Lorna’s leaning towards success with new play

A NORTHSIDE woman’s first full-length play, which deals with mental health issues, is to be professionally produced.

‘Lean On Me’ is Lorna Kelly Dalton’s response to her feelings of helplessness when dealing with mental health issues that arose within her own family and close friends.

Her two-act play, described as

“funny and moving

?, tells the stories of members of a weekly support group as they go about confronting and dealing with their daily lives.

An initial run in Tallaght in May was sold out each night where audiences responded with standing ovations.

The enthusiastic public response and the demand for tickets have ensured that another run has now been arranged – this time by production company, Causeway Productions – in the Sean O’Casey Theatre, East Wall (September 3-7).

Mother-of-three Lorna, originally from Donaghmede and now living in Tallaght, started her writing career by penning short stories for her children.

She then joined the local Greenhills Variety Group where they gave her the opportunity to write comedy sketches and Pantomimes which were well received when performed by local groups.

Buoyed by that success, Lorna began to write plays and started to submit them rather than leave them

“sitting in the computer

?.

“I didn’t get anywhere with them and got the usual rejection slips but I also got positive feedback which I learned from,

? she tells Northside People.

“I usually write comedy, but one day I just decided to write something different (

‘Lean on Me’) and showed it to a friend of mine, Caroline McGuigan, who works with the charity Suicide Or Survive (SOS). I got a great reaction and she suggested that I put the play on in a theatre.

“I borrowed money from my parents to put it on the Civic Theatre in Tallaght. It was a big gamble and I was nervous about it.

“The theatre sells the tickets and after they get their cut anything over goes to you. However, if the tickets don’t sell you have to take the financial hit.

“I put it on for three nights. I was too scared to put it on for any longer.

?

Lorna says there was

“good karma

? around the play from the start. She managed to get the actors herself and one man she never met provided the lighting and sound free of charge. Profits from the three nights, after costs, went to SOS.

“It was a huge success,

? she states.

“It sold out completely for the three nights and there was a waiting list. People were asking me to put it on again.

“When Gerry Herbert, a producer from the Northside, seen it, he absolutely loved it. He decided that his production company would take it on, which meant I didn’t have the financial risk this time.

?

Lorna says that through the play she is aiming to

“normalise

? mental illness as much as possible.

“I want to spread the word that it’s okay not to be okay,

? she says.

“The huge task of lifting the stigma associated with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues must be addressed. My aim is to get people talking and to support each other.

?

Lorna points out that although the subject matter for the play is serious, there are a lot of comic touches.

“You’ll be laughing and crying,

? she adds.

“People were in stitches at times when they went to see it in Tallaght. It’s not all doom and gloom.

?

Gerry Herbert of Causeway Productions, based in Kilbarrack, says:

“I was so moved by the humour, strength and tenderness of Lorna’s writing that I felt the play simply had to be given a full professional production.

?

‘Lean On Me’ will take place at the Sean O’Casey Theatre, St Mary’s Road, East Wall, from Tuesday to Saturday, September 3-7 at 8pm nightly. Tickets cost e12 (concessions e10). Bookings: Phone 01-8509000.