Written & performed by Irene Kelleher. Directed by Laura O’ Mahony. Designed by Cormac O’ Connor.
“I look at you and honestly, I think meat and two veg. Your mother was Beluga Caviar......At least I’m cheap and I don’t give people the runs."
Just another day in The Quirky Scroll. One hundred and two years old. The customers are about the same age. Just another day of back-to-school panicked parents asking for “syphilis” (Chrysalis), “lovers of mice and men”, balls ‘a the world, how to shoot a mocking bird-killing manual, Mein Kampf (Minecraft) and prick sticks. For anyone who’s ever worked in a bookshop…or been in one, or loves books…or read a book… or hates books. This is for you!
Noreen Gilhooly dreams of emulating the success of her mother, the famous poet, author and feminist-activist Genevieve de Lacy. But Noreen isn’t her mother. Working every day in a small bookshop she's more into dismantling a ‘World-Book Day’ stand than the patriarchy, her only edge is refusing to floss her teeth and her greatest talent might be alphabetising the children’s section. But with the promise of a publication finally pending Noreen has to decide, is she ready to take her place amongst the literary greats or remain her mother’s footnote.
Writer and Performer Irene Kelleher (Mary and Me, Gone Full Havisham, A Safe Passage), is teaming up with much loved Comedian Laura O’ Mahony (RedRaw- Co-Presenter, The Today Show, Body Brothers RTÉ) as director. Laura and Irene worked together in a bookshop for 10 years and live to tell the tale! Although the play is not autobiographical, the customer sequences are very close to real life! The production is designed by Cormac O Connor (Disco Pigs- Corcadorca, The Straits- a herald Angel Award winner for Paine’s Plough, Demon Juice at the Royal Opera House London.)