Matthew Blaney on The Best Pints.
After a profitable one-off evening south of the river on the White Bear Theatre in 2022, January sees The Best Pints returning for 4 extra nights, this time north of the river at The Hope Theatre. We caught up with Matthew Blaney, contemporary from an Offie nomination for Lead Performance in Not Now on the Finborough Theatre, to search out out simply what’s The Best Pints.
Tell us about The Best Pints. What can audiences count on within the Hope Theatre this January?
The Best Pints is about three outdated mates who meet down at their native a few instances every week. They have an excellent snicker over a couple of pints of stout. But at this time one of many lads decides to go slightly deeper… I feel audiences can count on a enjoyable and quick comedy about male friendship that’s finally very candy and healthful. It’s in regards to the higher aspect of consuming tradition, which at its core is about neighborhood; being ourselves with family and friends. And I do a little bit of dancing too, which’ll be nicely definitely worth the value of admission.
The play ran for one evening solely on the White Bear final yr. Has the present modified in any respect since then? Were there any takeaways which have knowledgeable the return?
We’ve solely simply received again into rehearsals once more, however I feel the principle change now could be we’ve extra time to attempt issues out within the area. As is the best way with most fringe theatre, you’re actually on the clock and have gotten to make quick choices. There’s a stress to get it proper, which is comprehensible however unhelpful. We wish to do an excellent job nevertheless it’s good to know we’re capable of rediscover the play and experiment a bit extra this time round.
If we put you on the spot now, do you bear in mind your strains from that evening? Are they one thing that vanishes completely out of your head as soon as a play finishes or will they possibly come flooding again to you as you prep for this run?
Nope. In one ear, out the opposite. We did a recall train the opposite day, the place we simply tried to go so far as potential with out drying. I most likely solely received via half the primary web page earlier than folding. Sorry Kay! [Kay Dent is the director – ET]. We’ll be off e book after Christmas, right here’s hoping.
We must assume the concept for The Best Pints got here from an actual dialog that author Jack Gallagher had as soon as (or nineteen instances) within the pub with mates. We’ve actually had it ourselves – what about you?
Definitely. I feel that’s what drew me to the play; having the ability to be social together with your tribe is significant to anybody’s survival, and pubs do play an element in that. Whether that’s telling jokes, taking part in video games, sounding out your worries or really saying the way you’re not doing very nicely to your mates. We’ve all finished it! I do know I’ve. And I feel Jack’s captured that on this play very nicely.
We had a chat late final yr earlier than Not Now performed on the Finborough. This was an enormous success, bought out for its run with nice critiques (together with our personal) and several other Offies nominations – not least of all one for your self. Could you mirror a bit for us on the entire Not Now expertise?Â
I simply really feel very fortunate. David and Max took an opportunity on me and I feel it paid off. I used to be given the chance – which all of us want as younger actors – to chop my tooth, so to talk. To be onstage seven exhibits every week for a month, reverse an actor as completed as Stephen Kennedy, my fellow Offie nominee, was all I’ve needed since leaving drama college, and for that I’m extraordinarily grateful.
Tell us what you might have developing after The Best Pints?
Back to grafting! Auditions and conferences hopefully.
Obviously, our final query simply must be ‘inform us about your individual finest pint?‘
Good query. I had an actual coronary heart to coronary heart with my dad a couple of months again. It’s been a protracted couple of years for everybody, and it was the primary time in a very long time we have been capable of get into it and put the world to rights. We went for a drive from Belfast to Donegal in Northern Ireland, couple days on the street, and on the second we stopped off at a good looking little pub down by the water. Couple of stouts and an excellent chat. We received correct into it! We took an image of our spherical and it’s been my screensaver for the previous few months. Then, I’m again house for Christmas and I discovered {a photograph} of our two pints overlooking the ocean and an enormous sky in slightly body within the hallway. That’s the most effective pint we’ve had shortly little doubt. Hard to beat!
Our due to Matthew for taking outing from rehearsals to speak about The Best Pints. You can observe Matthew on Twitter right here.
The Best Pints performs at The Hope Theatre on January 22-23 and 29-30. Further info and tickets might be discovered right here.