Clare Monnelly is a writer and actor and a #24HrDub veteran. She took part in our 2018 edition. She is back for more so you may draw your own conclusions about her, about us, about the price of bread…
Her first play Charlie’s a Clepto was nominated for two Irish Times Theatre Awards (Best New Play, Best Actress) and the Stewart Parker New Playwright Bursary. Her second play minefield premiered at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2019 and was nominated for three Fringe Awards (Best Design, Fishamble New Writing Award, First Fortnight Award). Her third play The Shed is in development with Livin Dred Theatre Company and Pavilion Theatre and she just completed the Lyric New Playwright Programme for which she wrote her fourth play Funny Story.
Maybe we’ll get her back as a playwright another year… Now we have you, Clare, we’ll never let you go…!
You can find Clare online on Twitter.
Don’t miss her on stage at The Abbey Theatre as part of the 2020 Creative Team! Get your tickets now!
Introduce yourself please. If someone wrote a biography about you, what would it say in the blurb on the back of the book?
Clare Monnelly is an actor and writer from Dublin who regularly ends up in scenarios that invoke crippling impostor syndrome. Like this one.
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?
Yes – standing backstage before we went on frantically rereading my opening lines, wondering why I ever VOLUNTEERED myself to literally live out that ‘backstage about to do a play you’ve never/barely rehearsed’ nightmare. Masochists, every last one of us.
If you could give your teenage self a piece of advice what would it be?
Stop shaving between your eyebrows cause you’re too lazy to pluck – it will end in tears/losing half an eyebrow that will never fully recover.
What theatrical experience has had the biggest impact on you?
Writing/co-producing/performing in my second play minefield – I have a much deeper understanding and respect for every person who contributes to make plays happen.
Describe the craziest costume you have ever worn. We’ve seen it all in The 24 Hour Plays in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre supported so go on spill. Nothing will shock us.
My character in Moone Boy, Fidelma, got married when she was heavily pregnant, but her little brother managed to set her dress on fire that morning. So she ended up borrowing one from the neighbours – a full on, cinderella, poofy sleeved, bejewelled, monstrosity of an incredible creation that took 3 people to get me in and out of. And she gave birth in it too.
If you would like to see what Clare gets up to this time in The 24 Hour Plays in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre, you better book your tickets ASAP! Online from our pals in The Abbey Theatre.