Theatre maker Janet Moran teams up with ex-college pal, broadcaster Keith Walsh to help him bear his soul to the nation, in his first ever play called Pure Mental, a show about men’s mental health that tours countrywide this November & December - below, the duo discuss their collaboration...
Janet: I remember you well, as an 18 year old. In an acting class full of excitable kids who were all trying to outdo each other with "drama", you always seemed more together. Full of craic but definitely calmer and more sensible than most of us. That’s my memory anyway. And over the years since, I loved seeing your success on radio and tv and sometimes running into you at RTÉ Radio Centre and marvelling that we had both managed to make some kind of living from theatre and radio.
Keith: You were so vibrant and full of energy and had this brilliant smile. I was envious of your ability - I could see that you had a talent for the stage, for performing and a certain type of confidence that wasn't showy or brash. You were great fun and I can remember laughing a lot. But then you left us early (after 1st year?). You got a gig in 'the theatre' and you were the centre of a big scandal, you got a gig but you weren't allowed to take it and stay in college, so you made the choice and took a leap of faith and left us all behind! Oh, the scandal! I was again very envious, but also loved your rebellious spirit. Whenever I saw you on the telly or promoting a production, I'd be like "There's Janet, she's my friend from college" - proud as punch of your success.
When I first thought of trying to do something on stage with what I was writing, you were the first person I thought of asking for advice. I knew you knew your stuff and I felt that even if you hated what I'd written you'd tell me in a nice way!
Janet: That’s funny. I remember that feeling like a big scandal too, and I’m sure nobody cared at all except us. Off I went to stage manage a show, which was actually a brilliant decision for me because it did eventually lead to me getting work as an actor. I was delighted when you approached me just before the first lockdown and asked me to read some of your writing. I was nervous, too, in case it turned out to be awful but thankfully, you’re a really talented writer so I didn’t even have to be nice. I was amazed by your honesty in the short stories you sent me. It seemed very raw in the best sense and so was very compelling. When you came to the house to chat about it, you were so nervous and unsure about your writing but I had no doubts that you had something special. It was all a pretty organic experience from there, wasn’t it? In terms of how we started to actually get support and make the show...
Keith: I was nervous, jaypers. I felt like I was baring my soul and I was fully expecting to be ridiculed. I think coming from a radio presenter background I just thought most people would think "Why would a radio presenter be writing? And a play? Cop on". But you were so enthusiastic and supportive and also properly helpful in a very practical way. I remember you asking me all these questions like "Have you looked into getting a producer? I know a guy" or "Have you been into The Riverbank?" - the arts centre in Newbridge, you had worked with them before and they were so helpful. I hadn’t even thought of it. About a week later, having arranged a meeting with them, I was walking in with my pages of writing under my arm to talk to them about a 'play’ that I was writing with Janet Moran! Mad stuff. And they were so supportive. It wasn’t like they just handed me over a load of cash to make a play! They just allowed me to use a room in the building to write and the stage to try things out. I took them up on the offer! it was around that time that Covid hit... I think? It’s all very fuzzy.
Janet: Yeah, the Riverbank were amazing. Phil Jennings joined and designed the set and lights and we did the live broadcast of a 30 min work in progress. With full Covid restrictions. When we saw that 4000 people had watched the work in progress, I knew we had something worth getting to a full production. And luckily Riverbank agreed. Of course not before we had our first attempt at a tour cancelled, 'cause of one of the lockdowns last autumn...
Keith: It was a wild ride, between rehearsals over Zoom with children and dogs in attendance, meetings in parks to work on the script and our week in Bray in The Mermaid to prepare for the tour that was cancelled - as my first experience of putting together a production like this is was a baptism of fire. But here we are still standing and raring to go. Who have thought when we met all those years ago as giddy kids that we’d find ourselves here, together, standing together, on the edge of greatness! (Lol)
Janet: Indeed. Well I cant wait to see you out in front of a live audience. At last!
Keith Walsh is … Pure Mental premieres at Riverbank Arts Centre on November 19 and tours nationwide to 16 other venues until December 17 – find out more here.
