Opening at Finborough Theatre this week is ‘Men’s Business’, a translation by Simon Stephens of Franz Xaver Kroetz’s 1970s work ‘Männersache’.

It’s being brought to London by highly acclaimed Irish theatre company Glass Mask Theatre, and it sounds amazing. Rex Ryan, Glass Mask’s Creative Director, appears in the show alongside Lauren Farrell, and the play is directed by Ross Gaynor. 

I arranged a quick chat with Rex to find out more.   

CM: Can you start by telling us about the content of the play? Who is it about and where does the narrative take us?
RR: The play is a tale of warped and desperate love between two outsiders set in a woman’s butchers shop in the middle of nowhere. It’s about connection, disconnection, love, wild love and isolation. The narrative takes us to hell.

CM: What themes are explored through the play? 
RR: The masculine energy vs the feminine. Love in all its complexity. The nature of abuse. The games we play.

CM: The original play by Franz Xaver Kroetz premiered back in the 1970s. Is this translation by Simon Stephens faithful to the original? Is it as relevant now? 
RR: The translation reverberates with Simon Stephens’ brutally honest voice and emotional daring and clarity. He has made some substantial shifts in the play. It is relevant in that it deals with the big fish: love, death etc.

CM: What is your role in the production and how did you come to be involved? 
RR: I act in it. I also run Glass Mask Theatre, the company that’s produced it. Simon gave Glass Mask Theatre the play, as he felt we were a force of pirates and he liked our vibe.

CM: How have you approached your work on this project? 
RR: Know the text inside out and then let go.

CM: Can you tell us a bit about the cast and creative team? 
RR: Simon is one of the best writers in the world. Ross Gaynor, the director, is an integral part of Glass Mask Theatre. Ross and I both trained in similar new writing theatres coming up. Lauren Farrell is a terrific actor.

CM: And now can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be working in the theatre? Was it what you always wanted to do? 
RR: I had been forced to act by my dad since I was about three. I did one man shows on a box when I was four. Now I run the top new writing theatre in Ireland and I am doing the exact same thing.

CM: What have been the highlights of your working life thus far? 
RR: I enjoyed doing a Philip Ridley one man show at the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s national theatre. I hate acting and I also love it.

CM: What aims and ambitions do you have for the future? 
RR: To make Glass Mask Theatre a place where people are uplifted and challenged. I will direct a feature film soon.

CM: What’s coming up next for you after this? 
RR: I am performing ‘The Monk’, a one man show about Gerry Hutch at Glass Mask Theatre in Dublin. 

‘Men’s Business’ is on at the Finborough Theatre from 18 Mar-2 Apr. For more information and to book, see the venue website here

LINKS: finboroughtheatre.co.uk | glassmasktheatre.com | x.com/glassmaskdublin