Jeda De Bri is a director whose credits include: The Egg is a Lonely Hunter (Nominated: Little Gem Award, First Fortnight Award & Fishamble New Writing Award, Dublin Fringe 2017), All honey (Winner: Fishamble New Writing Award, Dublin Fringe 2017), TRYST (Nominated: Fishamble New Writing Award, Fringe 2016.) Mimes in Time (Edinburgh Fringe 2016, Dublin Fringe 2016 – Nominated: Little Gem Award), Cirque Des Reves (Smock Alley & Bewleys Café Theatre). Busy so! We are delighted that she had 24 hours to spare for Dublin Youth Theatre: it’s gonna be aces!
Her short film Procession will shoot in March 2018 as part of The Irish Film Boards Short Stories Scheme. In April TRYST will return for a full run at Project Arts Centre.
Introduce yourself please. If you are feeling nostalgic you can even describe yourself as your favourite teacher might if asked today what you were like in school.
I’m a director and writer for both theatre and film. My teachers described me as a daydreamer in school and nothing has changed. I just wrote my CV around it.
Have you participated in The 24 Hour Plays in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre before? If yes what is your fondest/ most nightmare causing memories? If no what are you looking forward to/ terrified of?
I haven’t participated before and I’m really looking forward to the excitement of the day. However I am terrified of becoming addicted to producing all my plays in 24 hour bursts.
If you took a notion to write a play what element would you definitely include and why?
If I were to go all-out I’d make a musical based on Tom Waits’ life, set in a forest, only using puppets and musical instruments made out of old Buicks from the 70s. I don’t know how I’d do that but this is a questionnaire so I won’t explain. (Editor: I would LOVE to see that play! If we can make six plays happen in 24 hours, we can do this, right?)
Dublin Youth Theatre was 40 years old in 2017. When you think about being 40 what do you hope you have achieved? Or if, like me, you are past that supposedly significant birthday what is the most important life lesson you have learned on your way to today?
Happy birthday, DYT! By the time I turn 40, I hope to have a well-stocked book shelf, a pet crow and a rudimentary grasp of taxes.
Have you worked with children or animals? How did that work out for ya?
I’ve worked with both on the same film, in the same scene! There was a lot of drooling and shedding but once the child settled down, we got it in one take. The dog was incredibly professional.
You can follow the further adventures of Jeda de Brí and her future pet crow at www.sicklemoonproductions.com
We’re getting very excited for The 24 Hour Plays in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre supported by BNP Paribas Real Estate.
Tickets available online or call Abbey Theatre Box Office on (01) 87 87 222.