Fionn Foley is one of our six writers this year at The 24 Hour Plays in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre supported by BNP Paribas Real Estate.
He is an actor, writer and composer based in Dublin. His solo performance ‘Brendan Galileo for Europe‘ won the ‘Best Performer’ and ‘Bewley’s Little Gem’ awards and was nominated for three BroadwayWorld awards in Dublin Fringe Festival 2019. His critically acclaimed new musical Fierce Notions won the ‘Judge’s Choice Award’ at Dublin Fringe Festival in 2017. Other writing and composing credits include ‘Eamonn (from Menswear)’ and the songs for award-winning ‘Half Light’, which toured nationally last year. Fionn was selected as one of Fishamble Theatre Company’s ‘Play for Ireland’ playwrights last year as well as one of the actor/writers for Dublin Theatre Festival’s ‘Home Theatre’ project. As an actor, Fionn’s theatre credits include Trainspotting (Olympia Theatre), The Harvest (New Theatre), The Messenger (Barnstorm), The Critic (Rough Magic) and the Grimm Tales of Cinderella (Smock Alley). Screen credits include ‘Into the Badlands‘, ‘Vikings’, ‘Ros na Ŕun’ and the IFTA- nominated EIPIC.
You can follow the further adventures of Fionn on line at www.fionnfoley.com and @fionnfoley.
Introduce yourself please.
“My name is Fionn Foley. I’m an actor, writer and composer and will fight any man. I was born when Cú Chulainn exhaled into a breathalizer and the condensation of his breath was made corporeal. I am an active member of The Accidentally Going for A Hug When A Handshake Was Appropriate Union and a staunch supporter of the mixed metaphor, but that’s another day’s fish.
I am looking forward to working on the 24hr Plays at the Abbey Theatre so I can commence work on my ulterior motive, digging for W.B. Yeats’ hidden gold. What’s this? Why, it’s my playwriting pickaxe, m’am. My playwriting pickaxe. ”
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 have not. The last time I stayed awake for 24 hours it ended with me being forced to accompany a Finnish family in enthusiastic renditions of several Simon and Garfunkel hits on the mandolin. Hopefully this doesn’t end the same way, but listen, you wouldn’t know.
If you took a notion to write a play what element would you definitely include and why?
I am a big fan of improbable musical numbers in inappropriate contexts.
Every piece of theatre I have written to date includes one particular line/stage instruction pairing: Character #1: ‘There’s no need to make a big song and dance about it’ *They make a big song and dance about it*
I enjoy trying to crowbar that into absolutely any context and hopefully this will be an opportunity to push the boat even further. A tap number at the Fall of Constantinople or a heartfelt duet between a fax machine and a VHS recorder in the Museum for Obsolete Objects.
Dublin Youth Theatre is finally moving house. If you were moving and were only allowed bring one piece of clothing and one book with you, what would they be?
A massive Aran jumper and A Dummy’s Guide to Repurposing Wool. I’m a pragmatist.
Have you worked with children or animals? How did that work out for ya?
No, I know better than to defy the old saying- Never work with animals and children, because the animals will eat the children.
A little bird tells me that Fionn might have a surprise up his sleeve for Sunday. If you like surprises there will be many at The 24 Hour Plays in aid of Dublin Youth THeatre supported by BNP Paribas Real Estate. Get your tickets pronto!