Stones in His Pockets a rock solid success

What has made Stones in His Pockets such an enduring success is its appeal to the imagination of audiences, says director, Ian McElhinney, who is married to its author, Marie Jones.

Translated into 30 languages and performed all over the world, the play is a tragicomedy about a small rural Irish town which is overrun by a Hollywood film crew shooting a film and employing many of the locals as extras. There are some 15 characters — but only two actors.

“Ordinarily, when you go to see a play, an awful lot is presented in front of your eyes,” says McElhinney. “There’s a set which gives you a real sense of the world you’re in. Every character is played by an individual actor. With Stones is His Pockets you have effectively a bare stage with two actors and yet a whole world in rural Ireland is created. There’s the countryside, the bar interior, the dressing room and the star’s bedroom.” McElhinney imagines that everyone sees the play differently. “I think that’s part of the magic.”