TP McKenna recalls discovering theatre as a teenager, turning his back on a banking career, and his love of Chekhov.
TP (Thomas Patrick) McKenna was born and grew up in Mullagh County Cavan. His introduction to theatre was through 'fit ups' or travelling shows. During his years at Saint Patrick’s College Cavan he starred in school productions of Gilbert and Sullivan and knew that acting was for him.
Unsure as to what direction he should take after school, he listened to the wisdom of renowned actor and theatrical company manager Anew McMaster whose advice was,
Don’t be an actor until you’re absolutely sure that there’s nothing else in the world that you can do.
TP McKenna began working for Ulster Bank, first in Granard County Longford, followed by a stint in Trim where he became a member of the local drama society.
A long term plan to get to Dublin, came to pass when he began to get to know people in theatrical circles. His banking career was not progressing exactly as his superiors had planned, and when he was transferred to Cavan the bank’s manager promptly received a resignation letter.
Mentored by actor Milo O’Shea TP McKenna worked first in the Pike Theatre and then in the Abbey Theatre, under director Ernest Blythe.
For the next eight years there was a brown paper package at the stage door every Friday.
When he moved to England in 1963 that the career of TP McKenna took off. Over the years he has become a familiar face on television and cinema screens both sides of the Irish Sea. Three of his five children are graduates of RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) but he believes that times are very different now for actors, compared to when he started out,
I was very very lucky.
He is in Dublin rehearsing for Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard at the Gate Theatre with Cyril Cusack, Sara Kestelman and Olwen Fouéré, and is looking forward to the opening night as
He’s my favourite playwright after Shakespeare, he’s magical.
This episode of ‘Kenny Live’ was broadcast on 2 May 1992. The presenter is Pat Kenny.
'Kenny Live' was a weekly chat show on RTÉ television hosted by Pat Kenny. The programme was first broadcast in 1988 and ended in 1999, when Pat Kenny took over from Gay Byrne as host of 'The Late Late Show'.
