In March 2020, Zara Devlin had been busy rehearsing for her starring role in the musical Sing Street in which she was due to make her Broadway debut. But Covid put the lights out on America's theatre capital, and instead Zara went home to Co. Tyrone. This is Zara’s story in her own words.
“I had been living in Manhattan, New York, rehearsing for Sing Street on Broadway, and next thing I knew I was moving back to my parents’ house in Tyrone. I can’t think of a bigger contrast. It was mad. The good thing about it is that they live in the deep, deep countryside, so it was almost like Covid didn’t exist.
.
“I just walked about in my pyjamas chatting to cows and writing poetry. I fancied myself like Cathy from Wuthering Heights. I would look out into the distant views feeling sorry for myself, imagining an epic soundtrack in my head, with my hair blowing in the wind, pretending I was in an interesting film or novel. I wasn’t.
'It’s such a welcome relief to be back working as an actor again'
“For the first, I would say, five months I did nothing. In October I moved back to Dublin to get back to being a 25-year-old. I was ready to live with people my own age again and maybe get myself a job in a café or something. I remember walking around in the rain with my CVs claiming that I had experience in barista work. I was turned away from at least twenty cafes and I remember just laughing my head off.
“One minute you’re living your best life on Broadway, looking up at all the huge skyscrapers eating a fresh hot bagel, the next you’re walking down Talbot Street with a soaking wet CV, looking for a coffee shop job while eating a meal deal from Tesco. The contrast couldn’t be greater.
.
“It’s such a welcome relief to be back working as an actor again. I’m deep in rehearsals for Decadent Theatre Company’s production of There Are Little Kingdoms by the brilliant Kevin Barry. We open in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre on September 1 and I’m thrilled to finally be back on stage in front of a live audience.”
Actor Zara Devlin, who appeared in Modern Love with Anne Hathaway, will perform in Decadent Theatre Company’s production of Kevin Barry’s There Are Little Kingdoms as part of the Galway International Arts Festival. It runs in the Town Hall Theatre from Wednesday September 1 to Saturday 11. For tickets see www.giaf.ie or www.tht.ie See also www.decadent.ie
