I Had To Go For Counselling

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Following his SELL OUT performance here in the Hawks Well last July, Gerry Farrell returns with his one-man show I Had To Go For Counselling: Audience reaction bears testimony to the incredible achievement of this play in “combining a comic script and performance with real and useful wisdom for coping with the challenges of life.” Just the tonic to begin 2026 and ahead of what is often termed the most depressing day of the year, the third Monday of January (known as Blue Monday). This hugely entertaining piece is “an uplifting affirmation of our human potential with a very real acknowledgement of our flaws. “We laughed out loud and cried and felt affirmed, but above all, we learned so much. Thank you”.

The central protagonist, Colin O'Rourke, discovers that retirement is not what he thought it would be. Disillusioned and depressed, he reluctantly accepts the advice of his GP and goes for counselling. What unfolds is at times hilarious and at times a challenging reflection on his life. Working through his many regrets and few achievements, he recalls events filled with drama and humour as well as sadness and regret. Tasked by the counsellor to find meaning in his life by putting together seven pieces of wisdom to leave for future generations. The show, which was previously entitled WISDOM, has already received rave reviews for its humour and life lessons promises an evening of entertainment and wisdom in equal measure.

Gerry Farrell is well known for his acclaimed performance in John McDwyer’s “An Ordinary Man” - a Beezneez production. In addition to many Beezneez productions, Gerry has performed under the Splodar Theatre Company banner in both Irish and English. As a playwright, he has earned both critical and audience success with three plays: The First Protestant, The Last Prime Minister of Ireland and in 2024, the highly successful: The Sceptical Suffragette. All three plays toured various venues throughout Ireland. His adaptation of James Joyce’s Ulysses has had two tours of the USA as well as performances in theatres throughout Ireland. Apart from his 53 years working in the theatre, Gerry has had a twin career working in Mental Health over the last 48 years. He has taught at Trinity College Dublin to students of counselling as well as on the Addictions Studies course for NUI Maynooth and to social studies students at ATU Sligo. I had to go for counselling is a fusion of his experience of working with people with mental health issues and his accumulated theatrical skills. It is meant to be both entertaining and uplifting.