A Belfast actor has revealed he has been encouraged to take a play about a leading loyalist to the Irish Republic.
Paul Garrett stars as David Ervine in the one-man show, The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary.
It chronicles Ervine’s life from the back streets of east Belfast to Long Kesh to political negotiations at the White House and Downing Street.
“It’s one of those all-encompassing shows that hopefully resonates with those who watch it,” Mr Garrett said.
“I got very close with Davy’s widow, Jeanette. She actually gifted me his tie which was a great honour.”
A former UVF member, Ervine was a key figure in brokering the loyalist paramilitary ceasefire of 1994.
He led the PUP from 2002 until his death in January 2007.
The show telling his story has been highly praised, particularly from those who knew him.
Paul Garrett
Mr Garrett said the show wasn’t just a hit with loyalists, adding: ”There are lots of Catholics that admire Davy. A senator for Fine Gael actually told me I should take it on tour down south because there are so many people down there that admire him.”
He felt it was important to get to know the type of man Ervine was through his wife.
“I remember the first time I met her — we were at an event and I sort of just pulled her to the side to have a chat because it’s all well and good having a good script but this was this woman’s husband,” he said.
Mr Garrett said it was important to him to play Ervine accurately, adding: “I didn’t want to make it cartoon-y I didn’t want it to be an impression of him.
“I know I do look like him but I wanted to do his story justice.”
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Mr Garrett said he admired Ervine for his ability to connect with people across NI and he was eager to reflect that in the play.
“Davy was very flowery with his words, hence the title of the play, but he also has a talent for connecting with everyone and getting to their level,” he added.
In the show he plays a range of characters, many of whom had key roles in NI’s history.
“I think I play 25 different characters so there’s a lot in it but it’s important to me that I fully immerse all those characters,” he said.
“There’s a part where I’m Gusty Spence, and after one show his son Andrew came up to me and said, ‘When I closed my eyes it was like my dad was in the room’ and that was high praise for me.”
He believes The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary brings a different kind of audience to the theatre, adding: “There’s always a lot of men in the audience, now men normally don’t go to see a show unless they have been dragged to it by their kids or partner — I know that’s a sweeping generalisation but it’s true.
“So it was really great to see men coming on their own accord and genuinely enjoying it.”
The Man Who Swallowed A Dictionary will be in the Lyric Theatre from September 5-22 and on an NI tour from September 24 – October 6.