What The Animals Say – Finborough Theatre
What The Animals Say is the first play written by David Ireland. This production is directed by Harry Burton, and stars Eddie Harrison as Robbie Martin, a star footballer, and Matthew Blaney as Jimmy Culver, a struggling actor.
The play opens at a ferry station, where the two await a ferry to Belfast. They begin to reconnect after recognising each other as classmates from their younger days in Northern Ireland. The script explores themes of sectarianism, masculinity, class and identity through conversations about football, films, goals, aspirations and the contrasting opinions of its two characters. Jimmy is an intellectual, seemingly progressive modern man, while Robbie is the stereotypical brawny lad. Both actors bring an explosive energy to the confrontation. Harrison plays the bull-...