Actor Caitríona Ennis returns to the Abbey Theatre stage later this month in the centenary production of Sean O'Casey's classic The Plough and the Stars, directed by Tom Creed and on the Abbey Stage from Friday, 27th February - she's no stanger to the works of the great playwright, having recently toured with the Druid Theatre Co. for their production of Druid O'Casey: The Dublin Plays.
Her extensive theatre credits include Duck Duck Goose by Caitríona Daly for Fishamble: The New Play Company; 14 Voices from the Bloodied Field for the Abbey Theatre; and The Fall of the Second Republic for the Corn Exchange; onscreen, she's been in everything from the BBC's Northern Lights to Richard Linklater's Oscar nominated feature film Blue Moon.
We asked Caitriona for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
When the news broke that the brilliant actress Catherine O’Hara had passed, I immediately put on Waiting for Guffman and quickly took solace in her genius. The film follows aspiring director Corky St. Clair and the cast of a hokey small town amateur musical group as they go overboard when they find out the Broadway theatre agent Mort Guffman will be attending their next production. This film is a piece of comedy gold and makes for the perfect watch while the rain storms on outside!
The Lighthouse cinema recently featured a double bill of Richard Linklater’s two newest films Nouvelle Vague and Blue Moon - I was lucky enough to work on Blue Moon so I might be biased, but I highly recommend watching it for Ethan Hawke's incredible performance alone. It was a masterclass getting to work with Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater on set.
MUSIC
Since its release I have Lilly Allen’s West End Girl on repeat. And when it’s not on, it’s playing in my head! Other staples played in my house are the great Dolly Parton and CMAT.
BOOK
I’ve just finished reading Jacqueline Wilson’s book for adults, Think Again - I was a devoted Jacqueline Wilson reader as a young teen so when I saw she had written a follow-up book to her Girls series, my heart leaped for joy. The Girls characters Ellie, Magdalen and Nadine are all grown up now - but if they think life’s done surprising them, they’d better think again. This book was an absolute joy to read, like meeting an old friend for coffee and feeling like no time had passed at all. The familiarity is a giddy delight and so comforting. You don’t have to have read any of her work before to enjoy this book though. It’s beautifully written and tells the highs and lows of women everywhere. A book full of hope.
I’m also reading Wrong Women by Caroline West as part of my research for my next role as Rosie Redmond in The Plough and the Stars by Sean O' Casey at the Abbey Theatre. It unpacks the history of Europe’s largest red-light district, The Monto and examines the lives of the women who worked there. It’s an incredibly important read and feels like an integral part of our history that we don’t talk about enough. It’s hard to put it down, such a fascinating read. In the dedication, Caroline West writes ‘For the women and girls of The Monto’ – that’s also who my Rosie Redmond is for. May we never forget them.
PLAY
I went to see Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector at the beautiful Gate Theatre and what a treat it was. A hilariously sharp and poignant play that surely packs a punch. All portrayed by an electric cast! It has one of the funniest plays I’ve seen this year and will surely bring a belly full of laughter to anyone who has ever been in a WhatsApp group, particularly a parents' WhatsApp group. I won’t give any spoilers, but it makes for the perfect night out.
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TV
Shitt’s Creek is a great staple for these wet days. It’s full of colour, comic genius and lifts the spirits no end.
GIG
Damien Dempsey’s Christmas gig at Vicar Street was a spiritual event. I love Damo and have seen him many times, but I hadn’t been to one of his Christmas gigs. My god. It was so special. A holy event for everyone who sang together with him that night. We sang all the way out onto Thomas Street and the voices rang out throughout the streets my whole walk home. Strangers all united in songs and stories. In a world that feels so divided sometimes, it was remarkable to feel people brought together like that.
RADIO
I’m a massive fan of the radio. It reminds me of home, having RTÉ radio on in the background. So, I have my little radio and every morning first thing I do is pop it on. My favourite thing to do at the weekends is to listen to it while pottering around the house. Movies and Musicals with Aedín Gormley on RTÉ Lyric FM Saturday afternoons, Sunday Afternoon with Simon Delaney on RTÉ Lyric FM and the Brendan O’Connor show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Bliss with a cup of coffee!
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TECH
The weather app has become my new best friend.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
Urban gardens. We need nature now more than ever. Homes for our own native bee species and butterflies, birds, urban foxes and hedgehogs, etc. It also offers us some peace and beauty amidst the hustle and bustle of our crazy world. A little plant pot full of seeds is all it takes!
I live in the city centre but I have a little urban garden. I can’t express the joy it’s brought me. The sense of hope when despite all the harsh seasonal weather you see those green shoots push through the dirt to blossom into their full glory or watch a rose bush bloom and then retreat for its rest only to come blooming back again when spring comes. It’s good for the soul. A gentle reminder of how resilient and wonderful our natural world is and how much she can teach us - if we just give her the space to flourish.
The Plough and the Stars is at the Abbey Theatre from Friday, 27th February – Thursday, 30th April - find out more here
