Thursday 16th June at 6pm. Where can I get tickets? The Cork Midsummer Festival box office at Triskel Arts Centre and bookings are on 021 – 4905004. Oh yeah, make sure and tell your friends that it’s entertainment guaranteed!

That’s my pimping for the day done!

John Morton – Writer/Director, Smitten