Changing Theatre one Sheet at a time
TeamTheatre saw Changing Sheets
''Sometimes we enter a theatre, and only sometimes we leave impressed. But sometimes we leave a theatre changed, different and full of love for live performances.''
Sometimes we enter a theatre, and only sometimes we leave impressed. But sometimes we leave a theatre changed, different and full of love for live performances. Earlier this year I went to see Harry Butler’s ‘Changing The Sheets’ starring the formidable talents of Harrison Tipping and Shannon Haly, who managed to accomplish that often-impossible task on a whole new level. A part of Origin 1st Irish theatre festival, this play absolutely stunned audience members who were completely absorbed by these two world-class actors.
Harrison Tipping
Shannon Haly
Harrison Tipping’s ability on stage is like something I’ve never witnessed before. His ability to transform, captivate and hold an audience for the full duration of the play was nothing short of extraordinary. He played the role of ‘Robert’ a young Irishman struggling to navigate his feelings and what he desires from his new found date ‘Patty’. Tipping’s presence on stage had audience members unable to look anywhere else but to his next move, line and even stillness as he battled to keep the women of his dreams in his life. His choices as the character were never ending; always changing and made audiences both laugh and at times tear up. I must also give praise to his opposite who also embodied the perfect combination of vulnerability and comedy in her performance as ‘Patty’. Shannon Haly, 25 from Ireland was the perfect match for someone of Tipping’s ability. She brought a huge amount of depth to her performance and a vulnerability which truly had me captivated. The two matched each other perfectly in this piece.
Both Tipping and Haly’s résumées truly show their remarkable achievements in the world of performance. After watching them both I decided to do a little digging to see what else they had worked on. It was fantastic to see that Tipping has not only an abundance of experience in the theatre but has also been attracting major success on the screen. Just prior to this show he had been filming in Austin, Texas a feature film written by the highly regarded Terry Rossio. The film is set to be released early next year. Shannon Haly also, with fantastic successes in her own projects, having written several of her own award-winning short films.
I look forward to hearing and seeing more from these two talented individuals as they continue to take over the stages and screens of the US over the coming years.
written by TeamTheatre’s co- Artistic Director, Chrysi Sylaidi