Aoife treads the boards in the Abbey

TULLA teenager Aoife De Faoite has been selected for the National Youth Theatre’s production of Gulliver’s Travels.

The famous satire has been adapted for the stage by Conall Morrison, who will also direct it. The play will be in the Abbey Theatre from August 26 to 31 and will be at the Everyman Theatre in Cork from September 5 to 7.

Over the past 30 years, many major actors, writers and other theatre practitioners, including Aiden Gillen, Cathy Belton, Jim Culleton and Philip McMahon, have been involved with the Clare Youth Theatre, as well as some of the country’s finest directors, such as Jimmy Fay, Wayne Jordan, Mikel Murfi and Gerry Stembridge.
Aoife is part of the Clare Youth Theatre and has been for some time. “I’ve been with them for four years but I have to finish because I’m going to be doing my Leaving Cert,” she said.

She has a strong passion for theatre and has always been very interested in acting. “When I was six years old, we did a play in first class and we won an All-Ireland prize for plays through Irish. Since then, I did a play in the Taidhbhearc in Galway and when we moved to Clare, I got into a drama group for young kids and then I went into Clare Youth Theatre.”

All of the 16 young actors involved in the production were selected through auditions from youth theatres around the country. Aoife said they will all play a number of roles. “It’s a very ensemble piece so we’re all switching characters a lot, from Lilliputians up to big giants.”

Preparing for the play has been very enjoyable, she added.

“When we first got up here, I was in a bit of shock and a bit nervous because everyone was so professional. But from the first day of rehearsals everyone got on like a house of fire and I just felt so at home with the atmosphere. It’s hard work but it’s enjoyable.”