Connie is an immersive theatrical production telling the story of Limerick-born Hollywood actress Constance Smith now running at the Theatre Royal until Sunday November 2 – marking the first public performance in the historic building for almost thirty years.
Connie, created by Joanne Ryan and Anne Blake following six years of research, features Pom Boyd in the title role alongside Shirani Bolle, Gene Rooney, Johanne Webb and Meg Hennessey.
The all-female cast brings to life the turbulent story of Constance “Connie” Smith, who was born on Wolfe Tone Street in 1929 and became a star during Hollywood’s golden age before her career and life spiralled into tragedy.
Preparing the venue for public use required substantial work, including installing a new electrical system, emergency lighting, fire cladding, toilets and running water.
Mayor John Moran provided crucial support through his discretionary mayoral fund to finance the bulk of the restoration work.
“We’re making the building a character in the work as well,” said co-creator Joanne Ryan.
“It’s such an emotional space for so many people in Limerick who will have important formative memories from the building.”
The production uses the limited archival material available—including just one interview with Smith—alongside research by historian Sharon Slater to piece together Smith’s extraordinary life. Her later years saw her become increasingly reclusive before her death in a London council flat, estranged from family and friends.
Ryan and Blake travelled to London to research key moments from Smith’s life, including visiting the Islington council flat where she spent her final twenty years and St Pancras Cemetery, where her ashes were scattered by the council.
The creators obtained permission to bring soil from the scatter ground back to Limerick, some of which was incorporated into a memorial installed in the People’s Park last week.
“There was a lot of tragedy and sadness in her life,” said Ryan. “But the frame that we’ve come up with for the show allows us to balance the lightness with that darkness as well.”
https://limetreebelltable.ie/ for the remaining tickets.