"Still, until the day I nearly killed a man... I might have been an actor now."

George Farquhar, welcome back to the stage... In just five weeks time, he will tread the boards in the place of his birth, Derry and the cogs are turning to make BY MR FARQUHAR a fantastic show. There are so many great people involved at every level of design, marketing, music as well as cast and crew...

Earlier this month, the cast, director and I met for a read through of the play in the Irish Centre in Camden -- I thought to fortify myself with a snack in a tapas cafe nearby but this is how I was served the chorizo.

Turned out I was too nervous/ excited to eat or maybe it was the idea of serving pig in a pig that put me off...

Anyway, the reading was great fun, discussions intense but productive and the chorizo was finally eaten by my daughter for breakfast next day - yeah, she has really odd breakfasts!

Last Friday, I delivered the final script. As George says in my play - "The play is done - I pray it is good."

In the photo, from left: Kate O'Rourke, who plays Mistress Kempe, Stephen Bradley, who plays George Farquhar, and director Caroline Byrne.

And that's me done, this time. Rehearsals start in Derry on the 2nd of September and the play opens in the Foyle Theatre on September 25th.

Can't wait!