Chatting with CheeryWild Productions | Love All

Interview by: CheeryWild Productions.

 

For a bit of a change, and for a chance to get to know this theatre company a little better, and how they make it work, we thought we'd let them interview themselves. Random, I know. Anyhoo, CheeryWild Productions consist of two actors and writers, Tadhg Hickey and Aideen Wylde who joined forces upon graduating college to bring you a company like no other. Currently, they're getting ready to take their play Love All to the Edinburgh Fringe. Without further adieu, take it away guys...

T: So aideen, fellow cheerywilder, about 18 months ago (is that right?) we were a pair of out of work actors rehearsing in a park, armed only with buns and good intentions. Now we're off to the Edinburgh fringe on the back of a series of 5 star reviews… where did it all go right? Keep in mind we've 700 words to play with: short and sweet kiddo, short and sweet.

A: Bizarrely, you're correct on the timeframe. Unaccustomed as I am to cliché, there was a lot of 'right time, right place' stuff going on. I think we were both so frustrated at the lack of work and opportunities due to the downturn that we just weren't going to take any more no's for answers. Believing in each other's ability and creativity had a lot to do with it too. I think we both saw something of ourselves in each other and didn't want to let that something down? And finding the right people to work with was key. We would never have gotten this far without the team we have behind us.

T: Are you familiar with the phrase 'short and sweet'? ;) Ah no you're right. Getting the right people involved is/was critical in my view. I have some faith in myself as an actor and to a certain extent as a writer but I couldn't direct myself to the toilet. Getting Donal Gallagher involved in that regard was pivotal. His astute and thorough style of directing put a shape on both the play and us as a duo. David Teevan, Clonmel Junction Festival, gave us a home, a platform and a target; all of which were crucial. Deirdre Dwyer designed the show beautifully out of the goodness of her heart really, because at that stage all we could really pay was peanuts (Tesco value peanuts at that). But as well as a phenomenal team, we also had an incredible story, would thee agree? So much for short and sweet.

A: Yes, and as time goes by it seems that the stars aligned to bring that story to us too. (I sound like a twit there, don't I?!) But I mean, the story has turned out to have huge resonances for us - most especially, discovering that Vere Goold was born in Clonmel, where I'm from. That blew my mind and freaked me out in equal measure. And although we tell his story in a comic way, I never forget the people involved in the real-life events and how their story shows us that you create your own destiny, good or bad.

T: Vere Goold, being the subject of our play (just to clarify for the reader!). First Irish Wimbledon finalist in 1879; on trial for murder in Monte Carlo a couple of decades later. We wanted to find a Victorian Irish tennis story (for reasons best known to ourselves!) with a bit of umph… boy did the story of Goold provide it. Let's not say anymore about it; we do, after all, want people to come to the show?! I think another thing on our side was determination (or desperation?!). We needed 'Love All'. It consumed us for months. It wasn't like we had real jobs and were having a bit of fun with vintage costumes in the evening…that's not to say that those evenings weren't enjoyable.

A: I often wear vintage in the evening! Yes, we needed to create real employment for ourselves and, as an offshoot from that, the possibility of creating employment for some of the very talented people we knew who were in the same position. When we set out to do that about 18 months ago, many of our friends and colleagues in the theatre were emigrating, and I think we both felt that there were people and opportunities worth staying at home for if we just put our heads down and put in some really, really hard graft. And took some fairly big risks, too. We're so fortunate not to have wound up with no play, intense hate for each other and some significant personal debt - it does happen! Now, with the tour, we're beginning to earn a modest living with work that we've co-created. That is a personal and professional achievement I will carry always.

T: I just shed a tear. Ah sorry. Ok I admit it, I use humour to deflect from my real feelings! All jokes aside, you hit the nail on the head there. In the spirit of real feelings, I actually think the most important thing we had was each other; to have someone there to believe in the project when you were tired of doing so yourself was imperative.

A: Aww!

T: Er… also, I love football and other various manly things! Here's to a successful run in Edinburgh. But before that, come and see the show and come up say hello to us! (remaining Irish tour dates here)

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Friday 18th May 2012 | Theatre

443

Comments

• MARIE IGOE

  Well done guys. What about the tea and buns? Can't get tour dates when I click here.

  Posted 15:58 | Mon 28th May 2012

Log in to leave a comment

Login or register to leave a comment

Enter your email:

Enter Password: Lost Your Password?