My Weekend: 'Friday is the night Jenny says she loves me the most'

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work:

My name is Dylan Kennedy and I’m co-founder of Red ‘n Blue Theatre Company, which I run with my wife, Jenny Fennessy.

I grew up in Glenville in north-east Cork, then moved to London at 19 to train as an actor. I stayed for 13 years, working across the West End, the National Theatre, and touring throughout the UK and Europe.

Seven years ago, I moved home to be closer to family and reconnect with my roots.

My return to Ireland was one of the most intense weeks of my life: I married Jenny, passed my driving test, began rehearsals at the Abbey Theatre, and started an undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Limerick —all in a single week.

These days, life is still busy, but it’s the kind of busy I like. I split my time between clinical work as a physiotherapist and building theatre productions from the ground up.

I love the rehearsal room — working with actors, solving problems, testing ideas, and gradually shaping a piece until it’s ready to be shared.

Because we’re a small company, we both wear a few hats: Producing, directing/performing, and the practical work that keeps a show moving — budgets, logistics, risk assessments, and liaising with venues.

It’s demanding, but I like the responsibility of shaping a project end-to-end, and I’m proud that the work is genuinely made here by people who care about the standard.

Physiotherapy and theatre might look like separate worlds, but they share the same foundations: Communication, empathy, attention to detail, and a belief that good work is built through consistency and hard work.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

Friday is the night Jenny says she loves me the most. I’m guessing that means her love language is “the weekend” — and I may still be under review on Tuesdays. Either way, Friday evening is always switch-off time. We try to spend proper time together: A walk, a film, or dinner with friends. It’s probably the day of the week we feel most free.

Lie-ins or up with the lark?

I try not to set an alarm on Saturdays and stick to a ‘get up when I wake up’ policy. Sometimes that means 10am, other mornings it can be 6.30am.

Sundays are usually earlier starts to make the most of the day.

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

It does. Between physiotherapy and running the theatre company, weekends can easily become work days — whether that’s fitting in clinical time, rehearsals, writing a funding application, or learning lines.

There’s nearly always something that needs doing, regardless of the day of the week.

If money was no object, where would you head for a weekend city break — and who would you bring?

Jenny and I have just returned from a few days in London, and it was one of my favourite trips in a long time. We watched six theatre shows in three days and came home full of energy and inspiration. I’d do that again in a heartbeat.

Closer to home, where do you go to recharge?

I really like the boardwalk in Youghal — wind in your face on the way out and at your back on return to the car. There’s time for a quick hello with strangers and friends alike, and the sea brings such a sense of calm.

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

I love seeing my family at the weekends if I can. That normally means heading back to Glenville for a few hours to catch up with my parents, swap stories from the week, and, if the weather is decent, go for a short walk together.

Do you get to indulge any hobbies?

I try to get on my bike as many days of the week as I can — usually five rides.

I am a member of the Fermoy Cycling Club and getting out on the bike is like pressing my reset button: Grounding, good for the head, and good for the heart.

Entertain or be entertained? And do you have a signature dish?

Be entertained, ideally. I’m not a great cook, and I can’t say I’ve ever been complimented for my efforts. My mother, however, is both a brilliant cook and baker. Her food is good for the soul, bad for the waist — but always delicious.

Cork has so many places to eat —where are your go-to spots for coffee, lunch, or a special meal?

For coffee, it’s hard to beat a trip to Clonakilty for a Stone Valley Coffee — top quality. For food, I like to mix it up. I always enjoy Salinas in Midleton, and I love the whole experience of the Nano Nagle Place cafe closer to town.

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

Sunday evening usually means getting set for the week ahead: Prepping for patients, reading scripts, and writing the to-do list that keeps everything moving.

What time does your alarm go off on Monday morning?

Normally 8am. That gives me enough time to get in gear and get out the door with a coffee in hand.

Anything else you’re up to right now?

We’re coming into the final week of rehearsals for Lovesong at The Cork Arts Theatre. It runs for two weeks from January 20. We first performed the show in 2019 and it was a complete sell-out, nominated for Outstanding Event of the Year at the Green Room Awards, so we’re delighted to be able to bring it back for a full two-week run.

It’s a beautiful play about one couple, played by four actors, telling the story of their lives from both ends — young hopefuls in their late 20s, and retired professionals in their mid-60s. It’s a play about togetherness, memory, and hope.