Writer Frank McGuinness talks about his life and work.
The Brian Friel play 'The Gentle Island' opens at the Peacock Theatre next week. This production is being directed by playwright Frank McGuinness.
From a working class background Frank McGuinness grew up in Buncrana in County Donegal. He credits his parents for inspiring his creativity describing them as great storytellers. He achieved success with his first play 'The Factory Girls'. He describes it as a celebration of his mother and aunts who were all skilled factory hands who took great pride in their work.
They had a wonderful sense of humour, a great sense of language.
He describes the process of creating characters in his work. He says he gets to know them and then they start to speak in their own voices. He believes the great thing about writing is that you are given the opportunity to be many people.
Politically Frank McGuinness says he is confused and has not really recovered from the Enniskillen bombing last year. He has since buried any dream of a united Ireland in his lifetime.
This episode of Kenny Live was broadcast on 3 December 1988. The presenter is Pat Kenny.
