Today is International Women’s Day and we are shining a spotlight on a few talented and accomplished women working in the arts in Ireland.
Pat Moylan was the Artistic Director of Andrews Lane Theatre for 19 years until it closed in August 2007. She has also worked as a freelance producer both in theatre and film. Her credits include a film adaptation of Borstal Boy directed by Peter Sheridan and Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones for Dublin, the West End and Broadway, Thoroughly Modern Millie for London’s West End and Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer.
We chatted to Pat about her career and what advice she would give to anyone looking to become a theatre producer.
What do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
I knew that beinga producer meant that I needed to know about every aspect of the business but I wish someone also told me that being a producer also means that you are a gambler and that the stakes are high.
What qualities do you think are required to be in this industry?
Certainly talent isn’t enough, you need patience, determination and the ability to be able eto deal with the rejections, the bad reviews and long periods out of work. Sure, you could be that one ina million that makes it big but you would have a better chance winning the lotto.
What are you working on right now?
Beowulf the Blockbuster is at the Adelaide Festival in Australia right now. Driving Mis Daisy opens in May in the Gaiety Theatre and Wrong Turn at Lungfish opens at The Civic in July.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a theatre producer?
This business is all about love – you need to love it with a passion. You need to love what you do so badly that you can’t see yourself doing anything else. You need to decide that you are going to be able to live on very little for a long time – maybe forever, but you also need to know that the satisfaction you get from being involved in any aspect of this business will give you a bigger buzz than you are ever likely to get in any other job.
Wrong Turn at Lungfish comes to The Civic from 4th – 9th July 2016 and tickets are on sale here.
