Stones in His Pockets director Ian McElhinney: 'The play has become more pertinent'

Why do you think Stones in His Pockets is so perennially popular?

I think the show is popular because it is both genuinely very entertaining and theatrically clever. There is a big story here yet somehow it is conveyed by two actors on a seemingly bare stage. An international film rolls into a small rural Irish community – we meet the townspeople, many of the key film personnel, we learn of the conflicts between them – how should this be possible with so little to represent it? Therein lies the magic. Everything is seen through the eyes of two extras and brought to life by them and we follow their personal growth throughout.

Is it still as pertinent to Irish (and wider) society as when it premiered?

Ironically you could say the play has become more pertinent again both in Ireland and on an international scale. When first conceived it related to pre Celtic Tiger Ireland. Now with the impact of recession on a global scale we are back in a similar world. All those references to hardship and how we respond to it are even truer for us now.

How would you surmise the impact of the play on your life and career?

The play helped establish my credentials as a director. I won and was nominated for several awards, as were the writer and the original cast. As Marie and I are husband and wife our personal circumstances were naturally the better for it. It came at a time when we were raising a family and that was very fortuitous.

Do you and Marie find working together easy?

We have never found it difficult working together. We have always been involved in new work as actors. So grappling with fresh material and trying to tease out what makes things work and why is part of our day to day life. Being readily available to each other makes solving problems happen more directly, more quickly.

What is it about revisiting it that you're most looking forward to?

Revisiting the play was refreshing for me. I had not done it in ten years. Previously I had done a lot of productions of it and truthfully was probably jaded by the end. This time I felt invigorated going back into rehearsal. I trusted what I knew but was looking forward to testing it with new people, whom I had not previously met.

Tell us a bit about the new cast?

I am very happy with my current cast. Conor Delaney has a classic leading man quality. He has the gravitas and Integrity for Jake, but a wonderful lightness and gaiety as Aisling. He and Stephen are both physically and vocally very flexible. Stephen Jones has great comic flair and tremendous speed of thought. His hapless, hopeful Charlie, his manipulative Caroline are a joy to watch. Both actors have great sensitivity to the darker moments in the script, to the undercurrents in the development of their central characters. They have brought great commitment, ingenuity and effectiveness to their work.

You're an established performer, currently starring in Game of Thrones; do you prefer acting or directing generally?

I like both acting and directing. Each discipline can inform the other, but they are very different in their demands. Moving between the two makes for a very enjoyable working life. The director has to be across the whole concern – casting, design, lighting and sound, movement, intention, emotional resonance, comic ingenuity, structure, balance, pace. It’s a big canvas. The actor must concentrate on the particular – how do I realise these requirements emotionally, technically. How does my character develop through the play? How do I achieve a good rapport with my fellow actor in this?

Are there any plans for the show after the tour?

At this stage there are no plans for this production beyond this current tour. However, once you have found a very good team, you always have the knowledge that you have the potential to revive something should the opportunity arise.

What else is in the pipeline for you?

After this, I will be presenting a one-man show on Lord Pirie and Thomas Andrews – originators of the Titanic – in a number of venues. It is called A Better Boy. I will also be appearing in the next series of Game of Thrones, which I am currently filming: and in episode eight of Ripper Street which is airing soon.

Stones in His Pockets continues touring until November – more details here