Keith Singleton

We are fifty percent of the way through our gruelling two show schedule. 

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How lovely it was to get Johnny Phelan's play up in front of an audience. 

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New work! You couldn't beat it.

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Huge shout out to the Tech team at Smock Alley. A hundred shows to tech and operate in a very short space of time. Mighty!

Had a darlin' time running wild and free as an Elf at The Boulevard in Banbridge for Play Make Believe. 

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What did I learn? Next to nothing. 

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No! I learned that the people of Banbridge love a gilet and saying that things "Go like the hammers". 

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I also learned that it can be quite startling for people who work in retail when a six foot tall, slightly manic looking Elf bursts into your shop and announces (in their outside voice) 'Merry Christmas one and all'.

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But do you know what?

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MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL!​​

I've just been nominated by the UK Theatre Awards for 'Best Performance in a Play'. It was for playing Katurian in Prime Cut Productions / The Lyric Theatre's 'The Pillowman'. Loved that play..... Even though I got battered every night. A few times.

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Great to see Tinderbox Theatre Companies 'Rhino' be nominated for 'Best Play Revival'. Quality show.

Kabosh Theatre Company organised a reading of 'The Revolution's Promise', a global solidarity project from The Freedom Theatre as part of their Conflicting Narratives project. 

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I was lucky enough to be one of a number of local Artist's involved in sharing these Palestinian testimonies from the remarkable Freedom Theatre.

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The testimonies centred largely around the necessary engagement in cultural resistance against censorship and persecution.

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A huge education for me. 

 

 

Rehearsals for 'The Pillowman' have been going wonderfully well as is highlighted by the picture above illustrating the great new friendships I have been forging. 

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This was a moment where Stage Combat Instructor Philip Rafferty was kindly showing me the best way to have my face grabbed. Actor Steven Calvert (lurking above) was only too happy to oblige. 

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Director Emma Jordan is playing a blinder and all aspects of the show are shaping up beauitfully. Set, costume, soundscape and much much more. 

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Best advice is to book your ticket now for this viciously funny psychological thriller. 

We have been rehearsing like a good thing for the past two weeks to get Aladdin ready for its run (around) at The Marketplace Theatre, Armagh.

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My annual opportunity to sing and dance. 

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We will be performing thirty seven shows in total and it will run from the 2nd - 24th December.​

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Your kids will love it. And I dare say you will too. 

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Rehearsals start for Diona Doherty and GBL Productions 'The Hen Do' in only a small handful of days. 

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That means it is time to blow the dust off the accents and get ready for a barrel full of bangin' beats. 

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The show will play the Grand Opera House in Belfast for a week and then it'll be hitting up a load of the best venues that the North of the island has to offer. 

This summer I got to head down to the scenic Russborough House in the garden of Ireland to challenge people. 

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The Green Living Challenge to be specific.

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I love challenging others and not having to do the challenges myself so as I can keep up the illusion that if anyone saw me do the challenges they would be so disheartened by the incredible level I am at that they wouldn't even try. 

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A wonderful weekend was had and I even saw Bewitched. From a distance. Quite a distance. 

BOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!

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Gonna be working with Tinderbox Theatre Company to bring feverish carnal comedy 'Something Different' to life.

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This play will be showing at The MAC from the 21st - 25th March. 

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'Something Different' will explore the modern relationship. The potential for everything to go horribly wrong. Or horribly right. 

This Crimbo at Armagh's Market Place Theatre, YOU shall go to the ball!

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True Story...... Panto is back!

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'Cinderella' is the Pantomime of choice for 2022 and this year I get to the play the Dame. I am mad excited about this... But only if Debra Hill agrees to do my make-up... Otherwise, it will be.... I don't even want to think about it... Debra. Do the right thing. 

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The very sensibly priced tickets are on sale now. With special offers on the preview shows. You can book tickets at visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre

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3rd - 24th Dec = EPIC in Armagh. 

What an unreal time I got to have at this Summer's Comedy Carnival. 

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I only managed to see two of the countless comedians on show and they were very good. 

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But for me the weekend was all about hanging with the stilt walkers, the jugglers, the statues and the messers. And having the type of craic you can only have pretending to fall down a stairs dressed up as a jockey sat on a very small horse. 

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Turning Pirate continue to lead the way to my mind in terms of caring for the Artist.

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Bualadh Bos......

I've long been an admirer of the Ads that the Irish National Lottery put together. 

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The one with the water slides is pure joy. 

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And so I was only delighted when I got to be involved in a Lotto Ad. 

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I got to play a pretend Doctor who has made a clever machine that tells when people are fibbing or not. 

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The Ad highlights that ninety percent of lottery sales go back into the community.

 

A very very enjoyable couple of days filming were had at Kite Studios, Co. Wicklow. 

This was filmed many moons ago but is finally ready for a screening. 

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Said screening will take place at Belfast's QFT on Saturday 15th January. 

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Created by Pedro Rebelo and directed by Patrick J O' Reilly, Sounding Conflict is an experimental short film with a metaphorical and physical wall that serves as sonic and choreographic material around which two characters cyclically confront and enact conflict scenarios.

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I'm one of those characters. Joe Loane is the other one. Pair of characters. 

Replay Theatre Companies 'Curtains' kicks off this weekend at both Stendhal Festival and EastSide Arts Festival. 

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It has been a terrific rehearsal period. Loads of laughter. Sweet sweet playful creative laughter.

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We're at Stendhal on the 13th & 14th. And then C.S. Lewis Square on the 15th. 

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In front of a live audience. For the first time in a long time. Cannot wait. 

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It's gonna be great. 

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I was delighted to be part of the first ever Reimagine Arts Festival.

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There was loads of cool stuff..... Art, Poetry, Music, Tai Chi, Forest Bathing! Hold on and I'll run you a bath with some branches in it. 

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For my part, I got to present three super fast drama workshops. Games galore and tongue twisters aplenty. Top craic.

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Well done to all involved, especially Eoín & Cathal. 

St. Patrick's Day came early for me as I got to work on 'MacCarnysons', a film by Tumble Circus.

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The fortnight's filming was an absolute treat and being in the presence of so many strong and skilled Circus performers was a wonderful reminder that I have more chance of becoming a Professional Footballer than performing acrobatics.   

 

'MacCarnysons' is Written and Directed by Ken Fanning and will be out in March.   

I had the wonderful pleasure of filming 'A bELFast Christmas' with both Brassneck Theatre Company and Brassneck Youth. 

 

Santa has gone missing and Mistlejoe McJingles has to find him, fix his sleigh and get him back to the North Pole before Christmas morning. No pressure. Throw in a Wicked Witch (Christina Nelson) & an immovable Fairy (Debra Hill) and you've got a proper challenge / super film on yer hands / screens. 

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Tune in at 6pm, 20th December on Brassneck's Facebook page. Yes!

I'm after getting a very small role in a Northern Irish police procedural television drama series set in the fictional Blackthorn police station in Belfast. . . Otherwise known as 'Blue Lights'.

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Great news altogether!

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Filming to commence very soon. 

I'm getting support to make a show. I'm delighted and excited! 

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I applied for a SIAP (Support for the Individual Artist Programme) and I was successful. Chuffed that I'll be heading into 2025 scribbling away. 

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Thank you very much to all at ACNI. The piece I will pen has a working title of 'Shedman'. 

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And it is gonna be.............!!!!

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What it is gonna be. 

Ten short films from emerging Irish talent have been awarded funding as part of Screen Ireland’s flagship Focus Shorts scheme.

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One of those short films is called 'Breeders' and I am very excited to be part of the cast for it. 

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Written & Directed by the wonderful Suri Grennell and Produced by the brilliant Deirdre Levins, 'Breeders' tells the story of a man who follows a young drunk woman home only to wake up pregnant with her extra-terrestrial baby. 

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Sorry, I should have said.....

SPOILER ALERT!

Well that was tremendously enjoyable. 

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I got to play host at the Eco Adventure on the grounds of Russborough House for three days and it was the absolute craic. 

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Parents and kids in top form as they tried to complete the challenges in top time to get on the Leaderboard and be in with a chance to win the prize of getting to do it all over again next year!

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Thanks to all involved and for allowing me to do my favourite thing for hours and hours and hours. Talking..!!

I have just been lucky enough to be cast as Katurian in Martin McDonagh's 'The Pillowman' one of me most favourite plays. 

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'The Pillowman' is a horror comedy that dissects the profound role of the artist in society. It'll likely have you laughing and squirming in equal measure. 

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This great great play will be Directed by Prime Cut Production's Emma Jordan and will run at The Lyric from the 16th May - 15th June.

Well I never. 

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'The Hen Do' began it's tour this week and so far the reaction has been off the charts.

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The show is having a similar effect on audience members as laughing gas might.

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So much to look forward to with many venues still to tour and a full week at Belfast's Grand Opera House.

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If you are a fan of laughing your head off then I fully recommend joining us on our nightly trip to Ibiza. ​

The craic was had.... In spades. 

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Absolutely loved returning to host 'Fundrum' this year. 

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The year of the BUBBLE MACHINE. 

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What a steller line up of acts and activities. Kids and parents were leaving the tent with smiles so big it looked like they had slept with coat hangers in their mouths. 

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I'm counting the days till next year. 

I finally got off the island!

 

After almost four years I got to travel to Paris with Simon O' Neill and Robbie Ryan to play the role of Anthony in Simon's latest short 'Bien Cuit'.

 

An absolute thrill to be filming in Paris. Up by the Sacre Couer and down by the Seine, it was a rock 'n' roll three day shoot and I can't wait to see the finished product. 

 

Massive shout out to all the deadly French Actors / Players involved. 

 

The above photograph was taken by the wonderful Maryna.

Panto is wrapped for this year at The Marketplace Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh.

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Over fourteen thousand people turned out to witness the tremendous fun that was 'Cinderella'.

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I got to play the Dame for the very first time and it was even more fun than I thought it would be. Thanks a millo to the wonderful audiences of Armagh for being top craic merchants. 

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And now. REST.

DOD has won an oul award.

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Best Short Film at the Requiem Film Festival in Montreal. 

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Excellent news for the wonder that is Simon O' Neill. 

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And to celebrate.... I'm going to watch if for the fifty eight time.

Fundrum. Dundrum should forever be known as it!

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I had the pleasure of MC'ing the weekend part of this new family festival. 

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The quality of the acts was off the charts, including Jack Wise, The Irish National Clown Orchestra of Ireland & Dino Live!

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There was lovely Yoga and the standard fo the Face Painting would have made Da Vinci proud.

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If it is on again next year (it really should be)...... Go!

Wow!

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Four locations. Twelve hours. Seventy one artists, crew, production team and volunteers. And just the seven hundred and fifty conversations had.

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'Drawing The Ring Of Steel' was an epic day focused on listening, learning and recording the memories that the people of Belfast (and beyond) have of the security cordon that was installed in Belfast city centre fifty years ago.

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One of the questions asked of passers by was "How would you feel if the security cordon was reinstated?" Safe to say no one was keen. 

Me first project of 2022 will see me taking part in Tinderbox Theatre Companies Connections Through Culture 

It's a five day intensive (good luck knees!) programme in collaboration with B-Floor Theatre Company in Bangkok. 

The project will focus on cultural exchange, movement, physical theatre technique and creative provocations for presentation. All the Performers involved will be working at the same time. Although half in Belfast and half in Bangkok. Virtual collaboration. 

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You can't say fairer than that. 

During one of the stinky lockdowns I got to make an audio story with my very sound and skilled friend Larry McGowan.

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It's called 'This Man Is An Island' and it is available to listen to for the month of July on The Civic Theatre's website. 

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www.civictheatre.ie

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We'd be thrilled if at least one of your ears tuned in. 

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HUGE thanks to The Civic for hosting us. Absolute Legends. Dotes. And Legends.  

I've spent a week researching and developing with Replay Theatre Company. 

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I've been in quality company and all efforts are geared toward an outdoor show as part of the EastSide Arts Festival. 

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An actual show! With an actual audience!

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Excuse me while I wipe the drool from the side of my mouth. 

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The show is called 'Curtains' and it is going to be top fun. 

Brassneck's 'A bELFast Christmas' went down a treat. 

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If you haven't had a chance to see it and don't mind watching Christmas films in January then feel free to check it out at the Brassneck Films youtube page.  

Presenting the World's first ever Craictivity Book!

As far as I know. 

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Thanks to Aoife's Clown Doctors I got to make fourteen Clown Docs into their very own activity / colouring page. 

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The book was a pleasure to draw and it is due to be circulated around both Crumlin Children's Hospital and Temple Street Hospital. 

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Fingers crossed it provides the children and some of the adults with a good laugh. 

Johnny Phelan at Street Theatre Ireland has written a play. It is called 'The Philosopher & The Ancient God'. 

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A twenty minute section of this play is gonna be on at Smock Alley Theatre late February as part of the Scene & Heard Festival. 

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Johnny, Niamh McGrath and meself are going to perform it. 

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Johnny will no doubt want to be the Philosopher cos he thinks he is dead smart and all. And Niamh will want to be the Ancient God cos she is mad into herself. 

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I. Will make the tea. 

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Hopefully see yee there. 

I went to the UK Theatre Awards and although I didn't win, I ate my body weight in cake. 

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It was good oul craic and a decent experience even though I didn't get to do my speech which was amazing! I'll keep it on file for the next ceremony!!

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Well done again to Tinderbox Theatre Company for their Best Play Revival win for 'Rhino'. Back o' the net...! Bringing the goods back to Beller.

I submitted my Showreel to the Fishpond Showreel Showcase and I got selected as one of three winners. 

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Juliana Del Rosso, Ciaran Byrne and Myself. 

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Very pleased. This means I am now not the only person who has ever seen my Showreel! YAY for making Showreels. 

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Big thanks to Fishpond and Ali Coffey.

Well the run of 'The Pillowman' could not be going any better. 

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Audiences have been lapping it up and it has been a wonderful challenge performing it. All involved playing an oul blinder. 

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'The Pillowman' will end on the 15th June at The Lyric. If ye haven't seen it and you are into black comedies, then this is definitely the show for you.  

I've had the absolute pleasure of rehearsing 'Vection' for the past three weeks. A lovelier bunch would be hard to find. Another week of rehearsals and then Jonathan M. Daly's black comedy is going to kick off at The Lyric on the 20th March. 

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This is my first time working with Headrush, Ireland and I am determined to make sure it is my last! I jest. I am simply typing this in the vain hope that Jonny will come across it and it will give him a minor chuckle. 

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Hopefully see yee at 'Vection' from the 20th - 24th March. 

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Wow......

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Fionn Mac Cumhaill was asleep for an awful long time. Under an oul sleeping spell. One that was woven on a magic harp by a twisted sprite. Not good. 

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We were trying to wake him. Meself (Finnegas the Druid) and Oonagh (his Wife) but to no avail. We needed the help of the good folk of Warrenpoint and they came up trumps again. 

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He woke. All was well.

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Something tells me he won't be awake for too long though as he is a divil for the slumber. Great news is that if he falls into a deep sleep again, we'll have to all meet up and have a great few days again next year! Silver lining.....

I recently put together a new Animation Voicereel with the help of Legend McGowan.

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I'm mad for a bit of Animation. I end up watching more of it nowadays due to the oul parenthood. And every time I'm taking in a show I can't help but think I would love to be voicing those characters. 

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So I sent the fresh reel out and about and got a shout back. From the truly tremendous Sixteen South. And I got to voice a character with them. And it was every bit as enjoyable as I thought it would be. And another and, I can't wait to see the finished product of the animation that I'm not mentioning the name of because I'm not sure if I'm supposed to or not.

 

Have a great day! 

'Something Different' has well and truly opened at The MAC.

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With two shows under our garters it has been and promises to continue to be a RIOT. 

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I'm so very grateful to everyone involved. 

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Massive props to Tinderbox Theatre Company and The MAC for taking a shot on a show crammed with counter culture. 

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We run till Saturday 25th March..... YES!

Halloweeeeeeeeeen!

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This year I am off to the woods to play Pook the Pucca as part of 'Samhain'. Pook is half goat half man and is very excited about that.... and... everything.

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This immersive Halloween experience is sold out but sure here is some info about it anyway.

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This years Footsteps in the Forest offering will celebrate the Gaelic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.  Directed by writer, performer and Newry native, Rozlyn Sheridan, visitors will journey into the otherworld to experience the Celtic origins of Halloween.

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A word of warning though.... David Quinn is involved. Forewarned is forearmed.

Rehearsals for 'The Gap Year' are almost three weeks in and the show has been coming together real nice. 

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A little bit of something for everyone but me instinct is telling me that this show will be a 100% hit with the Mammies. 

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Hope to see yee there, you can grab a ticket at......

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www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

I've just been cast for a bit of multi-rolling in Clare McMahon's new play 'The Gap Year'.

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Delighted!

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The play is a journey of craic, coffee shops and self discovery at sixty and will be directed by Benjamin Gould

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It will play throughout September at The Lyric in Belfast. 

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Tickets are on sale.... Eh... Let me check... Now!

"Aches, pains and half-eaten brains!"

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I got to play Kevin in Simon O' Neill & Gajardo Films latest short 'Dispensary Of Death'.

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It was filmed over two days at Sweney's Pharmacy in Dublin 2021. Sweney's, tucked away on Lincoln Place, was made famous by the James Joyce novel Ulysses. Is it possible it will become even more famous after Simon's short horror screens at The London Horror Society & the Madrid Indie Film Festival?

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Maybe not. 

Delighted and excited to be cast in Replay Theatre Companies 'The Untold Truth Of Captain Hook' in the role of Smee.

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The show will be on at The MAC from the 10th December to the 1st January. 

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It is going to be great. 

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I'm not just saying that. It has already been on. And it was great then. I was told. By many people. 

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Looking forward to seeing yee there. 

Yes!

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I'm a Hatcher & Scratcher for 2021. 

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The MAC will kindly be providing myself and a load of other local artists with support over the next twelve months. 

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There will be mentoring. There will be coaching. There will be workspace. Sweet sweet workspace. There will be a play written.

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And part of that play will be performed at The MAC's Scratch Night next year. 

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2022. Bring it on!

BOOM! Back in a room for some sweet sweet R & D!

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I got to get my fish on for two weeks of uber playful development with no less than ten wonderful improvisers, courtesy of Tinderbox Theatre Company. 

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It felt just as good as I thought it would. 

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I was delighted to get some extra Elf action as Papa Elf in one of FUEL's many Virtual Extravaganzas.

 

There was science and dancing and singing and magic and science and sorry I already said that, it's just it was so good I'm saying it again. 

 

Good times. Great times.