An Irish Story: back at La Scala Paris

Sometimes, the little story meets the big one. Kelly Rivière, whose real name is Kelly Ruisseau, has always kept in her heart the (small) story of her Irish grandfather, who disappeared over thirty years ago while living in England with his wife. In An Irish Story , she dramatizes this family history in her own words, trying to find the trace of this absent grandfather, about whom no one speaks any more.

Peter O'Farrel was 19 when he left his small village in Southern Ireland in 1949 to find work in London, a common occurrence in the history of a country that for years had seen its population flee and, as a result, its colossal decline. Irish people were leaving the country for the USA, England or even Australia, because there was no work in Ireland.

The only ones on stage to be discovered in Paris at the moment
If you're used to going to the theater to see plays with 8 actors on stage, then you'll be surprised to find that there are quite a few plays where the actor is alone on stage. For the curious or the connoisseur, we've put together this guide to the only ones on stage to be seen in Paris at the moment and in the near future. [Read more]

This was the case for Peter. He doesn't know it yet, but he'll never go back to Ireland, despite the terrible welcome he and all his compatriots received in England: " No blacks, no Irish, no dogs", read the placards. His accent was mocked, his religion rejected and he was called a notorious alcoholic. Poverty was obvious, his marriage was on the rocks and he couldn't provide for his five children. To forget, he goes away for a while, but always comes back. Until one day, he doesn't come back. Never again.

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Kelly Rivière has immersed herself in a diverse bibliography, discography and filmography to inspire and question her subject. FromAnnie Ernaux to Verdi, via Max Richter, The Dubliners and William Butler Yeats. Music, books, poetry and film have fueled her research into her grandfather's country, to create a show that puts both culture and language at the center of her attention, as we navigate between French and English, English from England and English from Ireland.

Our review:

Kelly Rivière performs alone on stage, captivating her audience for 1h30. With remarkable talent, she embodies a gallery of characters and draws us into the twists and turns of her family history. Her show, imbued with sensitivity and humor, is a vibrant tribute to Irish culture, exploring its traditions through music, literature and poetry.

Kelly Rivière's emotional performance is greeted with a well-deserved standing ovation. Her subtle, sincere performance touches the heart. For fans of one-woman shows, An Irish Story is not to be missed.

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