Declan’s Got Talent – Smock Alley – Review

Dates 9 + 11 Jan | Main Space

First Fortnight in partnership with Fight2Flight Theatre, Peter Gowen, Cork City Council and Waterford City Council

Part of the First Fortnight Festival

We meet Declan as he’s just about to step onto the stage on Britain’s Got Talent. He has a brief interaction with Simon, Cheryl and Piers who ask him about his accent. Declan was originally from Cork but hasn’t been home in many years. At this point, we travel back in time to see the reason why Declan left Ireland where he was studying to be a priest. We hear about his teenage years and what made him leave Ireland for good!

This is a new piece written by Peter Gowen, who previously wrote The Chronicles of Oggle. It is a two-hander, with Jack Healy and Peter Gowen on stage throughout. The play has an unusual format, as both actors play Declan at different times, depending on the circumstances. There are many characters, with school friends, teachers, seminary students, priests, and even a bishop! We follow Declan’s life through his teenage years, leaving Cork to study in Dublin and beyond.

This play is part of the First Fortnight Festival, a charity that “challenges mental health prejudice through arts and cultural action”. The festival has a number of theatre events and is now in its second week (4th – 18th January).

The production handles some difficult subjects with child physical and sexual abuse. As such, it is not always easy viewing. Gowen is better known as an actor than as a writer, and the play is at its strongest with his portrayal of the self-absorbed and cruel Bishop, whose presence looms over the entire piece. The two actors change frequently between characters, allowing them to show their skill. It has many light and humorous moments, along with the darker scenes, making for a lively hour’s entertainment.

Find out more about Declan’s Got Talent here.

You can also find Declan’s Got Talent in Donegal, Mayo, and Offaly.

Starring – Peter Gowen & Jack Healy
Writer – Peter Gowen