First Edinburgh review 4 Stars ★★★★
Unbelievable!
We received our first Edidburgh Fringe 2023 review for ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ and its a 4 Star ★★★★ review. I know we just said the word review twice there but frankly we did’t know or think that our play might get any review what so ever. Or would anyone come to the show?
Below is the Review of ‘The only punk Rocker in the Village’
“If you remember the 1970s you will love this show. And if you don’t, you’ll probably love it anyway because it’s hilarious.
In a hugely entertaining 50 minutes, Dermot Petty takes us back to his teenage life in Lisdoonvarna, North Clare
‘a village cut off from the world’
where his one salvation is the Friday night youth club dance. Music: the Nolan Sisters and Bye Bye Baby. Aim ‘To shift a girl.’
Dermot’s hopeless at school, he’s not good at sport, he’s not even followed in the family tradition of ‘being good with your hands.’
And to make matters worse, Dermot’s got red hair.
But rebellion is in his soul. Unfortunately there’s limited scope for that in Lisdoonvarna. Dermot scans the pages of the New Musical Express (one of the many UK music papers of his, and my, youth). And there he discovers punk rock. In no time at all he’s ordering records. In his first parcel are a New Wave compilation and that one; The Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks.
‘Swear words were rare in Ireland in 1978.’
His Mum is not impressed, no more his Dad. No more the rest of the village.
To Dermot, punk is a revelation; pop music can be subversive. But who’s he going to share it with in Lisdoonvarna? The most rebellious scion in the village are the hippies who’ve rocked up a few years earlier (cue brilliant imitation of a flower child) and they’re still banging on about the trad music for which the area is famous. Meanwhile the Irish (and indeed the British) mainstream media is outraged; punk is
‘an attack on Western civilisation.’
Dermot doesn’t care. On the front of that New Wave album is a guy with a lip piercing. Dermot might not go that far, but he knows what he wants; an earring. And he wants if for more than one reason. What happens when he (sort of) gets one may be a bit of a disappointment to him, but it’s another priceless story for us.
And they keep on coming. Dermot decides he needs to learn to pogo. He’s seen it on the John Peel show. He shows us how he did it. He tries to pick up a girl; total fail but very funny. His parents decide to drive up to Newry to buy a new record player in the North (where it’s cheaper); their interaction with the border patrol is a perfect scene in itself.
And in between the stories, there’s the music. Anarchy in the UK; Sheena is a Punk Rocker; Teenage Kicks – they all blast out in the Triplex’s tiny Studio, and my goodness, they’re still fantastic. Dermot dances to every one. He closes his eyes, He’s in heaven and so am I.
Punk rock, says Dermot, was his education; it opened his eyes not only to new music but to new politics; resistance; rebellion. He was living in a world of low expectations until Johnny Rotten, Malcom McLaren and co showed him there was life beyond Lisdoonvarna and the School Leaving Certificate;
‘Because punk came to North Clare, I was able to create my own adventure.’
Punk set him free.
The Only Punk Rocker in the Village is a great little show, and it’s a rare representation of what the Fringe should be about. It’s fresh, slightly unpolished, personal, entertaining, and comes from the heart. Dermot (despite having ’two bad knees’ – how did that happen when the rest of us are obviously still only 25?) brings so much energy and fun to the room, it’s impossible not to enjoy yourself. The show is short, and I’d love it to be padded out with a bit more of the music, but it doesn’t need to be long to send you away singing (and maybe even pogoing) your way through the crowds.”
The Only Punk Rocker in the Village is directed by Joan O’Hanrahan and is a Ballycartoon Players production. It is at theSpaceTriplex Studio, Hill Place, at 5.15pm every day, but only until Saturday 19 August.
★★★★
Drawing the ire of the Daily Mail
Imagine our surprise and delight for ‘The Only Pun Rocker in the Village’, to be recommend by the 41st funniest comedian in the world, Mr Stewart Lee, as a show to be seen at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023.
On his website www.stewartlee.co.uk he says the following:
‘MY EDINBLUR REC’S SO FAR
Bear in mind I know almost nothing about what’s happening in comedy these days, and I will add in Free Fringe rec’s in the August mailout.
But for now, these are things I personally would try and see because I have seen them and liked them or think I might like them and this list is not some boilerplated Sunday Supplement paradigm.
But while I know nothing, for example, about The Only Punk In The Village and The Crisp Review beyond liking the blurb, everything else on this culturally stale list I have seen recently and liked.
I am very sorry to see that Alfie Brown is not on at the fringe this year, who I felt was beginning to be brilliant and a timely reminder of what stand-up as a genre is capable of.
On a wider note, remember, everything has been fucked by the Tories and if the fringe seems too costly and middle class and elitist it is because people are being priced out of arts, culture, eduction etc, arguably deliberately, everywhere by this government and its enablers and the Fringe is merely a microcosm of that.
As usual, support Free Fringe shows and cross the tracks to Stand venues, as the Stand continues, miraculously, to manage its finances to ensure no-one goes home in debt.
And only see shows promoted by Avalon if nice people are doing them and they seem suitably ashamed of themselves.
15.15 Simon Munnery – Stand
17.15 The Only Punk Rocker In The Village – Space Triplex – 14th-19th
17.40 Paul Sinha – Stand New Town Theatre‘
Thank you Mr Lee. We were pleasantly surprised by these kind words. We also release that GB news, the Daily Mail and some patrons of a certain English chain of pubs will now see the play ‘The Only Rocker in the Village’ as part of the attack on the world order and see us as part of the upcoming lefty revolution.
We certainly hope so!
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ play begins run of 6 shows
@Edinburgh Fringe 2023
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ play begins its run of 6 shows at the Triplex @thespaceuk on Monday, August 14th at 5:15pm. The excitement the nerves, the sheer unbelievably of that this is really, really happening for us.
Simply amazing!
Photo by Franz Lurgo an audience member who kindly sent it to us.
Edinburgh Fringe Adventures
The Edinburgh Fringe adventure begin on August 13th with the Tech rehersals at the Triples Studio as part of as part @theSpace Triplex (V38). With our elite Ballycartoon Players team of Joan O’Hanrahan (Director & Sound & Lighting Technician) and Dermott Petty (Performer & Writer) of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ play.
We would be performing our play from Monday August 14th to Saturday August 19th @5:15pm at @theSpace Triplex (V38),The Prince Phillip Building, EH8 9D
Edinburgh City
Edinburgh is a stunning medieval in your face Gothic city.
Sir Walter Scot’s Monument
Audience reactions to the Fringe show
Giulia Maino 5 days ago
“This show is a kind, heartwarming journey through nostalgia. The actor gives to the audience a very truthful performance, given the autobiografic nature of the play. Even though I’m very much younger than him, I found myself really driven by the story.”
Fred Bell
“Absolutely brilliant – i was there in my own small village and this captured that time; honest & joyful; go see !”
“Was ace”
Not since Braveheart has Scotland faced such danger!?
Venue: theSpace Triplex (V38) The Prince Phillip Building, EH8 9DP
Dates: 14–19 August 2023
Time: 17:15 (0hr50)
Lone Punk Rocker brings terror to sleepy village
In 1978 the traditional Irish village of Lisdoonvarna is invaded by a new dangerous phenomenon, Punk Rock. Yet in this village there is only 1 Punk Rocker.
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ play takes place in rural Ireland in the 1970’s when a teenagers discovery of Punk Rock turns his life upside down, causing consideration, shock and misunderstanding with his parents, community and friends. This new public enemy, that 1 Punk Rocker in the Village, has notions of rebellion, grandeur and turning the world upside down. He is also trying to get a girlfriend. What could go wrong?
The Ballycartoon Players production of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ will be performing at the theSpace Triplex (V38),The Prince Phillip Building, EH8 9D on Monday August 14th until Saturday August 19th @ 5:15pm.
This will be Edinburgh Fringe Premiere of the play ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ The origins of the play began from a poem of Dermott Petty’s titled ‘When Punk Rock Came to North Clare’ published by Revival Press in Limerick. The play will be Directed by Joan O’Hanrahan and will be performed by Dermott Petty.
Established in 2015 in North Clare by Joan O’Hanrahan and Dermott Petty, the Ballycartoon Players have been performing and touring in Ireland, presenting new original theatre that reflects the stories, humours and challenges of life in rural Ireland in the 21st century. For the first time since being formed, Ballycartoon Players are making their Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut with a show that gives an insight to a world that seems so long ago, yet was not so long ago.
Listings information
Venue: theSpace Triplex (V38) The Prince Phillip Building, EH8 9DP
Dates: 14–19 August 2023
Time: 17:15 (0hr50)
Ticket prices: £11.00 / concessions £8.00 / children £5.50
Fringe box office: 0131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
Suitable 12+
For more information, photos, interviews or media contact Dermott Petty on 353877993543 or email dermottpetty@gmail.com
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ Playing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023
Performing at the SpaceTriplix Studio, The Prince Phillip Building, EH8 9D in Edinburgh, on Monday August 14th until Saturday August 19th @ 5:15pm, which will be be the Edinburgh Fringe Premiere of the play ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22The%20Only%20Punk%20Rocker%20in%20the%20Village%22
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ is set in rural Ireland in the late 1970’s when a teenagers discovery of Punk Rock turns his life upside down causing consideration, shock and misunderstanding with his parents, community and friends.
The setting is the village of Lisdoonvarna, population 700, where a tight-nit, conservative, traditional community is invaded by the dangerous phenomenon, Punk Rock. In the village there is only 1 Punk rocker. The one punk rocker in the Village has notions of rebellion, grandeur and turning the world upside down. He is also trying to get a girlfriend. What could go wrong?
The origins of the play began from a poem of Dermott Petty’s tilted ‘When Punk Rock Came to North Clare’ published by Revival Press in Limerick. The play will be Directed by Joan O’Hanrahan and will be performed by Dermott Petty.
There will be 6 performances of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ at SpaceTriplix Studio, beginning Monday August 14th @5:15pm, with performances on the Tuesday August 15th, Wednesday August 16th, Thursday August 17th, Friday August 18th and ending on Saturday August 19th. All performances will be at 5:15pm.
Photo by Joan O’Hanrahan ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village‘
Exciting News
Great news here at Ballycartoon Players! We are going to the Edinburgh Fringe with our show ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ will play at theSpaceTriplex, the Studio, The Prince Phillip Building, EH8 9DP from Monday August 14th all the way through to Saturday August 13th. We will be performing each day at 5:15pm.
More details to be found in the link below:
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/only-punk-rocker-in-the-village
More details to follow:
Life before Covid
This time last year we were about to perform ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ at the fab Doolin Writers Festival. The Doolin Writers Festival took place at Hotel Doolin, in the small fishing village of Doolin, Co Clare.
A Year ago today and a day The Only Punk Rocker in the Village play had its World Premier at the Guildhall in the charming town of Barnstable, in North Devon, at the wacky wonderful Fringe TheatreFest
As memories, adventures and out of body experiences go this was in the top 3.
After much powerful work, staging and Directing by Joan O’ Hanrahan I felt we could do it but at 6:30pm (2 hours before the performance) that evening all I wanted to do was take the train out of town.
Yet later that night I found myself walking into the GuildHall, chanting Nam Myho renge Kyo under my breath, begin setting up my props while then reciting WB Yates poem “An Irish Airman foresees his death” to myself.
Then I walked in front of a audience that did’t knew me, my story or my funny little ways.
The play begins, I tell my story of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ to total strangers far from North Clare. They watched as I relived my teenage years, my feeble attempts at teenage rebellion, along with some spectacular bad dancing. And…they LOVED it.
Fortune favours the brave yet more importantly it showed that people want to hear a story, be entertained and that making a eejit of yourself, exposing your work to total strangers is part of the art, the journey the adventure
At the Fringe TheatreFest I was helped greatly by the Stage Manager Sean Mcintyre, and the Festival Guros of Gill Nathanson and Bill Buffery were so encouraging and kind. I also was blessed with wonderful accommodation and tea and chats from Pete Leaver and family.
Here in North Clare Joan O’ Hanrahan the Director has been the rock, the muse, the General, the powerhouse vision the play and the performer needed.
Also the stage work of Barry Dillon, Rúairí Murdiff, Sinéad Heavey along with the support of my family I am very grateful for.
We were supposed to be getting ready for the Edinburgh Fringe this August but history has decided different. We still hope to get to the Brighton Fringe in October. And hopefully if history allows to tour the Ireland, the World and beyond with the play
And the performance journey of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ begin 1 year ago in Barnstable Fringe TheatreFest for which I am so Thankful!
My first real job was working and living upstairs in the pub O’Donoghue’s in Merrion Row in Dublin. Which made it fierce convenient regarding punk rock concerts.
Most of the gigs were at the Dandelion, McGonangles, the Baggot Inn, The Magnet, and the odd time the Project Arts Centre. Toners was okay for Rockabilly, rest of the stuff was Southside hippies playing Bob Seeger badly.
The record shop Advice Records was a great place to waste time during my afternoon break from the 12 hours days I worked as a bartender. At Advice records I bought the first U2 single, a 12 inch single, one of only a thousand that were made.
The Punk Rock scene in Ireland was mostly centred in the dark, dingy, and sometimes dangerous Dandelion Market. On the site of the Steven’s Green Shopping centre the Dandelion Market was a decrepit old warehouse, already condemned to be demolished by the city of Dublin. Considered by the powers that be to be an eyesore, the Dandelion market was home to useless second hand shops and stalls run by con men, hippies and alternative layabouts, the concerts that were held there, in it’s brief lifespan as a venue, were undoubtedly some of the most significant in Irish history. By day it was a flea market; a collection of stalls, shops, boutiques, a jazz record shop and one of Ireland’s first Taco stands.
But on weekends this dreary, run down warehouse was the site where many of Ireland’s greatest musicians got their first break. It was a melting pot for Punk, New Wave, Electronic and R&B, home to Mods, Punks, Rockers, Hippies and even the odd culchie exposed to a world very different to that of ‘the official Ireland’.
You paid your 50p entrance fee, went through a hole in the wall and entered a world populated by electric guitars and struggling musicians. It was a time and a group of people who thought they could change the world. And, in a rare twist, they did. The Dandelion Market has been compared to other infamous venues like The Caravan in Liverpool. It seems a particularly poignant, and very rock and roll, scenario that a country’s most significant venue would be in a building already condemned for destruction. The Shopping Mall that now stands on its ashes serves as a reminder of what was lost: a home to imagination, a beacon of rebellion and fun.
In September 1979 the media focused on a visit by a man from Rome, a social revolution was happening in an abandoned warehouse in an underdeveloped part of Dublin city centre. Ireland in 1979 was at a crossroads. One well travelled road had over a million people flocking to see the historical visit of Pope John Paul II. Another road (sadly well signposted) lead to the continuation of what seemed to be “The Troubles” that seemed to be without end in Ulster. Then there was a third road, a new road, a hidden bohern that led to the emerging sub cultures of Rock and Roll and Punk which were making clumsy attempts to create a foothold in Ireland. The Dandelion Market “concert hall” was a dingy venue, where bits of the ceiling would fall on punters’ heads and the entrance was literally a hole in the wall of the building. It was damp, dark and dingy. Concerts were on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It was somewhere truly special. Of course, it was not the only alternative scene of the period, but it is perhaps the most fondly remembered.
The idea that the alternative scene was so small and genuinely counter cultural is something that is difficult for people who have only known the contemporary scene to grasp. Yet, the lessons learned in that dingy little warehouse are important ones, and revisiting it may help inspire a new audience. I had the pleasure to see U2, The Atrix, DC Nein etc playing gigs in the early days. Being the lone punk rocker in Lisdoonvarna (pop 600) moving to Dublin to work, I went savage going to gigs.
What’s rarely mentioned was the amount of agro at many of the gigs, particularly U2’s. One Monday night at the Baggot Inn U2 played, with the Blades supporting, there were about 7 people in the audience, 3 who threw pint classes at U2 as they played. The Dandelion Market turned into a battleground on weekends.
What sticks in my memory was how U2 handled it. No jumping in, no retaliation, no revenge after the lights were down. They maintain their pose, the crowds in the Dandelion got bigger.
The last Saturday afternoon they played there was particularly emotional. Packed with teenagers paying 50p, Bono announced they were about to go to London to tour. Going to London for a record company was a might Big deal in the late 70’s. For most rock groups it was the ticket out of the greyness of Ireland to the bright lights and temptations of the outside world, most bands intended never to return. What he then said showed class beyond what I had ever witnessed. Simply he said, ”We are no different than anyone here. All of you can form a band, rehearse, write songs, and play gigs. The only difference is we formed a band. All of you can do the same and more than likely better”
No finger to the crowd, no dissing the Messers, only encouragement, the rarest of commodity’s in 1979. It’s a simple message, almost saccharine, but it stands. This was a time when a brave and bold few were able to mould reality in their image.
It is a timely message.
Sad news yet very understandable.
Our hope is to perform ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ play at the Brighton Fringe which is intended to happen in either September or October instead this year.
Mega news @Holy Moses
https://www.brightonfringe.org/whats-on/the-only-punk-rocker-in-the-village-148615/
Breaking News
On Sunday January 26th, 8pm at the Barn in Hotel Doolin the World Tour of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ will begin.
Please come by to give a middle finger to the MAN, to help local artists and most importantly to laugh cry and enjoy yerselfs!
Thanks to the Doolin Writers Weekend for inviting us to be part of their brilliant festival.
Tom Dunne of Newstalk radio does an interview with Dermott Petty the writer & performer of the One Person play ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ Tom did the radio interview on Thursday October 24th 2 days before the Irish premiere of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ in the Royal Spa hotel in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, Ireland. The play was directed by Joan O’Hanrahan
Tom Dunne’s Radio show https://www.newstalk.com/shows/tom-du…
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ Irish Premier
Last weekend we had an extraordinary Irish premier of the play ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village‘ at the Royal Spa Hotel in Lisdoonvarna.
A massive Thanks to everyone who attended, those who supported us, to Ann and John Doherty of the Royal spa. For Mark Douf for his help.
To my family, my mother Teresa Petty & Kathleen Gibbons for front of house.
For the mighty Tech crew of Sinéad Heavey, Barry Dillon & Rúairí Murdiff .
And to the Director..the brilliant Director who fleshed out every possible nuance, story and craft from the play along with the performance. Joan O’ Hanrahan you were patient, strong and visionary.
I am so happy, so grateful so humbled
THANKS!
The Wonderfull team at Morning Focus at Clare FM did a interview on our upcoming performance of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ play in Lisdoonvarna.
Our play ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ is having its Irish premier in Lisdoonvarna when it will be playing in The Royal Spa Hotel in Lisdoonvarna on October 26th & 27th at 8pm
On October 26th at the Royal Spa Hotel in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, Co Clare at 8pm, will be the Irish Premiere of the play ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’.
’The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ is a new play by North Clare native Dermott Petty The play is set in North Clare in the late 1970’s where a teenagers discovery of Punk Rock turns his life upside down and causes consideration, shock and misunderstanding with his parents, his community and his friends. The setting is in the village of Lisdoonvarna, where a tight-nit, conservative, traditional based community is invaded by this new foreign phenomenon Punk Rock. In the village however there is only 1 Punk rockers. The one punk rocker in the village has notions of rebellion, grandeur and turning the world upside down.
The origins of the play began from a poem of Dermott Petty’s tilted ‘When Punk Rock Came to North Clare’ that was published by Revival Press in Limerick. The play will be directed by Joan O’Hanrahan and will be performed by Dermott Petty.
This summer ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ play had its World Premiere as part of the Barnstable Fringe Theatrefest in Barnstable, North Devon, England.
https://www.theatrefest.co.uk/program/show/93e71d08-4394-4778-8a56-770940bef5b7
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ will have its Irish Premiere on Saturday, October 26th at the Royal Spa Hotel in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare, at 8pm There will be 2 performances of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ at the Royal Spa Hotel, on Saturday October 26th at 8pm, and on Sunday October 27th at 8pm.
The Only Punk Rocker in the Village World Premier
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ first ever performance and it found a great audience at. The Barnstaple Fringe theaterfest
Poster for The Only Punk Rocker in the Village for the Fringe theatrefest in the lovely town of Barnstable in North Devon.
Very exciting News!
Our play ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ is to make its World Premier at the Barnstable Fringe Festival in Devon, in England. The play will have 3 performances, the first on June 27th.
We need funds for our journey so please help if you can. Every donation and sharing is greatly appreciated.
https://igg.me/at/onlypunkrockerinthevillage/x/21698892
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ is a new play by North Clare native Dermott Petty The play is set in North Clare in the late 1970’s where a teenagers discovery of Punk Rock turns his life upside down and causes consideration, shock and misunderstanding with his parents, his community and his friends.
The setting is in the village of Lisdoonvarna, when a tight-nit, conservative, traditional based community is invaded by this new foreign phenomenon Punk Rock. In the village however there is only 1 & ½ Punk rockers. (The ½ is away at boarding school) The one punk rocker in the village has notions of rebellion, grandeur and turning the world upside down.
The origins of the play began from a poem of Dermott Petty’s tilted ‘When Punk Rock Came to North Clare’ that was published by Revival Press in Limerick. The play will be Directed by Joan O’Hanrahan and will be performed by Dermott Petty.
‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Village’ will have its World Premiere in the lovely town of Barnstable, in Devon in England on June 30th as part of the Barnstable Fringe Theatrefest.
There will be 3 performances of ‘The Only Punk Rocker in the Villiage’. The first will on Thursday June 27th, the second on Saturday June 29 & the 3rd will be on Sunday June 30th.
All performances will be at The Guildhall in Barstable.
https://www.theatrefest.co.uk/program/show/93e71d08-4394-4778-8a56-770940bef5b7
