Derry actor Keith Lynch bringing epic Shakespeare to city

Derry actor Keith Lynch has said he is looking forward to bringing the entire works of Shakespeare to the stage in his native Derry.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Sep 2016, 16:54 BST
Updated 4th Oct 2016, 13:59 BST
Keith Lynch as Hamlet.Keith Lynch as Hamlet.
Keith Lynch as Hamlet.

The 30-year-old Waterside man will be starring in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield at the Waterside Theatre on Friday, October 7.

The bawdy Elizabethan production will see Keith and his fellow actors Gerard McCabe and Michael Patrick ploughing through all 37 plays in the Shakespearean canon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There are 37 plays in 97 minutes; it’s a sweaty show,” he laughs.

Keith and fellow actors onstage.Keith and fellow actors onstage.
Keith and fellow actors onstage.

“The whole premise of the show is it’s quite fast, there are a lot of costumes, a lot of prop manipulation, chopping and changes.

“The show was written back in the 80s and staged by the Reduced Shakespeare Company and was in the West End for about 10 years.

“With this year being the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death it was just the time to pull it out and it is very in-keeping with the theatre company Bruiser’s style.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It has been going down a storm. The last shows in the MAC in Belfast were a complete sell out, and there have been some great reviews.”

Keith Lynch pictured on stage.Keith Lynch pictured on stage.
Keith Lynch pictured on stage.

Keith said that Shakespeare is something most people can relate to on some level.

“Everyone somewhere has had some sort of connection with Shakespeare. Most people have done it at some point in school and would know bits and pieces.

“If you know your Shakespeare it is a clever show and if you don’t, it’s an introduction.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There’s three of us and there’s only three actors covering everything, playing all characters, from Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, to Titus Andronicus.

Keith and fellow actors onstage.Keith and fellow actors onstage.
Keith and fellow actors onstage.

Keith said he is excited about bringing the show- which is touring across the north at present- back home.

“With Derry audiences they love the craic and this is the perfect show for that,” he said. “We have put our own ‘Norn Iron’ spin on it as well.”

Keith started his acting career with Millennium Forum Youth Theatre Productions, and has done a lot of work with local company Blue Eagle Productions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In fact, he will be back in Derry soon with another Blue Eagle show entitled ‘Divided by History, United by Music’ which will be staged at the Millennium Forum on November 10.

Keith Lynch pictured on stage.Keith Lynch pictured on stage.
Keith Lynch pictured on stage.

And he will also be back in Derry over Christmas in the Forum’s panto Cinderella, playing one of the ugly sisters.

To book tickets for the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) log onto: www.watersidetheatre.com.

Related topics:ShakespeareDerry