After Sarah Miles chronicles the life of a Fisherman ‘Bobeen’ who comes of age in 1969 on the set of Ryan’s Daughter; his life thereafter ebbs and flows, rises and falls like the tides that surround him. We had a chat with the actor and writer, Michael Hilliard Mulcahy.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where did you grow up?
My name is Michael Hilliard Mulcahy. I come from Castlegregory in County Kerry, grew up just yards from the sea.
Tell us about your interest in the arts and performing. How did it all begin?
My first sojourn in the world of theatre came playing Ned in Brian Friels ‘Philadelphia here I’ come at Siamsa Tire theatre in Tralee in 1990. Ned was a small one scene role, but yet I’d sit in the wings for entire show each night listening to Friels glorious language, times it brought tears to my eyes. The play resonated with me in so many levels. I know now that it’s probably here where the seed was sown to write yet it took seventeen more years.
Where have you performed before?
My debut play Beyond the Brooklyn sky opened in Garter lane arts centre and Dublin theatre festival in 2012 My plays have been performed in most of Ireland theatres both professionally and on the amateur scene.
What can Tallaght audiences expect from this show?
After Sarah Miles is bittersweet piece. Its loads of fun but doesn’t shy away from the dark side either. I played a summer season in Dingle some years back and American audience simply loved the play so gladly its universal themes seem to tick the boxes. One audience member who’s name escapes was the song writer who wrote Bettte Midler’s ‘The Rose’ She said the play blew her away. I also played to audiences of transition year students, twenty something hipster types. I thought they’d hate it. They loved it. It delights me that the play has a wide appeal. Audiences in Tallaght are great audiences. They responded brilliantly to Beyond the Brooklyn sky in 2012/13. In After Sarah Miles I think they will enjoy an evening of pure storytelling.
Tell us a random fact about yourself.
A random fact? Here’s 2, I was born in Hammersmith, west London. For a brief spell I was a member of my brother’s band ‘Shaving Moses’ and we played in the legendary Baggot Inn once. I was certain stardom loomed thereafter. The band fired me a week later. Musicians are bastards in fairness.
