The Camden Fringe Interviews
Actor Johnjoe Irwin discusses Magpie.
Pigs Back Productions is an Irish-led theatre production Company, based in London, who are about to bring Magpie to The Old Red Lion Theatre for this year’s Camden Fringe.
Set in 1923 and a divided Ireland, Magpie followed two brothers, Michael and Patrick Murphy, within the confines of Kilmainham Gaol. One an IRA gunman fresh from the trenches of WWI, the other a Freestate prison guard.
Actor Johnjoe Irwin, who will be playing Patrick, took time out of rehearsals to chat with us about the play.
Lovely to meet you Johnjoe. So what can audiences expect from the show?
Magpie is an anti-war piece that probes the complexity of loyalty between family and national allegiance, ideology, and experience. It resonates powerfully in today’s volatile times of war and conflict; enduring themes, as relevant today as they were a century ago. It is a hard hitting piece with emotionally charged performances but also moments of levity and hope and has been described as “a stunning production, which is quite simply flawless” in a 5-star review from Broadway Baby.
Where will we find you for Camden Fringe then?
We will be performing in The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington. We chose this venue because the first ever run of Magpie happened here earlier this year in February as part of the Fresh Fest new writing festival to sold out audiences. We’ve since toured the show to Greenwich and Brighton and are now very excited to bring it back to where it all began!
What was it that drew to the role of Patrick?
I really jumped at the opportunity to play a character from this incredibly important part of Irish history. Someone who took part in fighting for Ireland’s freedom and then faced with incredibly difficult decisions in the following years in the midst of such a violent and oppressive time that tore families apart.
What is it about your character that you most enjoy?
I think on first reading, Patrick can be seen as the classic authoritative older brother who has been hardened by the conflict and anger for his younger brother; Michael, but I have really enjoyed exploring the vulnerability that lies underneath this tough exterior, the deep love he has for his family and the responsibility he feels for them. He’s a very complex person that has been through a huge amount and unpacking all of that has been an absolute joy.
How challenging has this role been for you?
Some elements have been quite challenging! Exploring the grief and trauma that has molded this man definitely hasn’t been easy, but it’s been challenging in such a rewarding way! And finding the brotherly bond with Michael (Andrew Cusack) has been so much fun. I actually also have a younger brother so I know full well how annoying they can be and also how strong that connection is, so getting to play with that and find that dynamic between these two brothers has been really enjoyable!
What is it you hope the audience will think about afterwards?
We really want the audience to consider the issues around conflict raised in the show. Unfortunately with the themes explored here are still so relevant to our world today and the damage violence and war can wreak on families. We would also love for this to illuminate this period of Irish history for people who may not be familiar and want to learn more. At its core though this show is a story about family and the relationship between these two brothers.
Being Camden Fringe, we all know sets have to be bare minimum, how have you got around this?
Well, we’ve had to be creative to still make the audience feel like they have stepped into a jail cell in the 1920s with very little but we think we’ve done a good job! We have a vintage chamber pot, a hand made mattress filled with straw, with chalk and straw covering the walls and floor to give the space the grim aesthetic it needs! Also the costumes/uniforms really help to bring the audience into the world (especially mine, it’s amazing and I love it).
Will people be able to find you in the Old Red Lion bar afterwards to ask you more questions?
We will absolutely be in the bar after the show to have a few pints and a chat and would love for people to come and give us their thoughts or ask about anything from more about this part of Irish history, which brother you agree with more or even just where we got all the straw from!
If budget was not an issue, what’s the one piece of scenery or set you’d love to have in your show?
I think a proper heavy iron cell door with a lock would be great. The sound of that closing and locking after every entrance/ exit would really add some weight! But I am playing Patrick who is the Prison Guard, so I may be biased!
Many thanks to Johnjoe for taking the time to chat. You can catch Magpie when it plays at The Old Red Lion Theatre between 1st and 4th August. Further information and tickets available here.
