Pat McGrath, one of the actors taking part in #24HrDub 2018, has made a small living appearing in many films and playing in theatres and halls throughout Ireland as well as visits to Spain, Poland, London and Finland. At the Edinburgh Festival 2000, he won a Herald Angel.
In 2013 Pat wrote and appeared in “Small Plastic Wars” during Dublin Fringe Festival and toured the play nationally as well as to France, Finland and Wales. He was nominated for the Stewart Parker Award. Most recent work is BANG BANG by Dermot Bolger. He is part of the Six in the Attic Programme in the Irish Theatre Institute.
Introduce yourself please. You can even describe yourself as if you are being introduced as a guest facilitator at a DYT workshop.
I’m Pat McGrath and I’m an actor and a writer. I trained as a sculptor and still teach art and a very long time ago I was a Military Policeman in the Irish Army.
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?
Never done it before and I’m looking forward to the looks of terror on the faces of the director and other actors as the performance draws near
If you could give your teenage self a piece of advice what would it be?
Learn how to work a cash register. (I hear you, Pat, I hear you. The doors that could have opened to me….)
What theatrical experience has had the biggest impact on you?
I acted in a show called Terra Incognita, a co-production between Irish, Finnish and Spanish companies which took me to Finland where I met my wife Päivi.
Describe the craziest costume you have ever worn. I had to wear a waistcoat on stage once. I’m still scarred.
In Terra Incognita my costume was a set of plastic wings and a pair of flesh coloured y fronts. Probably why Päivi was impressed enough to marry me.
You can find out more about Pat’s work in the future via Small Plastic Theatre page on FB or @parkadge on Twitter
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.