NUALA MCKEEVER - THE SOUL SURMISE INTERVIEW
22/08/2024
Nuala McKeever is a talent. Known first as a comedian she has more recently become a playwright of renown. She brings Truth, Love Or Promise back to the Lyric Theatre next week, this time on the main stage. I took a chance to throw a few question passed Nuala. Maybe we'll get a full podcast this autumn time.
The Lyric have named you a “Comedy Sensation”. When did you know you were funny?
When I was a student, in a house with lots of other girls, talking one night – making them laugh and one of them said, “You should be on the stage!”
And then think you could do it as a career?
When the Hole In The Wall Gang got the tv series series Give My Head Peace.
After that… when did you start writing?
My first writing commission was The Wilsons – a two-hander on Radio Ulster, with Olivia Nash. I got a whole £40 per script for that! I had done my own writing for some of our Hole in the Wall Gang live shows at that time too. I gave up my BBC job and my then husband supported me for a while before the tv took off!
So Truth, Love or Promise? Where did the first spark of that come from?
One of the stories in the play was an image that came into my head one night. I thought, “Nah… nobody would believe that”. But it stuck and the play came to life around it, the characters spoke to each other in my head, I recorded the conversations on my phone and then typed them up!
How many creative writing classes did you go to?
I taught a couple of seasons of creative writing for people living with loss. One course was with Cruse Bereavement. I went to one writing day as a student, led by Damian Gorman.
Brenda, Maureen and Joanna… Are they based on real people and have any of the real people noticed?
There is one person in the play who’s based on someone I know a bit, but I can’t say who, cos it’s not flattering!!! The three main characters all have some of my traits, but they’re not anyone in particular. They are themselves!
Comedy is so popular these days. I remember when we only had one TV show The Comedians. Now every other channel at 10 pm is a comedian. How important is comedy in communicating truth?
Like the old style Court Jester, the comedian can say things that are direct and close to the bone. Comedy can be a great way to get people to think, without preaching at them.
At the core of the play is the importance of stories. What are you hoping the audience will take away?
Reaction to the play has been phenomenal. Some people have come back a second time, bringing loads of others with them. Some have seen it 3 times! I’ve had lovely responses from people saying it has touched them deeply. One woman opened up to her family about something that happened to her as a child, a secret she’d kept for years, after seeing the play. I hope audiences go away feeling entertained, surprised and hopeful.
Back by popular demand and now on the Main Stage. You must be encouraged?
Yes, it’s been fantastic! Dan Gordon the director told me from the start that the writing was great. It has felt like a story or play that has been waiting to be written. It’s extremely gratifying to me to connect at the deepest core with other people. The part of us that is underneath our individual identities. That’s the power of theatre – when we see ourselves.
And so... what is next?
I’ve been commissioned to write for TV so I’m hoping that’ll happen next year. Theatre-wise – I might bring back my previous play, In The Window, for all the people who loved Truth, Love or Promise!
Comments