Iseult Golden is a writer, actor and director based in Dublin, Ireland.
Writing work includes CLASS, Belonging to Laura (IFTA Nomination) and The Importance of Being Whatever (IFTA Winner), all with David Horan. Solo writing includes Fireworks, The Roy Rap (Jam Media/CBBC) and Fair City. Work in development includes the plays; Interventions (Pavilion Patron Donation Award), Faithless and The Virginity Project. Iseult is also an actor and director as well as a founder member of Inis Theatre, co-creating and performing in all their shows including the award-winning Tick My Box! Iseult teaches at the Lir National Academy, Ireland.
Where can we find more about you online?
I’m a lurker. Very little posting, tagging, tweeting, I just watch from the virtual corner….
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. As I was in the same school I’m ready to call you on your reply…
Iseult was a dutiful student who liked getting things right. She was ferociously competitive in the yard games and verged on obsessive; she could never quite understand why adults didn’t want to spend three hours playing elastics. She was a bit insufferable, actually. Her dramatic leanings appeared early, with young Iseult adopting the role of director, writer and lead actor in a variety of homespun productions, browbeating friends and younger siblings into her artistic vision. The megalomania has disappeared (or submerged) with adulthood, and now she has to deal with less comfortable things like doubt, nuance, funding applications and meetings– ffs.
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?
Haven’t taken part, but I’ve loved every time I’ve attended, the warmth, the craic, the crazy. Looking forward to seeing what emerges on the night!
If you took a notion to write a play what element would you definitely include and why?
I have always wanted to find a way to do a ‘theatre gag reel’ – where the actors return after the curtain to act out a slapstick selection of moments of the play ‘in rehearsal’. Someday…
As a young person, what play made the biggest impression on you?
Annie Get your Gun – when I was eleven. The lead had laryngitis and the understudy was amazing! I left in tears that it was over. A theatre-head was born.
Have you worked with children or animals? How did that work out for ya?
I have worked with adult actors playing both children and animals. Nightmare. They got so ‘method’ with their roles that I had to constantly call time out, put them on the naughty step and order them to ‘SIT!’ Give me real animals any day.
Don’t miss Iseult’s brand new play as part of The 24 Hour Plays in aid of Dublin Youth Theatre. Book your ticket from the Abbey Theatre Box Office ASAP!