ULSTER AMERICAN is a savage satire exposing the fragile egos and abuses of power that run rampant in Hollywood. Harriet Gordon-Anderson, Brian Meegan, and Jeremy Waters reunite after Outhouse Theatre’s critically acclaimed 2021 season in this timely and brutally hilarious play. It is now coming to the Ensemble Theatre from 13th May to 8th June. Joining me is Harriet Gordon-Anderson, who plays Ruth Davenport, a Northern Irish playwright embroiled in clashes with an Oscar-winning American actor and an ambitious English director.
What do you find most challenging about bringing your character Ruth to life on stage?
Ruth, like all the characters in this incredible play, is deeply flawed. She will sacrifice a lot to realise her ambitions. My task is to understand the more challenging aspects of her personality, accept them, and balance them with her other more lovable characteristics – of which there are many! We’re really rooting for her for a lot of the play. I can feel the audience siding with her at certain points, and then in the next breath she says something that makes everyone turn against her. It’s a delicate balance – and an exciting challenge to play.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a part of this show?
Just getting back into this world again with these wonderful artists. We’ve already done 3 seasons of this play in 2021-22, and it’s so much fun. The writing (by David Ireland) is unparalleled, intelligent, poignant comedy. And our cast and creative team have truly become good friends. It’s pure joy.
What’s it like working on a show again, does the message have different context with time or remain the same?
Great question. The play touches on a number of topics that are difficult to stomach – all of which land like a punch in the gut whenever they’re performed. But most troubling is the way that references to violence against women resound in this country currently. This is by no means a new problem in Australia, but this season we are feeling the resounding unease and outrage surrounding this issue.
How did you go about learning the Northern Irish accent?
I had plenty of help from our accent coach, Linda, and I watched loads of Northern Irish content. Shoutout to Derry Girls, In the Name of the Father, and Blue Lights.
How do you like to spend your time when you’re not rehearsing or performing?
I love to be outdoors. I walk, I swim in the ocean or the pool, and I soak up as much time with my friends as possible.
“The play examines the world we find ourselves in post #MeToo and the behaviours that continue to flourish, despite the heavily filtered facade of the men who have been challenged and are now coming to terms with their inherited prejudice and positions of power. It questions our righteousness and our grandstanding, and our desperate need to be seen on the right side of history. Ireland’s latest play is not just about systemic misogyny or cultural imperialism. It’s about Hollywood colonialism, and how we invest power and perpetuate this deeply flawed cultural machine.
Despite Ireland’s controversial and often uncomfortable brand of dark humour, I’ve found that ULSTER AMERICAN also contains a remarkable urgency and resonance in 2024. Ireland has said that he wrote the first draft of ULSTER AMERICAN before #MeToo ignited and quickly gained momentum, which perhaps suggests an uncanny ability to anticipate a profound cultural movement. Instead of finding this extraordinary, I’m reminded that what’s really startling is that we continue to grapple with an epidemic of violence against women. Ireland’s play confronts us with uncomfortable truths and feels astonishingly relevant in Australia right now.”
Dates: 13th May – 8th June 2024
Location: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli
Tickets: $25 – $80
BUY TICKETS: https://www.ensemble.com.au/shows/ulster-american/