Fun Irish history with Manny Man
A Donegal-made theatre production based on a YouTube sensation is about to go on a tour across Ireland.
The Manny Man does the History of Ireland on Stage show is based on John D Ruddy’s successful YouTube series and published books.
Presented by An Grianán Theatre Productions, and directed by Rachael Devir, it features Ruddy and Louise Conaghan, as Syn and Oppy who plough through Irish history with illustrated cut-outs and craziness.
The show goes from the Ice Age to Ireland today, in less than 90 minutes, with the same tongue-in-cheek humour Manny Man is known for.
John is an actor, writer, YouTuber and theatre-maker from Letterkenny who has worked extensively with An Grianán Theatre. He has also performed in Fiesta, I Would Walk These Fields Again, and Unified: The Musical by Guy Le Jeune.
John is also the author of Manny Man Does the History of Ireland, Manny Man Does Revolutionary Ireland 1916-1923 and creator of the YouTube history series Manny Man Does History, which has garnered more than 30 million views.
“I’m excited about bringing the History of Ireland to life on stage across the country,” he said.
“People can expect plenty of laughs, a couple of tears, and they might even just learn something if they’re lucky! Kids will enjoy it, adults will enjoy it, and history buffs will get a good kick out of it!”
Louise Conaghan is an actor, street theatre performer and writer from Ballybofey who splits her time between Belfast and Donegal.
A graduate of The University of Ulster with a BA Hons in Drama and a National Diploma from the North West Regional College, Louse has also undergone clown training in The Actors Space, Barcelona; In Your Space Circus; Mooky Cornish; and Amadan Theatre Company.
Louise was awarded funding by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to write, devise and perform in her own work, ‘A One Woman’s Show (Working Title)’, through the General Arts Award SIAP scheme, working with Patrick J O’Reilly. This summer she will collaborate with Zona Dance Academy on their end of year show, The Lion King.
Manny Man is in Mullingar Arts Centre on Thursday February 28 at 8pm and Friday March 1 at 10am.