Seamus O’Rourke explores friendship, relationships and how best to get noticed on your last day in his latest piece entitled ‘The Handyman’, a hilariously funny, yet a poignant poetic look at small-town life in rural Ireland.
Hugh Spotten is the local handyman and is about to receive an award for his contribution to the community. However, all is not what it seems in a small town falling in on itself.
O’Rourke is an award-winning writer, director and actor from County Leitrim. He tours Ireland regularly with his own self-penned shows. Seamus has over two million hits on YouTube and Social Media with his collection of short stories, recitations and sketches.
Although involved with theatre for decades, O’Rourke only turned professional around twenty years ago. In his youth, he played senior inter-county football, but ongoing injury put paid to that. A father of three, he grew up on the family farm and worked for many years as a carpenter – an experience that no doubt provided useful fodder for ‘The Handyman’.
As fate would have it, it was the carpentry that first got him involved in drama. He was in his mid-20s when his local amateur drama group needed someone to help build their sets. No better man.
Soon he found himself appearing in plays himself, and before long he was taking on lead roles and even directorial duties. It was another decade before he finally tried his hand at writing. He not only found that he loved it – he also found an appreciative audience.
It was ten years ago now that Seamus O’Rourke decided to put down the circular saw for good and put his all into writing. It turned out to be a solid move.
Seamus brings ‘The Handyman’ to Kilworth Community Centre (note venue) on Thursday night, June 23 at 8pm. Tickets (€20) are now on sale at the usual outlets. The event is promoted by The Village Arts Centre.
