Dave Coffey, creator, writer and star of successful RTÉ drama series 'Dan & Becs' talks to RTÉ.ie about his new series 'Sarah & Steve'.
Taragh Loughrey-Grant: Tell us about your new show 'Sarah & Steve' and how it came about?
Dave Coffey: Before we finished making 'Dan & Becs' I had it in mind to make another show using the same format. I originally wanted it to be based on the Northside and we went looking for a writer from the Northside but while we were looking for someone I met Emmet Kirwan, an actor from Tallaght. He told me that he was working on writing some sketches and ideas for TV shows so I asked if he would be interested in doing a Tallaght version of 'Dan & Becs'. I was happy to give up the Northside idea because this way we’d have authenticity to the show with Emmet writing about the area that he grew up in.
TLG: How did you and the production team decide on the content for each episode?
DC: The very first thing me and Emmet did was discuss who the characters would be and what their story would be over the ten episodes. Then after we’d made two pilot episodes, were happy with how everything was working, and we got the green light from RTÉ, we worked out the breakdown of the stories for all ten episodes. Throughout the process we also consulted with the development team at Accomplice Television.
TLG: How did you cast/find Charlene Gleeson (Sarah)?
DC: When Emmet and I were working on the scripts for the pilot episodes we talked about possible people for the role of Sarah and Charlene was one of the main contenders. She grew up just around the corner from Emmet in Tallaght but at that point he had never worked with her. Before we got around to shooting the pilots, he was cast in a short film with Charlene and after working with her he was confident that she was perfect for the role. We never auditioned anyone else.
TLG: As with your previous show 'Dan & Becs' were you ever worried about negative feedback in response to the stereotypes portrayed in the sketches?
DC: Not really. Both shows play on certain stereotypes but I always felt that if you make the characters real, give them more depth than just a two dimensional stereotype and you stay true to the area or people you’re trying to portray then people will see that and appreciate that it’s not just an easy dig at stereotypes. So far I haven’t heard any negative feedback about how the characters are portrayed.
TLG: What was the best and the worst reactions you've ever had?
DC: Some guy stopped me at a urinal at 'The Electric Picnic' last year and said that he loved shows like 'Peep Show', 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and 'Arrested Development and that he thought 'Dan & Becs 'was brilliant. I love all those shows too so it meant a lot to me to have 'Dan & Becs' mentioned positively in the same breath as them.
One of the worst reactions I’ve seen recently to 'Sarah & Steve' is people presuming that Emmet and Charlene are middle class actors playing working class characters. It annoys me that people don’t even bother checking the facts before saying something like that, but even with 'Dan & Becs' I remember some people commenting that Holly and I had “got the accents wrong”. We’re both from Killiney, just as Emmet and Charlene are both from Tallaght.
TLG: Was it as easy to write/create 'Sarah & Steve' as it was fellow Southsiders 'Dan and Becs'?
DC: Well 'Sarah & Steve' could never have happened without Emmet Kirwan. I could never have made this show without him. I wrote, directed and acted in 'Dan & Becs' and really felt like that was my show but 'Sarah & Steve' is Emmet’s show. He’s a great writer and actor and deserves all the credit.
TLG: How do audiences outside of Dublin relate/respond to the show?
DC: I was surprised how well 'Dan & Becs' seems to have done outside of Dublin. I wasn’t sure it would go down well at all because it was so specific to South Dublin but the feedback has been great. It’s still too early to tell if 'Sarah & Steve' will get a similar response but I think it’s a better show than 'Dan & Becs' so hopefully the response will be even better.
TLG: How do you approach your writing – are you a 9am-5pm style writer or do you stay up all night to meet a deadline?
DC: Definitely an' up all night to meet a deadline' person. I like writing but I can be very lazy. If I have a deadline though I’ll always make it on time. When I do sit down to write, I work quite quickly.
TLG: Were any of 'Sarah & Steve's experience your own?
DC: No. A lot of Dan & Becs was taken from my own or my friends’ experiences. 'Sarah & Steve' is more based on Emmet’s experiences but a lot of it is just complete fiction.
TLG: How has the experience and success of 'Dan & Becs' helped your career?
DC: It’s opened doors for me and created some work opportunities but mainly it’s given me the belief that I can make a career out of something that I love doing.
TLG: Who are your greatest professional inspirations?
DC: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Chris Morris, Graham Linehan, Arthur Matthews, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Caroline Aherne, Russell T. Davies, Joss Whedon, Larry David, Tina Fey and Mitchell Hurwitz.
TLG: Has the recession affected your writing or the changes in society influenced future projects. If so, how?
DC: Definitely. If you’re writing about anything current you can’t really avoid the realities of the recession. I have a few projects that I’m working on at the moment that have had to be changed to some degree to take into account the change in the economic climate.
Couple of pop-culture questions for you:
Angelina V's Jennifer? Angelina
Peter Andre V's Katie Price/ Jordan? Neither
Potatoes or chips? Chips
TLG: When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?
DC: I think I only realised it when 'Dan & Becs' got picked up by RTÉ. I never would have thought I could make a career of it before then.
TLG: I think you also mentioned at one stage having an interest in film, perhaps directing – is this something you would still like to do?
DC: I think for the moment I’m going to focus on television. It’s a better fit for me but if down the road I have an idea that I feel is perfect for film than I’ll give it a go.
TLG: What's your dream long term job/project?
DC: I’d like to be like Tina Fey, Larry David or Ricky Gervais. Writing/directing/producing and acting. Basically what I’m doing now but on a much, much bigger scale.
'Sarah & Steve' is on RTÉ Two, Mondays at 10.50pm.
