A star is born occasionally at CADA drama school in Cork

CADA Performing Arts drama school in Cork, having successfully staged the musical CATS, is now preparing for Les Miserables, at the Firkin Crane theatre. Catherine Mahon-Buckley, CADA’s unflappable director, takes the enormous undertaking in her stride.

Thu, 02 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Jo Kerrigan

The school has produced incredible talent — Sarah Greene, who played opposite Daniel Radcliffe in The Cripple of Inishmaan; Keith Hanley, who won The Voice of Ireland a couple of years back; and Claudia Rose Long, who was a hit on The Voice UK recently — and every new term brings more hopefuls.

Having nurtured young talent for three decades, Mahon-Buckley has seen many changes.

“At first, it was almost entirely girls who wanted to work in drama, theatre, dance, music. Now, it’s getting more evenly balanced,” she says.

What worries her most is the instant gratification of TV contests, and of YouTube. She fears for people who see it only as instant fame and glitz.

“I tell them the glitz is about one per cent. Sweaty tracksuit, in a studio, working your butt off 24/7, is more the norm. Go for it, follow your dream, but always have your feet on the ground, find a way to pay bills, have some additional form of living,” Mahon-Buckley says.

The popularity of social media is creating a problem for the future.

“Soon, somebody is going to be paid a fortune to teach people how to communicate,” she says.

But aren’t we doing that more than ever today?

“No, it’s not real human contact. You see people around a restaurant table, every one of them looking down at their phone, instead of at each other, texting instead of talking, reading Facebook instead of their companions’ faces.” Soon, that basic skill may become a lost art.

“Here at CADA, we’re teaching them the performing arts, but every one of us is also performing every day of the week, whatever our jobs are. And that’s what I try to train them into, as well. Public speaking, making an entrance, grooming, presentation. If we get one or two who go on professionally, we’ll be doing well. But everybody else will benefit hugely from what they learn here,” she says.

Mahon-Buckley keeps an eye on those who succeed. Cork teenager Claudia Rose Long leapt to fame on The Voice UK, where she was chosen by Tom Jones for his team.

“She really is very good,” says Mahon-Buckley.

“An agent got on to me last year, wanting people for The Voice UK auditions, and I thought she deserved to go for it. Her music teacher, Anne Dunphy, and I groomed her for it and I kept telling her these shows are like a lottery — if your name is picked out, great, if not, move on.”

Long is back at school now, working for her Leaving Cert, and apparently not too fazed by the short, explosive exposure to fame.

“I say this to all young adults: go out there, get your qualifications and you’ll always have that to back you up,” says the mentor.

Hanley, one of the leads in this production of Les Miserables, won the Voice of Ireland in 2013.

“It was very demanding that show, but he never let it affect him afterwards. He has that wonderful singing voice, but he really wants to develop the acting side, too, and that’s why he’s in Mis,” Mahon-Buckley says. Like the other young talents, he’s in good hands.