This Man is an Island : Civic Theatre performance explores friendships

By Maddie Mueller

A new audio story ‘This Man is an Island,’  from performers Keith Singleton and Larry McGowan, premieres at The Civic Theatre this July.

The story, inspired by the pandemic, follows two very different best friends who must navigate their changing relationship through unprecedented times.

The performance will be put up on The Civic website to stream at a ‘pay what you can’ cost sometime in the next month.

Singleton spoke to The Echo about the creative process behind the piece.

What inspired you to create ‘This Man is an Island’?

Due to everyone’s best friend the pandemic, Larry and myself found ourselves with a little more time than we would normally have.

Larry is a wonderful sound engineer (amongst other things) and I have enjoyed being a Voiceover Artist for quite some time now.

We figured an audio story might be the very thing to work on, as we could tip away at the writing till the time came (travel restrictions lifted) that I could travel to Larry and we could record our story.

I guess creating ‘This Man is an Island’ was a way for Larry and me to stay creative and connected during lockdown.

Which aspects of the play are most true to your real-life relationship with Larry?

It’s not strictly based on our friendship but there are elements. It would be a massively heightened version of our friendship.

Larry was working in Youth Work when the pandemic arrived. All of his work was moved to a screen. He adapted brilliantly.

I tried one online play when the theatres closed and I didn’t enjoy the experience at all.

I’m not a big fan of Tech or screens. I think this old school vs. new school theme influenced the writing of our audio story big time.

Being withdrawn from friends or withdrawing yourself is a big theme in ‘This Man is an Island’ also.

What do you hope people will get out of the piece? How do you want it to impact your audience?

I hope they will be entertained. The quality of the sound is stunning. Again, Larry is an excellent sound engineer.

He has also composed original music for the story that is sure to grab the ear.

I think people will get a good laugh too as there is plenty of comedy throughout. I also feel that having listened to the story people might very well take time to reflect on their own friendships.

Due to logistics and schedules I hardly ever get to see my closest friends and I think that’s a shame. See that expression . . . ‘True friends are like stars. You don’t always see them but you know they are there’.

That’s all well and good but knowing someone is there but still not getting to hang out with them, doesn’t really do it for me.

Why do you think creative projects like this are so important to artists and audiences alike now more than ever during the pandemic?

I have to be doing something creative on a regular basis or I go a bit mad. Being creative is my favourite thing to be at.

I also enjoy watching sports. The only time I felt angry during the pandemic was when the football got cancelled.

I ended up getting a burst of creativity in the absence of sports. I returned to drawing and painting which I hadn’t done for a long time.

I wrote, performed and filmed a comedy sketch pilot (Singo’s Sketches). Making the audio story with Larry was part of this flurry of creativity.

It kept us feeling enthused and engaged at a time when there was sweet nothing going on.

I think it is very important for audiences that artists continued to create even though their usual avenues were closed to them.

As an actor, do you think the pandemic will change how storytelling evolves as a medium? Where do you see theatre and performance going?

Yes. I do. It can’t not. People will have to place more trust in the Irish weather and take shows outdoors.

I think there will be much more site-specific work until theatres can reopen.

Which is exciting. I think online theatre seems to have an audience too.

I must confess that whilst tipping my cap to those that have thrown themselves into it, it’s not for me. The loss of the connection with the live audience is too great, I feel.