The ever-popular playwright and actor Seamus O’Rourke is certainly proving very popular with Roscommon audiences with planned performances of his new play Indigestion at both King House Boyle (July 10 ) and Roscommon Arts Centre (July 24 ) as part of his new tour.
It has been a busy time for O’Rourke recently, as he has just finished performing alongside Michael Harding in The Field at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.
According to Seamus, Indigestion came about after a chance meeting with “a fella of my age and stature… he had a great story to tell and although it was a tough life he had led, he remained upbeat and positive. I just thought, with the times that are in it, it was an important story to get out there. There is hope for all of us, no matter how bleak things might seem.”
The story revolves around a man who is shipped off to London when he is 17. He suffers from bouts of depression and has both obesity and anger issues. He both finds and loses love and returns to Ireland to more misfortune and mayhem. “But there is loads of fun in that story too,” says Seamus, adding, “There has to be, it’s real and in reality laughter and tears are never far from each other and that’s even more true when you bring stories to the stage.” According to Seamus, the reaction to the play so far has been great, because it is one of hope and it is a real story to which people can and will relate.
Seamus started out as an amateur actor with The Corn Mill Theatre, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim in 1989. He has won many acting awards including Best Supporting Actor at the Northern Ireland drama finals in 1995, RTÉ Best Actor in the All-Ireland drama finals in 2010 and in 2011, he won RTÉ Best Supporting Actor.
His directing credits include A Handful of Stars and The Cavalcaders by Billy Roche, Stolen Child by Yvonne Quinn and Bairbre Ni Chaoimh which won the All-Ireland drama finals in 2005, with Seamus winning RTÉ Best Director. He also directed his own plays as an amateur and since turning professional has directed The Pitch, Victor’s Dung, Stalemate, The Sandpark, The Quare Land and Dig, which have all toured extensively.
O’Rourke continues to be hugely popular with Roscommon audiences and his latest offering promises yet another great night of theatre. Tickets are now on sale for both performances at Roscommon Arts Centre on (090 ) 6625824 or online at www.roscommonartscentre.ie
