The Monthly interviews playwright, and actor, Patricia Gormley – Part 2 – Writing and performing plays

So you followed up the first play with a second?

Yes I wrote a play with two characters and there were two actors, Christine Nelson and Roisin Gallagher, she’s doing really well now, acted in that play.

Why the theatre? Why plays?

I have always loved performing all the way back to when I was in school. I went to a Grammar School, I was the only one from my area who passed the 11 plus. I really didn’t fit in to the way the school was, but I would always stay back to see if I could get a part in a play. One teacher did tell me that I had the airs of a true actress.

I used to go to see plays and think that was what I wanted to do, but I had four kids so there wasn’t much opportunity.

You come to writing later in life?

Yes. My opportunities came much later in life, when I was in my fifties.

I find plays very easy to write. The four plays I have written have almost all the same characters and it is very much in my voice. And I do love performing.

How do you move forward?

I had a very bad fall in Spain and experienced concussion and trauma and was laid up in bed for a little while. I wasn’t able to write. I couldn’t even think about writing.

What happens then?

I managed to start writing again and I am coming back with a new play and I will be performing again soon.