Midsummer night’s dream comes true for Barry
Barry Whelan (18) of Castlepark in Mallow will perform in Shakespeare’s romantic comedy ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ later this month at the Peacock Theatre in Dublin.
Acting for only two years with Lightbulb Youth Theatre in Mallow, Barry is one of only four accepted from Cork in the National Youth Theatre production.
Twelve hours days have been part of the gruelling schedule over the past few weeks in order to prepare for the Shakespearian classic.
Maynooth, Co Kildare is where Barry is preparing for the past few weeks, not even getting a chance to celebrate his Leaving Certificate results this week, due to the high work load required to appear at the Peacock.
Acting has become a huge hobby for Barry ever since his first play, Shadow of a Gunman, at the Patrician Academy two years ago. However, the budding young thespian aims to keep acting just as a hobby with plans to study Biological and Chemical Sciences at Third Level.
In the upcoming play, Barry is playing Demetrius in the romantic comedy written by The Bard in the 1590s. It portrays the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of actors.
“I am enjoying it, but I will keep acting as a hobby. I will probably join the drama group when I go to college. I don’t love Shakespeare, but it does not put me off,” said Barry.
For the play this August, the actors are supplied with voice coaches, set designers, choreographers, assistant directors and lighting assistants.
Up until August 25, Barry has to spend from 9.30am until 8.30pm rehearsing five days a week, getting one evening off to go to the cinema.
In order to get involved in the Shakespearian favourite, Barry applied, attended workshops in Cork and then got called to Dublin where he had to play out a monologue and a dialogue.
“He is a good actor, and he is enjoying the project a lot,” said Stefanie Preissner, director at Lightbulb Youth Theatre: “We are very proud of him.”
