We interview local writer Johnny O'Hanlon on the subject of his forthcoming new play Back to the Sky which performs at the Acorn Theatre between 27 March and 1 April.



Simon: What was your inspiration for writing this play?

Johnny: The inspiration for writing the play derived from several areas: partly personal and partly from the long-term observation on how music can powerfully affect our mood and trigger memories, some sad, some joyous and some a mixture of the two. Songs, tunes, scraps of music can take us back to a certain time, place, or moment. I have been further inspired by the personal accounts of people who have powerful attachments to pieces of music and songs. One account I recall was the lady who put on a Willie Nelson record each night and would see her late husband in front of her, which gave her a sense of serenity in the storm of her grief on losing someone who was her friend and partner for fifty years. Radio programmes, such as ‘Desert Island Discs’, ‘Soul Music’ and ‘Inheritance Tracks’ testify to how music can evoke powerful emotions Just listen to the episodes with Richard E. Grant and Jay Blades for example.

Simon: In your own words, what is the play about?

Johnny: This new play, a world premiere, is a multi-faceted account of Ciaran’s remarkable gift: the ability to ‘hear’ the Music of others, Music that for them activates powerful emotions of things past, songs that forge deeply hidden sadness or trauma, the Music will help them to recover and reveal memories that have been locked and stored away for too long because they are too painful. When Ciaran goes missing, it brings the two women in his life closer together; however, are the scenes we see enacted in front of us real or imagined?

Simon: Why do you feel that music can heal and repair the soul?

Johnny: Our brains are wired for Music. Music causes us to feel certain emotions whether sadness or happiness. It has long been understood that Music can be a powerful remedy to help reduce pain, and even have a positive effect on symptoms of stroke and dementia. And for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, its benefits may well be that singing and listening to music improves mood, helps retrieve old memories, and could even improve general thought processes; witness the remarkable work Vicky McClure has done with ‘Our Dementia Choir’. We use music for funeral and weddings, and most couples have ‘our song’. Music connects us to each other and to the past. To quote Vicky McClure: “Music is medicine”.

Simon: Why should people come along to watch this play?

Johnny: I think people should come along to watch the play because hopefully it will draw out their own memories and emotions connected to their Music. It’s a story will resonate with the audience and their own experiences with music and vinyl records!

Simon: Final question; what will the audience most enjoy about it?

Johnny: I think the audience will enjoy the unexpected twists and turns of Ciaran’s narrative as he navigates his way back to recovery and a reunion to gladden the heart. The themes of friendship, love, grief, and healing should hopefully echo with audiences own life experiences.

You can buy tickets for Back to the Sky here. Performances from 27 March to 1 April 2023.