Aoibhéann McCann is a native of Carlingford in Co. Louth, she trained and graduated from the prestigious Oxford School of Drama in the UK. She stars alongside Andrea Cleary in the upcoming show WRAPPED in The Civic this November.
Could you tell us a little about your journey into acting, and how it all happened for you?
As a kid, I attended Speech & Drama and did all of my grades etc, taking classes all the way through secondary school. It was my favourite time of the week, that and Art class, and I only ever thought about it as the ‘best hobby in the world’. I went to college (NUI Maynooth), studying French & Sociology and the Drama Society became my outlet, my friends and it slowly dawned on me that I loved being on stage more than anything else. Whilst I did interviews in London for Masters Programmes in Broadcast Journalism it became clear that I should actually train as an actor instead. I attended the Oxford School of Drama and graduated in 2011. I would say I am a professional actor since my time there. It was an invaluable training.
What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
What a great question! I wish they had told me that ‘age is only a number’. I was concerned with making huge strides by a certain age when, in fact, it is hugely different for everyone. Some actors find their ‘break’ or their ‘time’ early whilst others slog along, making great work, and then get promoted or celebrated when they are a little older. I wish someone had assured me that focusing and working and trusting your gut is the only way to stay sane in this game. Oh and also, say ‘Yes’ to (almost) everything and as long as you feel 100% appreciated and respected and you love the work it will probably be a good move.
What’s your favourite part of the process of acting?
I love that moment when you hear yourself say a line and you know you have cracked the character. The Director knows, you know, the Stage Manager knows and all the other cast know and it’s like a wee smile you all share – you GOT IT! All that hard work playing and trying things has paid off. The hilarious thing is that you will lose the character a few more times before you have it completely. Add an audience to that mix and BOOM – heaven!
How did you get involved with Red Bear Productions?
I moved back to Dublin last February and the ever-on-it Maria Schweppe messaged me to say a woman called Tracy Martin was looking for actors for a reading of WRAPPED, her new play. She advised me to go along. I read the script and it was an absolute winner. I was hooked. Tracy saw that she might be able to tolerate me and have me around and so the rest is history.
If you hadn’t been an actor, what would you have done?
My parents often ask me with genuine concern, “Why did you become an actor, love? It’s so bloody hard. You were going to be a journalist. What happened to that?” I laugh and assure them that I would have had a similar up and down lifestyle but minus the ‘playing’ and ‘making’ so they should count themselves lucky that I opted for the ‘make believe’.
Can you tell us about your character?
Lisa is incredible. She has been through a huge amount, things that don’t even feature in the show – you just know she has from whom we meet in WRAPPED. She is a vulnerable woman with a steely, determined exterior and a huge amount of guts. She has this charm that means she can get herself out of (almost) every situation and she isn’t afraid to laugh at herself or others.
What do you hope audiences will take away from watching ‘Wrapped’?
Apart from aching sides from laughing, I want them to feel torn; I love hearing the disagreements and arguments between audience members after the show, about who is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. People seem to genuinely care about these women and why they do what they do.
What’s next for Red Bear Productions?
We performed HARDER FASTER MORE by Tracy Martin as part of Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival 2015 in September. Myself, Charlene Gleeson (a native Tallaght woman and all-round star) and Clare Monnelly (another fantastic actor) played five characters each via alternating phone calls on-stage. It was a fast-paced show and, thankfully, audiences loved it so we are in the middle of organizing a tour for 2016. Beyond that, we have other plans but they are all in the pipeline for now.
Do you have any dream roles?
I always said I wanted to play Beatrice in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ and I was gifted with that part in August 2014 in Fortune’s Fool Productions’ Shakespeare at The Iveagh Gardens. I would love to play one of Tennessee Williams’ women (they’re true drama queens, in the best possible way) or someone like an army General in a Dystopian Netflix Drama. I love post-apocalyptic TV/ film so if I could shoulder my way onto one of those sets and acquire a nice speaking role I’d be smilin’.
And finally, what was the last TV show you binge-watched? How many episodes did you see in a sitting?
Ha! I watched ‘Catastrophe’ in a day or something. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney have created a wonderful piece of dramedy (it’s a thing) there. I lived in London for six years and it spoke to me because of that and because it’s so well-acted, written and Rob Delaney has turned out to be very easy on the eye, if I’m 100% honest.
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WRAPPED comes to at The Civic on Tuesday 10th – Saturday 14th November 2015. Tickets are €16 & €12 concession and are on sale from our box office – 01 4627477 or online here
