| Michael Kelligan- "An Unquenchable Enthusiasm for Theatre" |
In Memory |
| Director, Reviewer, Actor , Theatre of South Wales , May 22, 2025 |
Each life has its own shape; for Michael Kelligan the mid-1990s was a point of fulcrum. In the time thereafter he performed two services to the theatre of Wales. The Welsh Fargo Stage Company was formed to present "The Spirit of Enniskillen". Its source was "Marie. A story from Enniskillen” by Gordon Wilson and Alf McCreary. The company went on to revisit many of the names that illuminated Welsh stages in the time before this century. The dramatists included Frank Vickery, Patrick Jones, Ed Thomas, Mark Jenkins, Lewis Davies, Ian Rowlands, Lucy Gough, Othniel Smith, Dic Edwards, Charles Way, Kaite O'Reilly, Alan Harris. Significantly Michael went further back into Wales' theatre history and was alone in doing so. Caradoc Evans, J O Francis, Emlyn Williams, Gwyn Thomas, Alan Osborne: the words of all appeared again on a stage through actors of the Welsh Fargo company. The company settled for a new format in 2004. In the seasons that followed, “On the Edge” presented rehearsed readings. The requirement for public funding was not high. The productions met his own aesthetic value. He did not do theory, or indeed any flummery; performance was about acting and actors. * * * * The second area of activity in this time of fruitfulness was that Michael began to write of the productions that he saw. Over two decades there was little that was performed in Cardiff that did not enter Michael's critical record. His first review of many at the Sherman was in March 2001 to see “Saturday Night Forever.” "It was, he wrote, “a theatrical presentation of the highest level. The combination of the sensitive and intelligent writing of Roger Williams, the depth of understanding of theatricality of director Simon Fisher and the sheer outstanding ability of actor Darren Lawrence to captivate and engage with his audience produced a unique chemistry that marks a high point in the Achievement of Welsh Theatre.” When Kate Wasserberg and Bizzie Day opened the Other Room Michael was there to capture not just the flavour but the personal feeling. “It was my first visit to The Other Room, Cardiff’s first (and only) pub theatre. I entered Porter’s bar full of excitement and anticipation. Certainly the atmosphere was buzzing. I sipped my beer at the bar as I waited for the theatre to open. My expectations were high.” And ten years ago, almost to the day, he was at the Sherman again to see a young actor, not greatly known, in a solo performance. “Director Rachel O’Riordan”, he wrote, “dynamic actor Sophie Melville and Gary Owen are a trio made in a theatrical heaven." The legacy of 621 reviews for this site runs from the grandest production of the Welsh National Opera to fringe shows of modest means. Scale and size made no difference for Michael's rarely unabated enthusiasm. . * * * * The life, before the life-altering 1990s, was one on the other side of theatre. He acted in Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, Lyme Regis, Seaford, Cromer, Ventnor, Weston-S-Mare, Morecambe, Belfast, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Birkenhead. He did television for BBC, Central, HTV. He was Anthony the Pig in Aardman's early “Creature Comforts.” He featured in advertising for Allbright beer and Volkswagen. The tributes to Michael circled around two facets: the devotion to live performance and the sheer niceness of the persona. Among them: Jon Gower: "Theatre was in Michael's blood, it coursed through his veins. In creating and maintaining the Welsh Fargo way of presenting plays he offered opportunities to literally hundreds of writers and actors, some of them established and some starting out. He was old school in his training and experience of commercial theatre but bang up to date in what he knew and saw. "If your daughter needed a monologue for an audition Michael was the go-to guy. Or, rather the go-to gentleman, for he was that, an upholder of standards, an urbane conversationalist and quiet enthusiast for life's better things, among which he listed theatre as one of the best. The fabric of Welsh theatre is now missing a golden thread." Greg Cullen: “Michael Kelligan, a man with an unquenchable enthusiasm for theatre such that he was gloriously wide eyed like a child having a wonderful adventure and looking at generators of new theatre as if asking, “What’s next?!” Richard Huw Morgan: “Michael was such a passionate enthusiast, with an all embracing attitude towards theatre. From the outside we probably seemed to have very little in common, from the inside…we were more than likely the same (correctly) fanaticists that better things can be, and surely need to be, imagined. Nos da lyfli Michael. X” Jess Scott: “Sad news. I loved working with him. He lived on the other side of the street to me and I used to go through the garden and we would meet for tea and talk about scripts and props and characters and costumes… such a lovely person.” Gary Raymond: “A true gentleman, and a lifelong servant to Welsh theatre. I remember him showing me once where on stage he had stood on the first night of the Sherman Theatre’s existence. It was always a pleasure to see him at press nights, hear his insights and indulge in a bit of cheeky gossip. There should be some dedication to him somewhere on the Welsh theatrical landscape.” Sharon Morgan: “Met him first at the Casson Studio in the early 70’s with the Welsh Theatre Company. And worked many times with his Wells Fargo Theatre Company. A lovely man.” Nick Davies: “Always a gentleman who had time for everyone. I've spent much of my time attending theatre performances alone as either a representative of Arts Council of Wales or later as a reviewer, and its an often solitary existence -- and yet if Michael was at the same show, he'd make a beeline for me for a drink and a chat. It meant a lot, and I always enjoyed his sagelike wisdom and impish sense of humour.” Michelle Perez: “Michael Kelligan truly was a gentleman, great reviewer and always so kind and interested in everything that was going on in the Welsh arts scene. Will be sorely missed.” Catherine Tregenna: “I loved his company. I agree he was devoted to the theatre.” Kate Perridge: “He was always so interested in theatre. And you’re right, a true gentleman. Loved his passion for theatre. He knew everything!” Sarah Argent: “I directed several script in hand readings for Michael and a production. His passion and energy and commitment to giving audiences the chance to experience plays they might not otherwise know were wonderful - and the hours he spent watching and reviewing theatre.” Chris Durnall: A lovely man who really cared. He will be missed and not forgotten. A real champion of theatre in Wales.” As for myself the conversations were many. Our last exchange was early this year. His reviews, I told him, had been read in excess of 1000 times weekly during 2024. So much for theatre being ephemeral. His response was characteristic, warmth and modesty combined. Michael Kelly 20th April 1939-16th May 2025 |
Reviewed by: Adam Somerset |
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