Prolific Jimmy still going strong after 30 years of writing
“Don’t give up.” That is Jimmy Keary’s advice to any aspiring playwrights.
The Rathowen native what he is talking about. One of Ireland’s most prolific playwrights, he has written 26 three-act comedies over the last almost 30 years and plans to start work on number 27 in the new year. The plot is already taking shape in his head, he says.
His most recent work, Wedded Blitz, will be staged for the first time in Duhill, Tipperary next month, while his latest one-act comedy, No Smoke Without Fire, had its premier earlier this month.
If that wasn’t enough, Marrying Mike, play number 25, is being performed by The Portumna Players from Galway in Fuengirola in Spain this weekend.
By the end of the year, Jimmy reckons that around 40 different drama groups, including a number in the US, will have staged productions of his plays, making it his best year yet.
“I had 34 up until between January and June, which is phenomenal. It wouldn’t normally be that good. You can’t plan it and you can’t predict it. It just happens.”
Jimmy’s plays are particularly popular with drama groups based in rural communities. Write what you know, they say.
“I’m always observing people. When I’m out and about, even shopping, I’d be watching what people wear and the kind of expressions on their faces, without being intrusive or without being nosy or anything.
“It’s just kind of people-watching and I draw a lot of material as well from the fact that I live in the country.”
After almost three decades writing plays, Jimmy wants to pass on the knowledge he has accrued.
“What I’m trying to do at the minute is I’m trying to interest libraries in maybe having me give a talk to people that are interested, to pass on a bit of my experience.”
Is it getting easier? “I think so. I mean, obviously, if I can keep the ideas coming. Certainly I’m more confident in myself and I know what the audience wants at this stage, and I kind of know what sort of language to use. I also know pacing and dialogue and I’ve got to sort of master it.”
If he had to give one piece of advice to budding playwrights, Jimmy says that perseverance is essential.
“Don’t give up. For a long time, I tried to write for radio and I collected rejection slips by the bucket load. I discovered by accident that I could write comedy because I started writing sketches for our drama group in Rathowen.
“It gradually built up from one act to three acts. When I wrote my first one-act, I didn’t think I’d have material for a second one, but here I am 26 plays on.”