The BOY is Back in Town!

By Mary Dennehy

FROM the east end to the south side, stage and screen actor Robert Mountford is bringing a unique one-man play to Tallaght – which is a mash of his own story and Thin Lizzy frontman, Phil Lynott’s.

Growing up in Birmingham, Robert is a well known face on TV and has featured in shows such as Eastenders, North Square, One Night, Casualty and Doctors alongside threading the boards in productions like Much Ado about Nothing, Merchant of Venice and Hamlet.

Married to Cork actress Elaine Symons, known for playing Rose Kelly on Waterloo Road, Robert now lives in Reading, Berkshire, with Elaine and their two children.

On the week of Phil Lynott’s 31st anniversary in January, Robert is bringing his play ‘Vagabonds’, which he wrote with director Chris Larner, to the stage of the Civic Theatre – and before his first ever performance in Dublin, Robert took five to speak with The Echo.

What was your first job?

A paper boy. My first acting job after leaving Rada was a very hip, sexy Drama for Channel 4 called North Square about lawyers which featured Dublin actress Victoria Smurfit.

I know that you have played a host of characters both on stage and screen but we have to ask, what was working on the set of Eastenders like?

Well, it was a different challenge to playing Macbeth. It’s very surreal when you get a job on a big long-running show like Eastenders because one minute you’re having a muddy coffee in a portacabin and suddenly you’re in the Queen Vic saying Hi to Phil Mitchell. I’ve had a couple of stints on it and very much enjoyed it.

How did a lad from Birmingham end up writing a play centred around a lad from Dublin?

Ah! Lots of this comes up in the show but I challenged myself to write and perform a one man show and decided on a story I wanted to tell but then watching Top of the Pops Two one night I saw Thin Lizzy and thought, “Phil Lynott – why has nobody put his story on a stage”…so I thought, hang on, I’ll tell both stories and ‘Vagabonds’ was born.

Tell us a little about the play?

I wrote it with director Chris Larner, a rebellious surrealist. At its core it is a play about heroes – but that would be too easy – so we have a slightly bonkers Cú Chulllain describing what a hero should be, but oh how times have changed.

We then attempt to tell the inspirational rock and roll story of Phil Lynott but that falls apart as various versions of me keep interrupting.

The characters argue and I am forced to pull the play together and make sense of these threads of story. We hope we have created a funny, tragic riot.

Did you find any similarities between yourself and Phil Lynott?

I couldn’t believe the similarities when I started researching Phil’s life. For a start we were both mixed-race (at times it was considered unusual or even taboo) and were both born in Birmingham.

While Phil moved to Dublin as a baby, I was adopted by white parents in an Irish-centric community. We both stood out as different and possibly as a result of this grew very determined to define ourselves, not only as proud products of our cities, but to not let ignorance or prejudice stop us from succeeding in what we were going to do. A big difference is that I’m horrible on the guitar.

The play is obviously very personal for you, are you seeking answers? Have you gotten any?

This has been an incredible journey professionally and personally, I’ve faced many of my own demons, I’ve learnt a lot as a performer but we’re always searching aren’t we? Otherwise we’d just stop thinking.

Did you listen to Thin Lizzy’s music growing up?

I missed Lizzy by half-a generation or so but fortunately my (much) older siblings introduced me to rock music…I knew about Chuck Berry, Elvis, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and indeed Thin Lizzy, while most of my peers were happy with Stock, Aitkin and Waterman…(oh pass the bucket).

What’s your favourite Thin Lizzy track?

Impossible to pick. Vagabonds for running, The Rocker for feeling good, Do anything you Want To because we can, Boys Are Back in Town for Reunions and Roisin Dubh.

You obviously learned a lot about Phil Lynott when pulling the play together, was there anything in particular that impacted on you?

People often focus on his tragic end and the legendary Rock n’Roll partying but what I really have grown to love and admire him for was his determination, his work ethic – he took life by the scruff of its neck and said ‘We’re gonna do this!’ He set trends, he never played safe with his work, always pushing the boundaries and as artists that is what we must do. Inspirational.

Have you performed in the Civic before? Are you looking forward to visiting with ‘Vagabonds’?

This is my first time performing in Dublin but I have spent a lot of time here and love it. It’s not unlike Birmingham – the people, the humour. I’m so delighted to be invited by the Civic’s Michael Barker-Caven – and I hope I’ll be allowed out alive! A brown boy from Brum taking on the role of one of Dublin’s favourite son’s…now that’s artistic danger!

‘Vagabonds’ shows at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght from January 5 to 7 and tickets are available from www.civictheatre.ie or through calling the box office on 4627477.