Camille Ross brings play to her home town

WRITER AND actor Camille Lucy Ross is preparing to bring her play ‘Big Bobby. Little Bobby’ to the Mermaid on February 17.

A native of Sidmonton Square in Bray, Camille lived there until she was 23. Her mother is originally from Bray and her dad is a New Yorker.

‘I started acting classes at Dry Rain Theatre in Bray when I was about 10 or 11,’ said Camille.

‘I loved it there. Then when I was about 17 I did a more intensive acting course and got hooked. I realised I didn’t just want it to be a hobby. I studied full time acting at the Gaiety school and have been working in the industry for about seven years.

In the Gaiety they really encouraged us to make our own work, partly because it keeps you busy but also I really enjoy writing, particularly dark, strange comedies!’

She wrote Big Bobby. Little Bobby because she had a ‘ bit of an obsession’ with dissociative personality disorder.

‘I was fascinated by it as a type of coping mechanism. I also think we all have “sub personalities” and we use them to help us in different situations. Kelly (co-writer, Kelly Shatter) and I were particularly interested in “inner-critics”- we all have voices in our heads (that we don’t always talk about) and it can be difficult to deal with them sometimes! We thought it was good material for a very dark and heartfelt comedy.’

Audiences have had a range of reactions. Some people find it hilarious, some uncomfortable, usually a bit of both.

‘People laugh, cry and cringe in equal amounts- but what’s really nice, for us, is that a lot of people say they relate to it,’ said Camille.

She has worked on theatre and TV over the years, tending towards comedy a lot. ‘I’ve had a great time working on Republic of Telly and Callan’s Kicks for RTE and I’ve gotten to work with some of my favourite companies like Rough Magic and at The Gate (where I went as a kid and always wanted to work!). Last year I got to study at the iO West school in LA (where people like Tina Fey & Amy Poehler trained)- I did improv training there and it’s really helped me develop more as a comic actor and writer.’

She lives in Dublin now and has a number of projects up her sleeve.

‘I’m collaborating on a sitcom with two other writer/performers and I’m also developing some more dark-comedy for the stage with my company- Brazen Tales productions.’

The play is a twisted comedy about dealing with your demons.

It has had sell-out runs at Dublin Fringe, First Fortnight Festival, Brighton Fringe, and has won the First Fortnight award and received Best Performer and Little Gem Nominations at Dublin Fringe.

‘I’m really looking forward to bringing the show to my home town after its success,’ said Camille.

Bobby has always shared a bed with her overbearing mother. When it all gets too much she finally moves out. As she tries to escape the chaos, Bobby starts hearing the voice of Little Bobby, who fills her head with self-loathing, filthy urges, and occasionally a push in the right direction.

Life starts to look a little less bleak when she meets strapping Bernard, but can she break away from her mother’s shackles, not to mention her own, and make something of this awkward romance?

For tickets or more information, go to www.mermaidartscentre.ie or call (01) 2724030.