Katie O’ Kelly’s new adaptation of James Joyce’s iconic collection of Dubliners short stories. Dubliners Women shines a light on the lesser-known women’s stories – The Boarding House, Clay and Eveline, bringing the characters to life in a highly performative and theatrical storytelling style. We had a chat with Kelly in advance of the show.
Can you tell us a little bit about where you grew up?
I grew up in a quiet little cul-de-sac in Dublin, probably part of the reason I feel so drawn to Joyce’s work – our street looked like it could have been the setting for one of the Dubliners stories.
Tell us about your background in theatre?
My dad works in theatre, so I grew up going to plays, sitting in the wings or the tech box, and I just always loved the world of performance. I used to put on plays in our sitting room any chance I got! I studied Drama and Theatre studies in college, and have been working as an actor and writer for the last few years. That’s the thing with the theatre bug – once you have it it’s very hard to shake!
If you hadn’t been in ‘showbusiness’, what would you have done?
For a while I really wanted to be a journalist, but I think I enjoy embellishing stories too much so I probably wouldn’t have been a very good one.
You adapted Dubliners Women for the stage and also perform in it, can you tell us more about that?
Its been so great working on this show. I love Joyce’s Dubliners stories, and for a long time I wanted to adapt some of the lesser known ones for the stage. They lend themselves so well to performance because the language is so rich and each of the characters are so vivid and wide ranging. The show is performed in a playful style, with three actors and a handful of props creating the different worlds of the stories, and its been so much fun to work on.
What do you hope audiences will enjoy about Dubliners Women?
The great thing about performing these stories is that the humour in the text really comes through. Dublin wit is a huge part of the show and the characters will definitely be recognisable to a Dublin audience.
Tell us a random fact about yourself?
When I was ten, one of my shoes got stolen while I was on a bucking bronco in Dr Quirkys.
What is next for you?
I’m starting an Artist Residency in the Belltable Theatre in Limerick next, working with an amazing team on a new project called Displace which will premiere in December 2018.
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Thanks Katie, we really enjoyed the seeing the show in the Pavilion and look forward to your dates in the Civic. Best of luck with your Belltable residency!
Dubliners Women
Wednesday 2nd – Friday 4th Nov., 8.15pm
Tickets €16/€14
