All the world’s a stage… and with a wealth of actors in Northern Ireland we’re used to it more than most

Frank Mitchell

Kerr Logan from Bangor plays James Thornley in Showtrial

BBC/World Productions

Kerr Logan from Bangor plays James Thornley in Showtrial

November 13 2021 08:00 AM

I recently stumbled across Showtrial on BBC1. It’s excellent. As I was ten minutes late joining the first episode I might have switched over but I was captured by the presence of Kerr Logan.

He’s originally from Bangor. Apparently he was in Game of Thrones, the highly acclaimed London Irish and Good Vibrations. I knew none of this. To me he was an outstanding actor playing a central role in a gripping drama. I was so engrossed by what I saw I watched all the remaining episodes on the iPlayer.

Logan is yet another rising star from here. He’s following in the footsteps of leading figures such as Liam Neeson, Kenneth Branagh and Jimmy Nesbitt. What is it about us that allows such talent to flourish?

There is rarely a successful drama that doesn’t include someone from here. You can draw up your own list but Packy Lee in Peaky Blinders, Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades, Bronagh Gallagher in The Commitments, Geraldine Hughes in Gran Torino and John Lynch in Sliding Doors might get you started.

The simple answer is we’re good at it. Well they are and you might be but I’m not. I’ve often admired Paul Fegan and Francis McMahon. Don’t be alarmed if you haven’t heard of them. They are highly regarded locally on the amateur scene. McMahon has rivalled Anthony Hopkins in his portrayal of the Pope or at least one budding critic said so. I’ve seen him and I agree.

Some years ago I missed my chance to take the semi-professional plunge. The producers of the Grand Opera House pantomime came calling.

This was a chance to follow in the footsteps of Pamela Ballantine, Julian Simmons and Ivan Little who had all excelled in panto. The idea was for the weatherman to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Captain Hook. They were prepared to write a special part for me on board the ship in Peter Pan.

I approached Rob Morrison, my boss at UTV, and told him. “They are writing a new part just for me.”

“What type of part, you’ll probably be the third pirate from the right?” was his reply. He took the wind out of my sails and the Jolly Roger left without me.

I should have done it. Oh yes I should!

My father was a fine actor. He never performed anywhere beyond Warrenpoint Town Hall but like McMahon with his papal flair, my father was blessed with great comic timing. He played Mr Druff the barber in a comedy written by a writer who would eventually become a Stormont MLA.

When PJ Bradley passed away a few years ago there were many tributes from political circles but any reference to his creation Dan Druff the barber was understandably overlooked.

From the soaps to the silver screen people from here have shown it can be done brilliantly by local actors. The theatres are open again and that amazing technique of one person playing numerous characters is once more on show. The more traditional style of a six or seven strong cast will also be putting bums on seats. The undiscovered amateurs and the gifted professionals will cause us to laugh, cry, giggle and groan.

Whether it’s Adrian Dunbar’s Line of Duty, Charlie Lawson’s Coronation Street, James Ellis’s Z Cars or Jayne Wisener’s Sweeney Todd, the list just keeps getting longer. I can hear you shout Stephen Hagan, Stephen Rea, Richard Dormer, Martin McCann, Roma Downey, Ciaran Hinds, Kerri Quinn, Conleth Hill… It’s never ending, whether it’s the amazing Ian McElhinney from Game of Thrones and Derry Girls or those Derry girls themselves the conveyor belt of talent never stops and that was proven recently with the arrival of the outstanding James Martin in Ups and Downs and Marcella.

It was Kerr Logan from Bangor who caught my attention this time so it could be anyone from any part of the country who impresses us next time.

Frank presents U105 Phone In Monday-Friday from 9am-noon

All the world’s a stage… and with a wealth of actors in Northern Ireland we’re used to it more than most

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