10 questions for Paula Greevy-Lee

We ask our visiting artists to tell us a little bit about themselves. We hope that these short questionnaires will reveal something that you didn't know or expect about them.

Paula Greevy-Lee is the writer and performer of a great new play about Nora Joyce the often overlooked and underestimated wife of James Joyce. She will be on stage in Birr on Thursday 5th June. Don't miss her!

In the meantime, who is Paula? Her answers to our quickfire questionnaire might surprise you!

Q- Tell us about yourself

A- I’m not great at talking about myself, and I really prefer to let my performances do the talking! I enjoy good conversation and laughter though!

Q- What will you play in Birr?

A- I will play the part of Nora Barnacle, wife and muse of James Joyce - a witty, talented, intelligent and extraordinary Galway woman who lived a remarkable life, living through two World Wars in various cities across Europe whom I came to truly admire and respect as I researched and wrote A Rare Journey, which is the first play I’ve written.

Q- Who is your biggest influence?

A- As far as acting goes, I always loved the late Dame Maggie Smith. She could do it all - tragedy, comedy and everything between. Stephen Sondheim’s music has a special place in my heart too. 

Q- Describe yourself as a 10-year-old.

A- Slightly shy but endlessly curious,  with a tendency towards dramatics - probably a classic case of acting being the shy person's revenge! 

Q- What’s your best on stage memory?

A- Has to be the opening night of A Rare Journey - Nora Joyce’s Odyssey in Smock Alley Theatre, because it was the first play I’d ever written and it’s a solo performance so I felt absolutely elated. I still do, after each performance. 

Q- What’s your worst on stage memory?

A- It concerns a wardrobe malfunction and I’d rather not discuss it!

Q- Where are you at your happiest?

A- Well, next to relaxing and laughing with my family, it’s being on stage, lost in a performance.

Q- What’s your favourite colour?

A- Blue. Coincidentally my (well, Nora’s!) husband James Joyce’s eyes were an incredible blue!.

Q- What’s the last book you enjoyed?

A- Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. I devoured her short story collection The End of the World Is A Cul De Sac, too.

Q- What's the last Play or Film that you enjoyed?

A- ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’, the movie adaptation of John McGahren’s novel, beautifully directed by Pat Collins. It features a top-drawer cast of Irish actors with the Irish landscape in the lead role.

Q- What’s your favourite song of all time?

A- ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man of Mine’ from the musical Showboat.

Paula Greevy-Lee will be on our stage as Nora Joyce in "A Rare Journey" Thursday, 5 June from 8pm.

Tickets available online here or through our box office : 057 9122911