Join me, Aideen Ni Riada, as I sit down with the incredibly talented Irish author Sheila Forsey to uncover the twists and turns of her unexpected journey into writing. From a small village drama festival to joining the Watergate Theatre Group, Sheila's story is a testament to the power of following one's passion. Discover how a career shift and a serendipitous connection led her to secure an agent in America, and the importance she places on writing what truly resonates with you.

We spoke abut Sheila's expansion from writing historical fiction to playwriting with her play "Teddy" set in 1980s Ireland and how the journey from script to stage is fraught with challenges, but her collaboration with director Eric Fraser Hayes has been helpful. We also discussed the pivotal role of directors and actors in bringing a script to life.

"Teddy" centers on Rose's return home and the tension surrounding her developmentally challenged son and its rich exploration of family, culture, and responsibility promises to captivate audiences.

About Sheila
Sheila Forsey is an Irish Times best-selling author of historical fiction. Her work has received many acclaimed reviews for giving a visual and textured insight into Ireland’s complex past in 20th Century Ireland. She is a writer in schools with Poetry Ireland and a Heritage Specialist in schools with The Heritage Council of Ireland. Sheila is a graduate of Maynooth University in Creative Writing and a postgraduate of Trinty College Dublin in Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship.

A love of theatre and her experience as a former core member of the Watergate Theatre Company in Kilkenny has led her to write for the stage. Her play the Memory Room was shortlisted for Scripts Playwrights Festival.

Her play Teddy was written with the support of Wexford Playwrights Studio funded by Wexford Arts Council and Arts Council of Ireland. It will have its premier at The Eugene O’ Neill Festival in 2024 in New Ross, under the direction of Eric Fraiser Hayes, Artistic Director of The Eugene O’ Neill Foundation at Tao House, California.

Connect with Sheila

Website: sheilaforsey.com

Facebook: Sheila Forsey Author

Twitter: @sheilaforsey

Support the show

Thanks for listening! To book a free consultation with Aideen visit https://www.confidenceinsinging.com/contact/