Actress Karen Drury is well known to TV viewers from her roles as Susannah in classic Channel 4 soap Brookside - now she's coming to Dublin to appear in powerful courtroom drama The Verdict, a stage adaptation of the classic Paul Newman movie, which runs at The Gaiety Theatre from 16th-20th April.
We asked Karen for her choice cultural picks...
BOOK
Two of my favourite books have the same strong sense of place, engaging characters and elegant prose. A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles weaves fiction with Russian history, as it tells the story of the delightful Count Rostov, imprisoned in the Metropole Hotel. A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark transports one into 1950's London, bedsitters and espresso bars. Both are full of wisdom and humour and beautifully written.
FILM
Coming from Yorkshire to drama school in London I fell in love with foreign films - my favourite being Claude Goretta's The Lacemaker (1977), starring the young and wonderful Isabelle Huppert, a delicately simple and subtle tale of a love affair that fractures despite the couple's obvious affection. Beautiful natural realistic acting.
GIG
I've seen Lianne Carroll several times now at Ronnie Scott and the Kino in Hastings. Her voice is so very rich and expressive, she breaks your heart with her beautiful ballads, and also has such a life-enhancing sense of fun!
TV
I've just started watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime. Fabulous sassy New York Jewish humour, and beautiful to watch.
PODCAST
I'm a Radio 4 junkie, so I'm usually catching up on In Our Time with Melvin Bragg, or The Archers. I've just downloaded Jay Rayner lunching with various guests, as conversation with good food is the ultimate joy.
ART
Touring the country, one comes across many unexpected joys and whilst playing in Mold I was taken to a fabulous art gallery in North Wales called Ffin Y Parc. It's a country house on two floors filled with fabulous art and ceramics. It's so comfortable you just want to move in, there's a fabulous cafe, and the whole experience is so conducive to getting that checkbook out! Beware, one of our party did, and you can check them out here. The current exhibition includes the divine landscapes of Malcolm Edwards, I want one.
New Exhibition: Malcolm Edwards
— Ffin y Parc Gallery (@FfinyParcArt) March 29, 2019
Starts this weekend! pic.twitter.com/XnhgamP8J6
PLAY
Really one has to come and see The Verdict! It's a fast-paced court case with a fabulous cast! I would say that but it's true! it's A very satisfying evening, and I'm very proud to be in it and working with such talented actors. It's set in Boston in the '80s, so has a poignant background of Irish immigrant experience combined with a heart-wrenching story which keeps you guessing to the end.
MUSIC
I listen more to classical music now I'm older, and really love opera. In the summer I try to get tickets for Longborough in the Cotswolds. It's a summer festival, and though expensive, what is more perfect than a great opera, glorious coutryside, wine and food with friends? On the other hand, Randy Newman has just celebrated 50 years in the business, his satirical songs are heartbreaking and so funny, like perfect short stories.
The Verdict is at The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, from April 16th-20th - more details here.
