Last year’s actors
Jenny the Adventuress – Aoife Nic Ardghail
Aoife hails from Co Donegal, Ireland’s most beautiful county (you can argue the toss with SP if you disagree). She’s SP’s niece and is newly returned to Ireland from Brighton, where she developed a mistrust of seagulls. Besides her love for acting (she is too modest to say much about her stage, film and TV work here), Aoife is a yoga and fitness enthusiast, an avid herbal-tea drinker and sometimes singer. She’s worked as a journalist, like her aunt, and has recently begun tapping out screenplays on her ancient laptop keyboard…
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O’Flahertie the Writer – Simon Hunt
Law clerk Simon lives in Meath and started treading the boards at college. He set off down the corridor to join a musical society but was lured into DIT Drama Society instead. Simon reckons that was just as well as he can’t sing (we will test this on Monday evening!). His many roles include The Lieutenant of Inishmore and The Shadow of a Gunman. Simon’s hero is anarchic Bernard Black (Dylan Moran) from Noughties C4 comedy Black Books. He does a mean Kermit the Frog impersonation and has a tattoo inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray. So who better to play ‘O’Flahertie’…
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Padraig Pearse – Bryan Mulry
Bryan (with a ‘y’) is a Galwayman studying International Business in DCU. The rebel contingent taking part in 1916: The Red-Letter Play tried to sympathise with him about this (!) but he insists he loves his course in ‘the big shmoke’. His acting career began at home in Garbally College, Ballinasloe – notably as Lucas in Ballinasloe Musical Society’s hit production of The Addams Family Musical. Musical theatre has brought him to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, the National Concert Hall and now – most prestigious of all – Naomh Barrog GAA Club in Kilbarrack. He hopes you’ll win a prize in the Grand Book Draw…
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Constance Markievicz – Nikki Murphy
Having been a mother since 18 (and now a grandmother twice over – wow!), true blue Dub Nikki is reinventing herself. She’s a third-year journalism student at DIT and her scoops about Garda vetting have even been raised in the Dail. She loves hats, painting and decorating, and festivals (she’s a 13-year veteran of Electric Picnic, saggy tent and all). Nikki hates unfairness of any kind, especially social injustice. She’s treading the boards again after over 20 years – and, given her keen interest in Irish politics, no better way to start than with the role of Constance Markievicz…