By Ger Cody
Photos: jbsphotoskilkenny
Last week, at the St Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall on the Butts Green, Mike Kelly celebrated a special birthday. It was organised by a group of young men and women from the Arts sector who wanted to thank Mike for all he had done for them, both on and off stage. It would probably be wrong to mention his age. Suffice to say, that in twenty years time he will receive a special letter from Uachtarán na hÉireann.
There was a sharp intake of breath for Mike as he entered the room to be greeted by over 60 theatre and film practitioners applauding their former director. When the one time ‘head honcho’ at Dreamstuff theatre phones and invites you for a coffee, you know there is something in the offing. And so it was. Back in the 90’s, when I worked at the Watergate theatre, I met with Mike, to discuss the possibility of his group ‘Dreamstuff’ doing a play at the Parliament Street venue. Dreamstuff was made up of mostly teenagers interested in performing. The opening of the Watergate interested Kelly, who was artistic director of the group of wannabee performers, producers and writers. Mike’s proposal, if memory serves me right, was that his band of merry men and women would produce some Shakespeare at the recently opened municipal theatre. What could go wrong? Shakespeare, young people, and a week of the theatrical calendar filled. Good deal all round. It was a couple of weeks later, as rehearsals got underway, that Mike explained that it was Shakespeare with a twist, and that a certain license would be taken with the Bard of Avon’s script.
Although I cannot remember the exact changes, it was akin to Romeo arriving on stage on a Honda 50 with Juliet on a balcony in tattered jeans, Led Zeppelin t-shirt and using a mobile phone. Crazy, right? But it worked. And from that year on, the Dreamstuff family were a welcome fixture at the venue. Mike not only sowed the theatre and film seed amongst these youngsters but also allowed them (within reason) to take charge and be responsible for their actions.
The neighbourhood hall was bedecked with bunting, balloons and lovely treats for eating. Jenny and her crew should take a well deserved bow. As the well wishers from Dreamstuff and Young Irish Film Makers (YIFM) arrived, one was reminded of the amazing talent that came out of both stables. From Donegal, Cork, Dublin and many other far flung places, they arrived. Such was their love for the octogenarian. And those who could not attend sent good wishes thanking Mike for giving them a place to attend as youngsters and for bestowing on them a love for the arts. It was quite emotional, and at times one could almost hear the theme music from Little House on the Prairie wafting around the building.
One man explained that as a youngster, sport held no place for him, either to attend or participate in. “I found my niche with Mike and the team at Film Makers and will be forever grateful for that,” he said. As he spoke those words 60 plus heads nodded in agreement. Steve Murphy, a long time friend of Mike, spoke of his dedication and commitment to whatever job he did. Mr Murphy also congratulated Garry McHugh, Alan Slattery, Shane Hatton, and Jenny and her team from Saint Canice’s Neighbourhood Hall for their help in organising the event.
Mayor John Coonan spoke of Mr Kelly’s legacy to theatre and film work in particular and the arts in general. Mike thanked all for their good wishes and reminisced on wonderful days with both YIFM and Dreamstuff. He remembered in particular those who were instrumental in the day to day running of the companies including Angela Walsh, long time YIFM manager, Kate St John, costume designer, and Tom Wall, caretaker, who held the place together, and was a real caretaker to the young people.
Good ethos
Kelly reminds me of the old African custom where the good of the individual is all important. When someone does something harmful and wrong they take that person to the centre of the village and the whole tribe comes and surrounds him. For two days they tell the person all the good things he did. The tribe believes that every person comes into the world as a good being. Each person wishes for security, love, peace and happiness. But sometimes, in the search for those things people make mistakes. The community perceives those mistakes as a cry for help. So they come together to straighten him out, to reconnect him with his true nature, to remind him of who he really is, until he fully remembers the truth from which he had temporarily disconnected.
I am of the belief that this is the ethos at the heart of all that Mike undertakes, especially when working with young people. And it paid off. Today, many of those teenagers who sat in the Watergate green room, doing homework, eating Pringles and studying scripts, and generally creating ‘constructive havoc’, are now at the forefront of stage and film work nationally and internationally.
Since he directed his first play for youngsters in the Friary Hall in 1965, Mike simply hasn’t stopped. He can look back on some great achievements on the theatrical front which includes setting up both Dreamstuff theatre and YIFM. Indeed it was from the helping hand given by Mike that Cartoon Saloon was born. Not too shabby for your CV.
Of course Mike was well recognised as an actor himself, in the days when venues included Stallards, The Presentation Hall, The Friary Hall, St Kieran’s College and the CYMS. He performed in numerous shows with various companies including such shows as My Three Angels, Da, A Man for all Seasons, She Stoops to Conquer and Billy Liar. In recent years, Mike has worked with Lake Productions on Trad and War of the Worlds. He continues to work with young people and is very active with the Fr McGrath Centre in his beloved Butts. Will he ever call time on his community involvement? Perhaps the answer is in Act 111, Scene 111, line 87 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Happy Birthday Mike.
