Bealtaine Festival (celebrating arts and creativity as we age ) presents What Good is Looking Well When You’re Rotten on the Inside? by Emma O’Grady at Roscommon Arts Centre on Wednesday May 22 at 8pm.
One month before his death, retired civil servant and man of few words Paddy O’Grady had a sudden urge to talk. Using a cassette tape recorder, he recorded 15 hours of material — stories about leprechauns, aliens, and lonely pharmacists; musings on life, love, and death; and memories of life as a civil servant.
Paddy’s granddaughter, Emma O’Grady, later discovered he had written plays, poems, and short stories in the 1950s and until now his work has been without an audience.
This critically-acclaimed show for all ages is an attempt by someone from one generation to understand the previous one, and it is especially for anyone who has held themselves back and not allowed their voice to be heard.
It premiered at Galway Theatre Festival in 2017 and was developed through support from The Arts Council, Galway City Council, Galway Theatre Festival, Laois County Council, Mermaid Arts Centre, and Áras Éanna.
Written and performed by Emma O’Grady and described as ‘beautifully realised’ and ‘a beguiling memoir’, this is a striking piece of theatre that is not to be missed.
Tickets are on sale now from Roscommon Arts Centre’s box office on 09066 25824 and from www.roscommonartscentre.ie As part of the Bealtaine Festival there is a reduced ticket price of €12 for those aged 50-plus.
