Prestige Drama by Séamus O’Reilly

Derry Girls has a lot to answer for. At least if you are concerned about the growing number of Irish popular culture properties set in or around The Troubles and its impact. So much so that when the main character of Séamus O’Reilly’s debut novel Prestige Drama takes himself to a writing for the screen workshop the participants are told in no so uncertain terms not to bring anything that includes The Troubles. So the question is: why is the scriptwriter Diarmuid now writing a peak TV drama set in Derry based on the killing of a teenager during The Troubles? And more importantly to this story: where has Monica Logue, the big name American star who is attached to the project, gone?

Diarmuid is at the centre of this tale – as both the creator of the TV show about to start production in Derry, and the last person to see Monica before she disappeared. But Prestige Drama is very much an ensemble piece. Every other chapter is narrated by a different member of the community, slowly filling in the picture of both the historical events and the current ructions in the town being caused by the impending filming of the tv show that is loosely based on their lives. Whether it is the mother of the boy who died or his best friend from the time or the owner of the house in which the production company want to film or the local taxi driver. Everyone has a story and everyone has an angle.

And if there is any criticism of this book is that all of the characters are too keen to tell their stories, all talk fast and densely, and all follow a fairly similar pattern. So while this is a fairly short book it is full of lengthy, often tragi-comic discursive passages that beg to be read in a Derry accent.

What slowly emerges from this narrative through is a picture of a community that is still coming to terms with a violent history. Of people striving to make a living, whether it be legitimately or with a bit of a dodge (Diarmuid included). Of a tightly connected, gossipy community that loves a good chat and a whinge. All of which means that Prestige Drama is Irish tragicomic satire at its best – funny, acerbic, insightful, dark and poignant often all in the same page – and possibly perfect fodder for a tv series of its own.

Prestige Drama by Séamus O’Reilly

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