BWW Interviews: Writer/Director Keith-James Walker on Monkey Backstage Theatre Company's THE BEAR'S TUXEDO

Monkey Backstage Theatre Company's "The Bear's Tuxedo" premieres on Nov. 5th at Theatre Upstairs. TheatreIreland talked to writer/director Keith-James Walker...

The Show : The Bear's Tuxedo takes you on a cosmic journey through the torn flamboyant fibres of one man's being. That man being the indomitable Billy Sendoza. Billy is a gay Californian funeral director with an attachment to the arcane and a penchant for the preposterous. Indeed his very existence is the sole cause for the expansion of the universe. 'The Bear's Tuxedo' is a surreal exploration of how one man's inability to separate his dreams from reality contaminates and distorts not only his life, but the lives of those around him. Heaven or hell, he'll send you there in style.

Keith-James, can you introduce Monkey Backstage theatre company?
When myself and Rex Ryan were training in the Gaiety we continually discussed the idea of establishing a company which would give us the platform to produce our own work. Hence, Monkey Backstage. There is no specific style or type of theatre which we adhere to - as long as we can produce new work that comes from a place of honesty and integrity through whatever theatrical format possible, then we will have stayed true to our ethos.
In regards to the origins of the name Monkey Backstage - spontaneous 'raps' would occur during our days in college. These 'raps' would be nonsensical and ridiculous. On one such occasion Monkey Backstage was inadvertently created. A video capturing the moment exists but shall remain unseen. It's immaturity personified.

Can you tell us about your new show The Bear's Tuxedo ?
The Bear's Tuxedo is a one-man show set in California and Mexico. It follows the story of Billy Sendoza, a gay Californian funeral director and, in essence, his search for restitution. At its core, it's a story about relationships and how differently people are affected by them. Essentially I have tried to write the story with absolute sincerity but through the medium of an outlandish and peculiar character.
I've spent a considerable amount of time travelling and engaging with people of differently nationalities from various parts of the world, so points of inspiration for me are disparate. Subconsciously, everything I've been exposed to in my lifetime informs what and how I write. Indeed an individual I met recently procured my thoughts throughout the creative process and I believe if you write from a place of experience then you have a better understanding of what it is you're writing about.

You've a great poster for the show, it doesn't look like a typical Irish play..?
The premise for the play itself is somewhat preposterous and in a way provides the comedic undercurrent. Perhaps it belongs in a different continent but I do believe an Irish audience can completely relate to it. Although the character of Billy is gay, I would like to think it transcends sexuality and exposes something deeper and entirely consequential. The play is also quite dramatic, and subtlety, in terms of the script, is avoided. But for me, if an audience is subjected to a piece of theatre regarding an individual, then that story must be the most pivotal moment in that person's life otherwise why tell the story.

And it stars Kieran Roche...
Yes, Kieran recently graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting full-time course. Prior to this, he performed in several amateur productions around various theatres in Cork and his native Kerry. He most recently appeared in The Gonzo Theatre Company's 'The Birthday Man' as part of the 2013 Dublin Fringe Festival. This is his second production for Monkey Backstage after his appearance in 'The Park'.

Finally, does MonkeyBackstage have any further productions planned for the next 6 to 12 months ?
Work is ongoing on a two-man mime show about a scientist and a robot which will feature myself and Ian Toner. It's a project which originated a year ago and one which we are extremely passionate about. Slightly further afield, we will be looking to produce a contemporary Irish drama with a cast of between five and six. One of our aims is to make the work that we produce accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages and interests and not just a specific theatre demographic.
Please feel free to like our page on Facebook.com/monkeybackstage or follow us on Twitter @MonkeyBackstage.

To view the promo video of the show, click here

The Bear's Tuxedo runs from Nov 5th to Nov 16th at Theatre Upstairs, in Lanigans Bar on Eden Quay.
1PM Performances:
Tuesday Nov 5th- Saturday Nov 9th
Tuesday Nov 12th- Saturday Nov 16th

7PM Performances:
Thursday Nov 7th- Saturday Nov 9th
Thursday Nov 14th- Saturday Nov 16th

FOR BOOKINGS:
phone: 085 7727375
email: tupstairsbookings@gmail.com

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