“It’s an amazing piece of theatre,” says actor and comedian Willie White about Brokentalkers’ production, The Examination, which explores mental health and welfare in Ireland’s prison system.  The award-winning piece, which premiered at the 2019 Dublin Fringe Festival, will be performed at the city’s Black Box Theatre this Saturday, April 29, at 8pm as part of Galway Theatre Festival.

Dubliner Willie, a former heroin addict who served time in Mountjoy for various crimes, has had plenty of experience with the prison services.

He’s been clean now for more than two decades and these days, has several strings to his bow.  A plasterer by trade, he’s also a comedian, having cut his teeth in Des Bishop’s 2006 series for RTÉ, Joy in the Hood. And, with The Examination, he’s turned his hand to acting.

Willie plays a criminal in this play while fellow cast member Gary Keegan plays someone who has been mugged.

The Examination, which is highly visual with a “visceral soundscape”, is based on research and testimony from prisoners and ex-prisoners, as well as historical research.

Gary Keegan is co-Artistic Director of the innovative Brokentalkers with Feidlim Cannon and their research for this piece involved hearing testimonies from prisoners in Mountjoy, as well as giving workshops there. The prison’s music teacher recommended that they get in touch with former prisoner, Willie.

“The teacher thought I was an interesting fellow and had seen me in a couple of plays in Mountjoy,” Willie explains.  “He thought I had an interesting story and they tracked me down.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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