Susannah de Wrixon: ‘It takes time to get to where you need to be, so start creating yourself’
A woman who has been working as an actor, singer and comedienne for over three decades now, Susannah de Wrixon is truly immersed in the Irish arts. Ahead of her performance of I Carry Your Heart at the Gate Theatre, she shares with us her cultural life.
A woman with over thirty years of experience in the industry, Susannah de Wrixon is constantly on the lookout for new collaborations and developing new shows.
Having shared stages with artists such as Rosaline Linehan and Mary Coughlan, performed with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, and is a regular performer at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Susannah has recorded three albums including several self-composed songs, and her tribute shows to Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Blossom Dearie have won critical acclaim, both here and abroad.
As an actor, Susannah has been a regular at the Abbey Theatre in shows like An Ideal Husband, The Shaughraun, Dancing at Lunasa and King Lear, and she also toured with the comedy trio The Nualas for over two years.
It is thanks to this experience that she continues to hone her style fronting her own shows, and she tells me that a career in the arts was always in her eyeline, paying special credit to “a very active Dramsoc in UCD circa 1989” which ignited the initial spark.
On Sunday, June 8, Susannah de Wrixon will join Jim Doherty and The Delmaine string quartet on stage at the Gate Theatre for I Carry Your Heart: Songs of Joy and Love, which promises to be an evening full of nostalgia and romance, song and spoken word.
“It’s a beautiful show combining the joys of music and poetry to spark love and joy,” Susannah says of the concert. “It’s a real celebration of Jim Doherty’s career that spans six decades. He is on piano and conducts the string quartet and double bass with beautiful arrangements. Music varies from jazz to folk to pop and beyond.”
A hugely meaningful show for Susannah, she looks to Jim as a real hero of hers, remarking that to share the stage with him at 86 will be a moment to treasure. I ask Susannah who else she looks up to in the realm of Irish arts, and the names arrive with ease: “Mikel Murphy as a creative force and collaborator. His work is astonishing and Michael James Ford, who constantly makes his own work and keeps others in employment too.”
With a lengthy career in the arts already amassed and many more works to come, I’m not surprised to learn that she views her career as more of a vocation. “It’s really hard work and you are never on a day off,” she explains. “Your head is always full. It really is a vocation.”
Susannah de Wrixon’s life in culture
The last thing I saw and loved… The Gate show Lovesong gave us four magical performances. The added choreography gave another dimension to what could have been a very wordy piece. It was beautiful to watch and a masterclass in acting from Ingrid Craigie and Nick Dunning. I was very moved by the story. That’s why we go to the theatre!
The book I keep coming back to… Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. It’s a sweeping story of twin boys orphaned at birth and their lives that span continents and decades. It’s a fascinating read. The author is a doctor, so all of the medical references were so interesting. A real page turner. Read anything of his.
I find inspiration in… People, places and music I would say.
The song I listen to to get in the zone is… At the moment, ‘My Little Honda 50’ by Christy Moore. I saw him live last week and at 80 he is amazing.
The last piece of art I recommended is… Zaho de Sagazan. She is a beautiful young French singer who writes and performs with maturity well beyond her years. She is a born star.
I never leave the house without… My phone, I am embarrassed to say.
The film/performance/piece of work etc. I still think about is… One of the first shows I saw in Dublin was the three Cusack sisters and their father in Chekhov’s Three Sisters at the Gate. It left a huge impression on me. I still think about it 30 years later.
My dream role would be… One I would love to go back to is Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible, or any character in Shakespeare.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… Make your own work. It takes time for you to get to where you need to be, so start creating yourself.
The advice you would give to someone hoping to have a career in the arts is… Keep fit. It will help you through the down times and give you a head start when you are busy.
The art (book/film/performance/show etc.) that means the most to me is… This show. I have a huge connection to the musicians on stage. Jim is my hero. I’m so happy to be sharing the stage with him at 86. I treasure these moments.
My favourite moment in I Carry your Heart is… Standing on the side stage as the quartet tunes up with the piano and they start the first tune as I walk on stage. It’s a huge rush of terror and joy in equal measure.
The most challenging thing about being on stage is… It is all so fleeting. You can never recreate a night. Fantastic moments are just a memory.
After a show, I… I unwind with friends and a glass of something. It will take a while to return to normal.
If I wasn’t a performer, I would be… A mounted police woman.
The magic of performing to me is… Bringing the audience on a journey. Making them feel joy, love, sadness. Making them feel alive. Making them change somehow. It’s a privilege.
GATECRASHES: I Carry Your Heart: Songs of Love and Joy takes place on Sunday 8 June at The Gate Theatre. Tickets available here.
Also Read
