Grace - beautiful play for families with powerful Mayo connection

Castlebar’s Fiacre Ryan is known nationally for his many achievements.

Until age 13, Fiacre had no reliable way to communicate. Through the Rapid Prompting Method, he unlocked an extraordinary literary voice. He later became the first non-verbal autistic student in Ireland to sit the Leaving Certificate, achieving honours in Maths, English and History. He went to ATU Mayo and studied History & Geography. He then became a published author, poet and is an advocate for persons with disabilities.

Fiacre can also claim another significant achievement, as script consultant for a major national production called Grace.

This exciting theatre production, now on a national tour, explores the multisensory landscape of a girl called Grace. The show will visit the Linenhall, Castlebar, on Sunday, May 17, at 5 p.m.

We asked Fiacre Ryan to tell us in his own words about his role in making this piece of unmissable theatre.

Grace at the Linenhall

By Fiacre Ryan

MY involvement in the play Grace, by Jody O'Neill, came about when Niall Cleary of Graffiti Theatre Company asked me to act as script consultant for Grace. Both Niall and Jody had read my book, Speechless, and were interested in my response to the play, and my suggestions.

Grace is a young non-speaking autistic like myself, and as such is part of a community that communicates differently from the norm. The spoken word is not the only way to communicate, and Grace and her father share a special bond in this story where words are not needed.

Niall asked the question at the start of the writing process, "Who is not in the room, who is not represented here?" The voice of the non-speaking or minimally speaking autistic then became central to the play, as the story of Grace and her family comes to life in this stunning visual portrayal by the talented actors Bryan Burroughs, Eleanor Walsh and Grace Kiely. The feeling and the emotion in Jody's writing is palpable throughout.

I use an alphabet letterboard to communicate, and in the play Grace's Dad makes her a similar wooden letterboard. As part of my collaboration with Jody O'Neill, I read through the first draft of the script and used my own letterboard to authenticate the words Grace spells in the story, as she navigates her own multisensory world, with the letters working their magic on the stage.

Much of my research was carried out at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Monaghan, when I was awarded a bursary by Mayo Arts Council to develop my ideas, and to work on other writing projects. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow artists and to share and discuss our work.

I was very proud to see Grace for the first time at the premiere in Cork, and afterwards at Barbaro Arts Festival in Galway, and at the Dublin Theatre Festival in Dun Laoghaire.

Audiences coming to the Linenhall will experience a play about love overcoming many obstacles, including the sudden death of Grace's father, which tears the family apart, until they find a way back to each other. It is at times poignant, sad, funny, lively and heart-warming. All performances are relaxed, inclusive and interactive, with sign language and captions.

I have recently graduated from ATU Mayo, and am now replacing my college assignments with some new writing projects. My poetry wasn't exactly useful for my History and Geography course!

I have started a new collection of poetry, which includes my award-winning poem in the Allingham International Poetry Competition. I was also recently one of 11 poets shortlisted for the David Whyte Poet in Residence Award. I am also working on a short story, or maybe longer, which started as a college assignment and which has developed into memoir/fiction/ghost story!

On Sunday, May 17, you can experience the magic that is Grace at the Linenhall, Castlebar. "A ghost, a sparrow, a mother and a girl. Love doesn't need words. You can just feel it.”

Grace is is designed to be accessible, with ISL sign-language included, ensuring everyone can feel part of the experience.

For further information, or to purchase tickets/vouchers visit thelinenhall.com or contact the box office team on 094 9023733.