John Connors is an acclaimed actor, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker and playwright, celebrated for his role as Patrick Ward in the classic crime drama Love/Hate, and the winner of Best Actor at the 2018 IFTA Awards for his role in Cardboard Gangsters.
This month, he takes to the Abbey Theatre stage in Walls and Windows, a new play by Rosaleen McDonagh, described as 'a tender, complex and beautiful love story that examines how external circumstances pull us apart, when all we really want is to be together'.
We asked John for his choice cultural picks...
FILM
Just watched an Irish film called The Bright Side starring Gemma Leah Devereux. It's about a comedian who's been diagnosed with cancer. It's very funny and there are some really cathartic moments, which are rare to see in Irish cinema. Gemma Leah Devereux is one of the best actresses in the country, easy. It's actually in cinemas now!
MUSIC
For music, hands down it has to be singer-songwriter David Keenan. Musically somewhere in between Damien Dempsey and Dermot Kennedy, I went to one of his gigs and it was a very profound and spiritual experience. He's one to watch out for.
BOOK
My favourite book is Dublin Seven written by Frankie Gaffney. The book details the drug and session culture of the early noughties in the working-class areas of Dublin. It’s a very authentic, beautifully written book and it really takes you to those places. When the history books are written in years to come, Frankie will be down as one of the legends of Irish writing.
THEATRE
It has to be Walls and Windows by Rosaleen McDonagh. By far it is one of the most important plays I’ve worked on at the Abbey Theatre. Not only is it the first play written by a Traveller on the Abbey stage, but the content and the storyline being explored is so powerful and relevant to what’s going on today in Ireland. It’s an incredibly special piece of theatre that everyone should try to see.
TV
I don’t think you can beat the acting and performances of The Sopranos. Although it dates from the start of the Golden Era of television and productions have gotten bigger and more expensive, the story and performances remain the best without a doubt for me. It’s a joy to rewatch whenever I can.
GIG
It would have to be Damien Dempsey. Every year I see him at Vicar Street, and it is always a very profound experience. There’s no gig like Damien’s, and it happens to be last gig I was at.
ART
There’s an artist called Tommy McGouran. He’s an elderly man from Donnycarney, and he does incredible work around Irish culture and Native America. I’ve a couple of his pieces at home that I really love.
RADIO
I never miss an episode of The Joe Rogan Podcast, ever. With great guests each podcast, he’s an unbelievable conversationalist and has it down to an artform. Many new podcasts don’t allow the guests to talk – on his podcast, he really draws out those interesting stories and let’s the guests do the talking.
TECH
- I’m a big YouTube fan, and one of my favourite channels is The Jimmy Dore Show. A comedian and journalist, he humorously refers to himself as a "pothead, jerk-off, comedian in his garage telling the truth". He really calls out the left and right and does it in a lighthearted way. I check him out almost every day.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
- A young Traveller actor called Kayleigh McDonagh who I worked with in a film called In It. She’s one of the most naturally talented actors I’ve ever worked with. When I auditioned her, I couldn’t believe she had never acted before – her skills were off the charts. Another person to definitely watch out for.
Walls and Windows will be performed to a live audience of 50 people per night at the Abbey Theatre from 23rd – 28th August. It will also be live-streamed from the Abbey stage on August 27th and 28th, and is available on-demand from 29th August until 11th September - find out more here.
