Penelope Maguire, making her debut with Druid
When the curtain goes up in Galway tonight for Druid's production of Leaves, keep an eye out for upcoming young actress Penelope Maguire. The 15-year-old from Rathgar attended Betty Ann Norton Theatre School "every Saturday for years", but before her Leaves audition never considered acting as something she might do full-time. "My drama teacher called me about it and I was debating whether or not to go for it. At the back of my mind I was thinking about the Junior Cert and whether I could afford to take the time off. I was really doing the audition to get seen but didn't think I'd get the part."
Maguire recalls with horror her first attempt at an accent. "It was my first proper audition and I remember sitting outside the room terrified. I was asked to do a Belfast accent in front of Lucy Caldwell, the writer, and the director. I sounded like someone from middle England, but it turned out okay in the end." She got the part in December. "My initial reaction was complete disbelief. Then I just started screaming."
Her mother and little sister Daisy (who is playing the part of Poppy) have decamped to Salthill for a month, and both girls are attending school in Galway. How does it feel to be in a strange class in the middle of a year? "It's a little odd but everyone is really nice and accommodating. I play the middle sister Clover. There are only five characters in the play, so all the parts are big parts. There are loads of lines to remember, which is hard when you have to do homework at night after going to school and evening rehearsals."
When the Galway run finishes on March 10th, the production moves to London's Royal Court Theatre until April 7th. Maguire is excited about the prospect. "I can't wait. I've been to London before so I think it will be amazing. I won't be going to school there but I will have revision to do." Any opening-night jitters? "I have to stop myself thinking about it. It will be really scary but I think it will be good-scary." Michael Kelly.
Leavesopens tonight in Chapel Lane Theatre. Druid Box Office: 091-568617 www.druidtheatre.com