Noni Stapleton is a playwright and actor. Her one woman show Charolais won The Stewart Parker Award, The Little Gem Award, and was a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist.
Other plays include One For Sorrow and Two For A Girl (Jayne Snow Award nominee for “Innovation and Bravery in Theatre”). Noni trained at The Gaiety School of Acting. Theatre highlights include: Lizzy Lavelle (Jo Mangan), The Laramie Project (Paul Brennan), What The Dead Want (Jimmy Fay), Massacre @ Paris (Jimmy Fay), Little Victories (Veronica Coburn) Favourite screen roles include: Penny Dreadful, Vikings, Inspector Jury, Ripper Street and Quirke. She is thrilled to be taking part in The 24 Hour Plays! We are thrilled to have her: the planets have at last aligned!
Introduce yourself please. You can even describe yourself as if you are being introduced as a guest facilitator at a DYT workshop.
I’m an actor and playwright and cat person. I trained at the Gaiety School of Acting. Noni IS my real name. Dogs are ok too.
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?
No I’ve never been in the 24 hr plays before. I’m really looking forward to leaping into the dark! Terrified of same 😉
If you could give your teenage self a piece of advice what would it be?
Things just work out. Trust your gut. Be kind. Learn to tap dance sooner.
What theatrical experience has had the biggest impact on you?
When I was 6 or 7 my parents brought me to The Pirate of Penzance and I remember being in bits for the character of the Fool – Also Robert Wilson/Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan’s Woyzeck aged 24 and Betroffenheit aged 41. Spectacle, humanity, transformation. It was just terrific!
Describe the craziest costume you have ever worn. I had to wear a waistcoat on stage once. I’m still scarred.
A giant foam Barney The Purple Dinosaur Costume in 40 degree heat on my J1 visa trip to The States when I was 19. Before the internet…small mercies!
You can read more about Noni at noniclaire.com or follow her on Twitter @NoniStapleton and the fortunes of her fabulous play @charolaisplay
See you at 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.