One Night in November returns

The play charts the personal catharsis of working class Ulster Protestant, Kenneth McCallister. The journey takes Kenneth from the terraces of Windsor Park during the famous North vs South Ireland World Cup Qualifying game of November 17, 1993 to his joining ‘Jackie’s Army’ for the 1994 World Cup Finals in the USA. Jones’ script is as funny an examination of a community’s illogical, indeed sectarian, fears as is possible. The play debuted in 1994 and has been in production steadily ever since. Donaghmore actor Grimes, who has previously appeared in ‘The History of the Troubles According to My Da’, follows in the accomplished footsteps of Paddy Kielty and Dan Gordon, who both toured the play. Mr. Grimes said: “I had never seen it before. Everyone I know has gone to see it but I genuinely think that not having seen it was the greatest advantage of all time. Certainly Marie (Jones) thought it was fantastic I hadn’t seen it.”

Conor is currently “knee deep” in rehearsals.

“Even though I’m well used to it at this stage and it’s a pain, you get used to the long days and nights. As an actor you are always living in a recession so it is good to be working and better to be working on such a great script.

“In terms of touring, the show is easy carried. A one man show is frightening, worrying even but the flip side is there is no one else going to mess up. It’s always my line in this one.”

Conor talks of the main character’s journey and his “moment of enlightenment when he decides to be happy. Kenneth, suddenly faced by sectarianism all around him, gets brave and he makes a call not to accept the situation this anymore.”

It is perhaps as much a damning indictment of the political realities of the North as it is a commendation of Jones’ script that the play, despite being almost 20 years’ old, is as relevant today as it was then.

“We talked about that in rehersals. I don’t want to be drawn on the politics but the rioting in Belfast this week is ironic given that this play is about to open. It asks us some very serious questions about our bigotry and sectarianism. It focuses us on our own attitudes. Either way it is still relevant due to political situation but it is about a very human character also. Kenneth’s journey toward making things better for himself is always going to be e asy to relate with.”

‘One Night in November’ opens at The Millennium Forum on Tuesday, September 18.