Theatre fan Patrick set for biggest role to date

Patrick Lonergan was just 16 when he arrived into Galway, tired and hungry after finishing a charity walk from Dublin, and first laid eyes on the Galway Arts Festival. It was a sight for sore eyes, he says, and certainly left a lasting impression.

Patrick has now been appointed NUI Galway’s first ever Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies, with responsibility for developing new courses, building new research resources and partnering with theatre companies – it is definitely a dream job for a man who loves the theatre.

A Dublin native, he first came to NUIG in 2002 to do his PhD and just never left the City of the Tribes since. It is highly appropriate that the College would have a drama and theatre specialty in a city recognised nationally and internationally for its arts and culture.

The new BA course in drama and theatre was set up last September, and a new Masters course will start this September, offering students of all ages an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of theatre.

Patrick reckons he sees about 100 plays a year at home and abroad, including some amateur productions. He has a healthy respect for amateur theatre and says playwrights wouldn’t make any money if it wasn’t for these groups.

“I am very aware of the contribution of amateur theatre companies and the wealth of knowledge many of them have of Irish theatre. In fact, one of our students is starting a PhD on amateur theatre in Ireland and particularly in the West of Ireland.

“Amateur companies kept John B Keane going for years when the Abbey didn’t want to know him. . .  but thanks to the Druid, his work is enjoying a revival.”

Patrick, who lives in Renmore with his Loughrea born wife, Therese, a school teacher, and their four-year-old daughter Saoirse, worked for a while with the INTO before returning to theatre.

“I love teaching and I really am doing what I love to do. I have no ambitions to write a play myself, but am interested in developing drama and theatre courses here at NUIG.

His work is not all about academia and much of the course is also practical. Especially hands-on is a module given by Macnas Theatre Company which gets the students (of all ages) into costume, face paint and literally out on the street in a very fun way!

“It is not every course that can boast of their students getting workshops by two local Tony Award winners, Garry Hynes and Marie Mullen of the Druid. There’s also an internship scheme with the Galway Arts Festival, where they get to see behind the scenes.”

Patrick, at 38 years, is probably one of the youngest professors in the country but his enthusiasm and his hands-on experience of theatre make him the ideal candidate to run the course.

He is highly regarded within theatre circles in Ireland and recently wrote the programme notes for the London production of Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan which stars Daniel Radcliffe of the Harry Potter films.

For a longer interview with Patrick Lonergan see this week’s City Tribune here