My Weekend: 'I'm definitely a homebody at heart'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

My name is Aoife Byrne, and I’m a stage manager based in Cork city and I’ve always had a love for the arts.

I studied Theatre and Drama at MTU, where I explored not just performance, but every element of theatre-making. It was there that I really discovered my passion for the behind-the-scenes world that brings a production to life.

In my third year of college, I had the opportunity to stage manage a show for the musical society. That experience lit a spark in me, and I haven’t looked back since.

Since graduating, I’ve been working steadily in theatre, and I’m currently stage managing The Beacon at the Everyman in Cork. It’s a brilliant, challenging, production and I feel very lucky to be part of it.

I recently got engaged to Declan Leonard, who is the Technical Officer at the Granary Theatre. We live together with our dog, Missy who is named after a character from Doctor Who.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

I’m definitely a homebody at heart. I love nothing more than curling up on the couch with my fiancé, watching a good movie and winding down after the week. That said, I also enjoy heading into town for a nice dinner or a relaxed date night when we’re in the mood for something a bit more special.

Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?

I wouldn’t call myself a morning person, but I do tend to wake up early, alarm or not. Once I’m up, I’m up.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

With the nature of theatre, it definitely does. I’m often either in rehearsals or running a show over the weekend. And even on my days off, there’s usually the odd email, scheduling message, or bit of prep for the week ahead. That said, I genuinely love what I do, so most of the time it doesn’t feel like work, just part of the rhythm of the job.

If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

I love city breaks and wandering around, taking in all the sights. I could happily spend a whole weekend visiting museums and learning about the place I’m in. I haven’t explored the Scandinavian countries yet, and they’re definitely next on my bucket list. I’d go with Declan we love discovering new places together.

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

I live close to the Atlantic Pond, and I walk my dog there every day. It’s a lovely way to get some quiet time, clear my head, and enjoy music or a podcast while being out in nature.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

I call my parents almost every day or at least a couple of times a week. Mostly just to catch up or have a little moan about our days.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

I don’t have much time for the hobbies I used to do. I’m a black belt in Kung Fu, but keeping up regular training became too difficult with my schedule. I’d love to return to it someday, even if I have to start from scratch, it would be worth it. I try to keep up with reading too, though often when I get home, I’m ready to fall asleep. Recently, I started crocheting. It began as a prop for a show, but I’ve kept going with it in my spare time. I’m still learning, but I’m enjoying it.

Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter do you have a signature dish?

We don’t often entertain, but when we do, my fiancé is the cook in the house. He does a great Sunday roast that’s become his signature.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?

I found out recently that I’m gluten intolerant, so eating out has changed a lot for me over the past year. I’m still figuring out where I can go and what my favourites are, but I’ve had great experiences at places like Five Points and Joe’s & Bro’s, just to name a few. Cork has so many great options, and most places are really accommodating, which makes things a lot easier.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

I usually have Sundays off, so that’s my day to rest and recharge or to catch up with friends and family. Most of the time I’ll do a bit of cleaning, laundry, and prep for the week ahead. Nothing too exciting, but it helps me reset.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

It really depends on what I’m working on. If I’m in rehearsals, I’m usually up early around 7am or 8am depending on how far I need to travel. During show weeks, I try to sleep in a bit since I wouldn’t have finished work until nearly 11pm the night before. I tend to adjust my sleep schedule to suit whatever the week calls for.

Aoife Byrne is stage managing the Everyman Made production of The Beacon, which is currently running at the theatre and continues until July 19. See www.everymancork.com.