Simon Delaney was “cacking” himself the first time he did Stones In His Pocket in the West End.
And why not? He’d taken the gig, in part, to launch himself on the British theatrical scene – not least because the major theatres in Dublin weren’t giving him a break – and does, after all, play more than a dozen roles in the two-hander Marie Jones play about the mishaps that befall two locals when a major Hollywood film is made in their area. In other words, it was one hell of a daunting gig on every level, including the familial.
“Niall Buggy, the actor, is my cousin and he’s been based in London for 30 years” says Simon. “And Niall had performed in this theatre, the New Ambassador, and that fact hit me twenty minutes before I walked on stage in the West End. I was never more nervous in my life. On the second night I was screaming for me mammy, though she’s been dead for years. But after 80 performances I was grand!”
More seriously, Simon admits that the artistry of Marie Jones actually had him hooked and soaring above all fears about fifteen minutes into the play.
“And the beauty of it is , as with doing any kind of stage comedy, I was thinking ‘if you think this is fucking funny, wait till the second act’ and that is what’s great about this work, it grips you from the start, holds you and doesn’t let go” he says. “But, to tell you the truth, I can’t wait to do it here, in the Gaiety. I’ve talked with actors who have done it in that theatre and they tell me the buzz when you connect with an Irish audience is even better.
I play Charlie, who plays the director of the movie, the American starlet, roles like that. And even that scene playing the Julia Roberts type star looking for her Evian water, while the two lads look on, is hilarious. The whole theme of how a movie being made affects a local community also is pretty appropriate given that the Irish film industry, right now is, let’s say, ailing!”
Let’s say ‘near dead’ in terms of the opportunities for actors to get gigs in major movies. Seemingly there are only two major movies scheduled to be made in Ireland this year, Neil Jordan’s next movie and one by Jim Sheridan.
“Is Jim Sheridan making a movie, here, too? Excuse me for a minute, Joe, while I call my agent,” says Simon, lifting up his mobile and not necessarily just joking. As a member of the endangered Irish species, the actor, Delaney also took this role in Stones In His Pocket, he readily admits, because it is a “a gig” at a time when so many actors can’t get any kind of work. Bachelor’s Walk has long since finished, and “didn’t pay that well”, he says. It must also be said that whereas Stones In His Pockets has made small fortunes for some people, actors haven’t always benefitted financially from its success as much as they could, and should, have. Knowing this, Simon Delaney sure ain’t going to work simply for Equity rates.
“People think we get paid a fortune but top rates at the Abbey now are 700 euro a week”, he says. “I didn’t work for that when I was a salesman, why should I work for it now? I’m also savvy enough to know that if a production company is going to get more people into a theatre by putting ‘Simon Delaney from Bachelor’s Walk’ on a poster, they’ll pay for that privilege. Why shouldn’t they?”
Why shouldn’t they, indeed. Simon also argues, quite rightly, that too often, producers of plays look on actors as “products” and if that is their perception they should pay “top dollar” for what they buy. There is also one, admittedly fading perception, that really, finally pisses Delaney off. Namely the notion that because he, unlike, say, “the more traditionally trained Don Wycherly”, got his break on a TV series, he’s not “worthy” of an audition in Dublin’s major theatres.
“I still have never met a casting director from the Abbey or the Gate,” he says, agreeing with my own perception that any actor who can play more than a dozen roles in one play, surely deserves an audition.
“That’s exactly how I see it but I’m not going to sit around waiting for a call! In fact, I’m starting my own production company for television and film and we’re launching it with a theatre production in October. And I’m co-writing a TV script with one of the lads from Bachelor’s Walk, which, hopefully, we’ll get done next year. If you’re not being offered the work, go out and make it happen!”

Stones In His Pocket opens at the Gaiety on August 30th. Booking now open.