Graduate Clare Monnelly dabbles in the risqué at Tiger Dublin Fringe.

Wednesday, August 26th, 2015 at 10:54 am | Alumni Interviews, News & Events

Clare Monnelly graduated from the Two Year Intensive Training programme at The Gaiety School in 2011.  We caught up with Clare to find out more about her forthcoming Fringe show Harder Faster More, a Red Bear Productions venture that will be running at Smock Alley Theatre from the 9th to the 13th of September.   Clare will be appearing in a cast which includes fellow GSA graduate Charlene Gleeson!

 

 

What role/roles do you play in Harder Faster More?

I play several roles in the show! It’s made up of 7 different phone conversations between various completely different types of people, that all somehow relate back to what we’re talking about overall – modern fables of a sexualised world!

Is the play more comedy than social commentary or do you feel it manages to strike a happy medium somewhere in the middle?

There’s no doubt that the topics we’re addressing with the show are big, serious, and utterly relevant – but the beauty of Tracy’s writing is that she manages to interweave those sensitive issues seamlessly into incredibly entertaining, engaging narratives. Yep, we’re challenging the sexual exploitation of women in our society. But we’re using the medium of theatre to do it. Theatre is about storytelling. And Irish people tell a cracking story!

I would imagine this is a big departure from your recent role in A Month in the Country at The Gate. How has the transition been?

I’ll actually still be performing in the Gate at night when we start rehearsing! So it’ll be a lovely overlap! Working in the Gate has been a dream and I’ll most definitely be sad to finish up, but no better way to mourn a job than to start another! I’m delighted to be working on such a sharp, innovative piece of work with some seriously talented women (and men!)

Can you give me three words that aptly describe the show?

Sharp, funny and risqué