Person to Person: My working life has been a blend of acting and physio

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Dylan Kennedy and I’m co-founder of Red ’n Blue Theatre Company. I was born and raised in Cork and threw myself into all things drama and sport growing up.

At 19, I left Ireland to train as an actor in London and stayed there for the following 13 years. I was really lucky to work with some fantastic companies there, performing on the West End, touring to France, India, all across the UK and Ireland too.

I moved back home to Cork in 2017. That was one of most intense months of my life: I learnt to drive, zero experience to fully qualified in 13 days, moved home, started a job at The Abbey Theatre, got married and began an undergrad in Physiotherapy at The University of Limerick.

A year later, Red ‘n Blue Theatre was founded with my wife, Jenny. I was still studying at the time, but we wanted to work on stage together again.

That is how we first met, doing a play together in Kilkenny in 2008, and we hadn’t shared a stage since then.

We are now in production of our third play, Taboo, by John Morton, which opened yesterday at The Cork Arts Theatre for a week, before playing in Fermoy for two nights on December 7 and 8.

The company has gone from strength to strength since 2018. Most recently we won Best Play of the Year, Best Set and Best Supporting Actress for our production of Bridget O’Connor’s The Flags in the Waterford News and Star Green Room Awards.

I graduated with a first-class honours in Physiotherapy from U.L. in 2021 and my working life has been a blend of acting and physio since then. 

Both jobs are very people-orientated and there’s more overlap than you might initially expect. I love the variety.

Where were you born?

Erinville Hospital, a week late. I was very cosy and in no rush to join the party.

Where do you live?

I live in a small cottage in Araglin, on the Cork/Waterford boarder.

Family?

No family of my own. I help look after Wilbur, the pet pig, the 12 chickens, two dogs and three cats that are all around the farmyard though! I am the middle of three siblings, and we are all back home living in Ireland now. My parents live in Glenville so it’s nice to see them as often as possible.

Best friend?

My wife, Jenny, is my best friend. She gets me.

Earliest childhood memory?

I remember my newborn baby brother, Tyrone, being at my feet in a wicker crib, in the back of a yellow, low-ace van driving home from the hospital. I was three years and three months old then. 

I’m really grateful to have that memory. I’m very close to my brother now and it is amazing to look back and think it all started from that moment.

Person you most admire

I’m very fickle and I don’t have any one person. I think if you look close enough, everyone has something that is truly remarkable or admirable. Saying that, I have great admiration for my parents. 

Dad is so gentle and wise, and Mom is the most generous and hard-working person I know.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

I went to Sicily with Jenny for our honeymoon, and it was very special. We walked around the top of Mount Etna, visited ancient Greek theatres and ate lots of gelato!

Favourite TV programme?

Oooh good one... The Wire? Yes, Season 4 of The Wire with the schoolchildren was incredible television. Amazing performances from the young actors, so powerful.

Favourite radio show?

I don’t have a favourite radio show. I do love the How I Built This podcast. It tells the stories behind entrepreneurs and the businesses they’ve created, the knockbacks they overcame and the luck involved in their success.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Maybe Mexican fajitas? I enjoy spicy food, so almost anything I cook ends up with sprinkles of spice.

Favourite restaurant?

I really love the food in Salina’s Bistro in Midleton. Their food is amazing.

Last book you read?

I’m reading mostly non-fiction these days. The last book I read was The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. It’s a fascinating read about the mental and physical disadvantages of having all the benefits of a modern lifestyle.

Best book you read?

The True History of The Kelly Gang by Peter Carey stands out. It’s tough to get into, but so rewarding and immersive. It opened my eyes to what a book could be.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

For All These Years by Billy Raffoul - really enjoy his melodies and lyrics.

Favourite song?

Bat Out of Hell - it’s my morning alarm too!

One person you would like to see in concert?

I was due to see Stromae earlier this year but the tour was cancelled due to his health. He is phenomenal live. 

Hopefully he will return to tour again one day.

Morning person or night owl?

I’m more of a night owl. I think I really only get going at 8pm.

Your proudest moment?

I’m really proud of our first theatrical production, Lovesong. We had such a small budget to pull the show together, but somehow with lots of determination and hard work, the play sold out across three venues with standing ovations at each performance. It was so unexpected and was a massive achievement for us.

Spendthrift or saver?

Spend the money, invest in creating memories, die with zero!

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

I would love there to be another swimming pool built in the North Cork/East Cork area. I meet so many parents whose children are on waiting lists for swimming lessons and I think that’s a great pity. It’s a skill for life that can open so many other avenues and sports and I find it sad that some children miss out on this due to a lack of facilities.

What makes you happy?

I love cycling my bicycle in the sunshine.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a caring and loving husband.

Taboo opened at The Cork Arts Theatre yesterday for a five night run. 

“It’s a dark comedy about a couple on their first date, set in real time over a three-course meal - that’s a lot of chicken and mushroom pie in a week!” says Dylan. 

“It’s just my wife and I in the show and it’s a real privilege to be able to work with her on it. Whilst the play is a comedy, it asks some serious questions. It centres on themes of loneliness, compassion, and forgiveness. It’s a leap of faith when you produce your own work. You never know if enough people will turn up to cover your costs. I’m so grateful for the support of Cork City Council and Cork County Council as we would never be able to produce the work without them.”

Booking at https://corkartstheatre.com/event/taboo/