A WELL-KNOWN Derry writer has penned a new play which marries his twin loves of theatre and jazz.
Dave Duggan’s ‘Chezzie’s Chance’ has been written for this year’s City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival and will see the cast take to the stage alongside a jazz trio.
“I’ve recently made theatre in a hardware shop and in courthouses, as well as in theatres, so why not in a jazz festival?” said Mr Duggan.
“I’ve been going to the jazz festival since it started and it’s a really good weekend to head out and meet your mates and hear some really good music.
“I’ve always said to myself ‘I’ll find a way of connecting theatre and jazz’.
“We have the characters on stage and then there is jazz trio on stage who are playing for them and we, the audience, are looking in at them in a jazz club,” explained Mr Duggan.
“We are watching them as play but the actors will sing too.
“There are tunes people will know from jazz and a few in jokes where the jazz heads will be nudging each other.”
“I’m a fan of the music and when I spoke to ace trumpeter Linley Hamilton, about my play with jazz, he was delighted to come on board with a trio.”
Featuring songs by Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billy Eckstine, Freddie Hubbard, Fannie Johnston the play explores the relationship between mother and her son who is about to fly the nest.
Local actor Conor O’Kane plays Chezzie, the fledgling song-bird about to take flight.
Orla Mullan, who plays Chezzie’s mother, Donna, was recently seen in The Lyric’s Threepenny Opera. She starred in The Playhouse’s successful touring production of the Bette Midler story and knows Conor from panto work.
“As an actress and singer it's very special to be telling the story of Chezzie and Donna through Dave's wonderful dialogue and some of the greatest Jazz songs of all-time,” said Ms Mullan.
“It's going to be a great show.”
Chezzie’s Chance by Dave Duggan, featuring The Linley Hamilton Trio, is a Blue Eagle Production, in association with City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival and takes place on May 4 at and 7.30pm, May 6 at 3pm, Millennium Forum Studio.
Tickets are available from The Millennium Forum. 028 7126 4455
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