Gina Costigan stars in London Classic Theatre’s new tour of Brian Friel’s masterpiece Faith Healer.
Michael Cabot, founder, and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre directs Paul Carroll (Frank), Gina Costigan (Grace) and Jonathan Ashley (Teddy). Designs by Bek Palmer and lighting design by Matthew Green.
Faith Healer premièred at Longacre Theatre, New York in 1979, before opening in London at Royal Court Theatre in 1981. London Classic Theatre’s tour opened at New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme on 5 September before touring to a further nineteen venues across the UK and Ireland, concluding at Connaught Theatre, Worthing on 17 November. Full tour listings can be found here.
You’re playing Grace in Faith Healer, what can you tell us about this play?
It’s considered as one of Friel’s main masterpieces and the play itself centres around an Irish Faith Healer called Francis Hardy who travels largely around villages in Wales and Scotland performing his craft.
The play tells Francis’ story from his perspective and also through the eyes of his wife Grace and manager Teddy who travelled around with him and were affected in various ways by their life on the road. It’s a fantastic play that deals with shifting perspectives and may often have you questioning what’s real.
What was it about Brian Friel’s script that attracted you to the production?
I actually had never got to see a production of this show before reading it and wasn’t fully sure what to expect on my first read. It kind of blew me away. I was immediately taken in by each character’s very different narrative and account of their lives. It had my mind weaving and my head listening from the get go.
Tell us a little about Grace, what are you loving about the character?
She’s particularly complex (no more than myself!) and still now it can be hard to decipher her various motives and impulses. I find that quite fascinating as it’s very human.
And what do you think you’ll find most challenging?
I suppose finding the balance for Grace, she’s a woman who is trying to survive and in that sense, it can be quite easy to play the extremes, because there are many within her. Sometimes it’s helpful just to sit with her, so to speak, and settle with her at times!
The play is structured entirely in monologues, what do you think you’ll find most challenging about this?
Being up there on your own for quite a while is daunting as the old actor fear of forgetting one’s lines still reigns supreme! But it can also be tricky to correctly pace it throughout. With an audience focusing on just on you for a period of time, it’s important to get this right and sometimes it’s not as straightforward as it seems!
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see Faith Healer?
It will surprise you and it’s a play that will stay with you after. It’s cited as a really important play and although it’s enigmatic in its effect, this importance really rings true. Oh and albeit a strong drama there are some laughs within them too!
