SHORT people are often gifted with presence and beguiling charisma. Mix that with a glorious voice, ability on stage, on screen and indeed, off. Arts page writes of Richie Hayes, the nation’s favourite on ‘The Voice of Ireland’, box office draw at Christmas shows and now directing his own show in Waterford. Oh, and there’s his new album out, ‘What About Me’, released on the back of Richie’s iTunes’ hit ‘One Voice’.
He moves now to Limerick’s concert hall for UCH’s co-production with Robert C. Kelly, the pantomime ‘Cinderella’, cast as Buttons. At a packed press launch in Limerick Strand Hotel attended by Twink, David Wallace, Leanne Moore, Dustin the Turkey, Prince George McMahon (Fair City), Myles Breen and Limerick 2011 Person of the Year Richard Lynch, Mr Richie Hayes proved to be a most likeable and informative interviewee.
“You know, I started out in entertainment aged four and was in my first professional production in The Gaiety aged 12,” he says of his life on the stage. “I grew up in Waterford and spent a lot of time around the Theatre Royal Waterford, where I am back directing now”.
Given the level of commitment required to rehearse in Dublin for UCH’s ‘Cinderella’ (running Wednesday 19 to January 6 with two shows daily), it is a shock to hear that Richie is also a proud new Dad with wife Erica to seven-month-old Taylor: “He is beautiful. Based at home now I get time with him,” he smiles.
Another highlight this year was in ‘Celebrity Banisteoir’ in which Richie trained the Tramore team which was “really great fun. Calum Best won Banisteoir outright and he deserved it for all the passion and direction that he gave it”.
Richie is looking forward to closing this crazy year of success with his role as Buttons to Leanne’s Cinderella and Adele King’s Fairy Godmother. He and Twink are longstanding partners in crime against dull times. Will he get home to Waterford for Christmas?
“Oh, yes, I’ll be back with Erica and Taylor for December 24 and 25. She is a dancer and understands about the entertainment world – that’s how we met”.
A happy Christmas so for all. Limerick gets a chance to see a glitzy, glamorous ‘Cinderella’ and Richie Hayes enjoying the very best of both creative worlds, on stage and off. Book seats for the panto at www.uch.ie
