Last week, we profiled young Rathcormac actor, Stephen O’Leary who is doing very well for himself on the professional scene. Stephen has been hitting our TV screen over the past week alongside Pat Short in ‘Smalltown’.
This week we catch up with Ballysaggart lass, Jenny Fennessy who is working for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) on two of Shakespeare’s plays, ‘Cymbeline’ and ‘King Lear’.
“We began rehearsals for ‘Cymbeline’ in February and the show opened in Stratford-Upon-Avon in May. I play the gentlewoman in that,” Jenny told The Avondhu this week
“We began rehearsals for ‘King Lear’ at the end of June and performances began on August 20. In this I play the messenger and servant and I’m also understudying Lear’s daughter Goneril and the Fool. Greg Doran is artistic director of the RSC and is in charge of direction for ‘King Lear’. Sir Antony Sher is playing King Lear so you could say I am in exalted company,” Jenny said, adding that the show has had rave reviews.
Jenny, who played locally with groups such as The Palace Players (in ‘The Son Of Man’) and Brideview Tallow (‘Moonshine’ and ‘The Glass Menagerie’), said they will perform both shows in repertory in Stratford upon Avon till October 15 before both shows move to The Barbican in London till December 23rd.
“Then it’s back to Ballysaggart with a happy heart for me,” she enthused. Jenny’s parents have been over to see her in rehearsal and but hope to revisit to see the full productions.
Jenny reminds us that both shows are screened live to cinemas internationally on two different dates and can be seen in SGC Dungarvan and in the Omniplex, Mahon Point.
‘Cymbeline’ will be broadcast live on Wednesday, 28 September at 7pm and ‘King Lear’ on Wednesday, 12 October at 7pm – both from Stratford upon Avon.
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