Heavey’s Rochfortbridge play set for emotional homecoming debut

A Rochfortbridge writer is preparing for a major milestone in her creative journey as her acclaimed play returns home for its Irish debut next month.

Yvonne Heavey says she is “getting all excited now” as she enters the final stages before seeing The Wake of Your Man – a production rooted in her upbringing in Rochfortbridge – performed on an Irish stage for the first time.

The play will run at Mullingar Arts Centre on May 1 and 2, marking a significant homecoming for Heavey, whose work draws heavily on her memories of growing up in Derrygreenagh.

Already, the production has proven a major success abroad. It premièred at the Jersey Arts Centre on St Patrick’s Day, where it opened to a standing ovation and strong critical acclaim.

Audiences responded enthusiastically, and the production also drew praise from critics. Jersey Evening Post reviewer Rod McLoughlin wrote that Heavey had “managed something remarkable” by creating a play that is not only “hilarious farce” but also “moving and poignant”.

“We opened on St Patrick’s night and had three shows,” Yvonne said. The original two-night run sold out quickly, prompting organisers to add a matinee after securing an additional slot at the busy venue.

“People were off the scale laughing and the feedback has been phenomenal, and people afterwards were saying, ‘Oh it was a shame: I couldn’t get a ticket’.” Despite coming relatively late to writing, Yvonne has built a reputation in a short time. With a background in financial services, she turned to creative writing a few years ago, and has since won a number of literary awards.

The Wake of Your Man grew out of a collection of short stories she wrote, inspired by her recollections of life in Rochfortbridge. The play offers humour and a vivid snapshot of life in 1990s Ireland, something that resonated with audiences in Jersey.

“To some extent, the world portrayed was quite foreign to them,” she said, noting cultural differences, particularly Irish traditions surrounding death and the influence of Catholicism. “So it was an insight for them.”

Directed by Daniel Egerton, the production has also been notable for its cross-channel collaboration. Half the cast are based in Mullingar and half in Jersey, and Daniel travelled between the two locations during rehearsals.

It was important to Yvonne that the accents and characters felt authentic, and that led to the inclusion of several midlands actors in the cast. Among those who travelled to Jersey for the première were Katie Purdue (Polly), Elisa Cañas (Nancy), Alannah Looby, Meadhbh Hughes, Clare Egan (Bernadette) and Mick Gilmartin.

According to Yvonne, the cast formed a strong bond during the rehearsal process. “They were phenomenal. And they just melded. There were some great relationships developed,” she said.

Following the success of the Jersey run, Yvonne has continued refining the script in preparation for its Irish debut. “I've been working constantly on it, condensing it and making it more snappier, really bringing it more alive,” she said.

Support from Mullingar Arts Centre has also been key to the production’s development. Seán Lynch travelled to Jersey for the première and, according to Yvonne, has been a strong advocate for the play.

“He seems to think we have got a bit of a literary gem in our hands,” she said, adding that he believes the work “has got legs”.

She believes the play captures an important and often overlooked aspect of Irish life.

“It’s a time capsule… if you think about all these women that are the infrastructure of the community in Ireland, it’s never really been recorded,” she said.

“We know about them, but we’ve never really captured that. I think the story that runs through it is this little piece of history that we need to capture for our culture.”

The Mullingar performances will see the Jersey-based cast travel to Ireland to reunite with their midlands counterparts, recreating the dynamic that proved so successful in the initial run.

Interest in the shows is already building, and the production is expected to attract strong local support following its success overseas.

While tickets are still available, early indications suggest the Mullingar run could follow Jersey in selling out.

Tickets can be booked through Mullingar Arts Centre by calling 044 9347777.