Newly cast lead actor adds Westmeath link in Jersey play

All 10 roles have now been cast for the Rochfortbridge writer Yvonne Heavey’s play ‘The Wake of Yer Man’, which is to première in Jersey on St Patrick’s night of next year.

And, as it happens, one of the lead actors in the play has a link to Westmeath: her cousin is Westmeath Examiner photographer, Thomas Gibbons, who has been living in Mullingar for the last 20 years.

“My mother’s sister moved to Jersey, and it is her granddaughter, Jessica Garton who has been selected,” says Thomas, explaining that while Jessica lives in London, she was born and reared in Jersey.

Yvonne is thrilled to have the line-up complete, including three London and seven Jersey-based actors, but especially delighted that Jessica – one of the three professional actors involved – has a link to this area.

Jessica will take on the complex role of a 15-year-old character named Polly – despite being 24. “She’s so young-looking but at the same time, as a 24-year-old has the experience to handle the long, emotionally heavy monologues,” Yvonne said.

“You really need someone with experience to carry the depth of the role.”

The work-shopping phase of the production begins this week, and two further workshops are planned for August and September, after which the rehearsals begin, and Yvonne is currently looking for a voice coach who can help the cast develop a genuine-sounding Westmeath accent.

Although she is the writer, because of the reactions to date from the actors and others who have read the script, Yvonne is getting to appreciate with new eyes, the wit and the sayings of Westmeath that form such a fundamental part of the dialogue in what was originally a book.

“It’s not just the accent – it’s the phrasing, the poetry, the bogland humour,” said the writer, who grew up in Derrygreenagh Park.

“The dialogue is inspired by the people I know – farmers, friends, family – and their way of speaking. There’s an authenticity you just can’t fake.”

To ensure that authenticity, a local man, a farmer, has come on board to review the script, to help ensure it sounds authentic, says Yvonne.

“By chance, he went and bought the book. He said, ‘I’d never heard of it, read the book, and I loved it.’ That’s the reaction I wanted.”

An interesting development is that there is to be original music to match: a composer is crafting violin-led pieces that blend theatrical Irish music with ‘90s influences like Oasis. “It’s ambitious,” the playwright said, “but it feels right.” While the scale of the production is ambitious, funding has come from a combination of arts grants and private investors moved by the script. “People have gone above and beyond, reducing fees or volunteering their time, because they believe in the story,” Yvonne said.

Première

The play will make its debut on March 17, 19, and 20 at Jersey Arts Centre, the cultural hub of the island, with a hopeful eye on future runs in Mullingar, London, and even Croatia.

“They gave me St Patrick’s Night for the première,” said the writer, beaming. “That’s nearly impossible to book – it’s a huge honour.”

The script is based on her previously published book, which has enjoyed sales success in local shops including Wholesome Kitchen. “Apparently it’s flying off the shelves there. Who would have thought?”

Read next: Spectacular summer fun at Streete Vintage Festival