In the Echo in May, Norah Woodsey wrote the essay “Anne Elliot’s feelings are timeless” about her latest novel “The States.” Here, the Brooklyn-born Irish-American writer interviews Galway-born actor Síofra Brogan about the process of narrating an audiobook. Brogan, a graduate of both the Gaiety School of Acting’s full-time program and IADT’s MA in Screenwriting for Film and TV, has narrated the audiobook version of “The States,” which will be released in August.
You are a multi-talented artist, from screenwriting to acting to vocal work. How do you decide which projects to work on?
Well firstly I’m really lucky to have amazing agents in both Voicebank and Castaway Actors Agency who are excellent at finding projects that work for me as an actor and a voice-over artist. I’d be lost without them. I’m still in the early stages of my career so I’m enjoying exploring, learning and discovering. It’s always exciting to get outside your comfort zone and see what's available.
As a writer I think you just feel the “call” for certain stories. I’m sure you can relate to this! I’ve always been fascinated by folklore, history and mythology so a lot of my work looks at that - in fact, I’m working on an Irish-language feature film that looks at the folklore around the name “Síofra” right now.
I remember once having an idea swatted away with the curt remark that “women can only write from their experience” and thinking - isn’t that what all good writing is? I don’t think writing from your experience negates your imagination. I think they can co-exist. That’s what I try to do with my work - use my experience and my imagination together to create something special.
Are there particular themes or genres that call to you?
In terms of genre, I love comedy, drama, horror and thriller. Basically the whole sphere of human experience! I have a comedy series in development at the moment that centers around two female actors and the reality of being an artist in an inhospitable city. I was really inspired by other female-led and centered comedy/drama like Phoebe Waller-Bridges “Fleabag” and Lena Dunham’s “Girls” as well as the Irish series “This Way Up” by Aisling Bea. I’m massively inspired by Sharon Horgan, her career trajectory and her segway into production. I also love thrillers and procedural drama like “Line of Duty”, “The Fall” and “Bodkin.” I would love to play a detective, at least once.
I love horror and supernatural too - I think horror allows you to explore big issues in a way that you can’t in conventional drama. I am a massive Robert Eggers fan – he is a master of his craft and he combines history and supernatural together so well.
I watch a lot of world cinema too - I’m always trying to broaden my horizons in terms of the art I’m consuming. I speak Italian, so I try to keep up with Italian cinema, which at the moment is turning out some amazing work - particularly Matteo Garronne’s “Io Capitano” a remarkable film that was also nominated for an Oscar this year. The worst thing you can do as a performer or a writer is keep your horizons small, it causes stagnation. In short and to avoid further waffling - my MUBI subscription has been a great investment. I don’t see any reason I need to confine myself to a certain style or genre just yet, I’m having fun exploring and following my interests.
Novelist Norah Woodsey.
One thing I noticed while narrating my third book, “The Control Problem,” is that reading quickly is a massive help. Do you read in your spare time?
I love to read, and have been a voracious reader since I was a child. I grew up on a small island in Galway and was an only child until I was 6 - in fact I was the first girl born there in 40 years! My dad worked far away at that time, so myself and my mam spent most of our time alone in the house. She taught me to read at a very young age and would always read stories to me - doing silly voices for all the characters (definitely planting the seed for voice over work!). She was always bringing me to the library too. I was very lucky to grow up in a home where reading was so important, my grandfather Harry Brogan was a very successful actor with The Abbey Theatre Company (The National Theatre of Ireland) and as a result my dad would regularly quote Shakespeare, Keats, O’Casey, Keane, Yeats and more at home. So, reading has always been a huge part of my life.
It feels like stating the obvious but I think reading is incredibly important not just for writers but for actors too. As well as being incredibly enjoyable it’s hugely inspiring, I mean acting, writing, screenwriting, singing - there all about telling a good story. Expressing something.
Right now, I’m reading “A Waiter in Paris” by Edward Chisholm, which I’m really enjoying, if you’ve ever held down a job in the service industry you’ll find it very enjoyable. I just finished Donna Tartt’s “The Little Friend”, which I loved. I am crossing my fingers and toes that she'll be releasing a new book soon. She’s truly in a league of her own.
“The States” includes some dialogue in Irish. What is your feeling, as an Irish speaker, about incorporating less-spoken languages into the arts?
I think it’s brilliant! It was wonderful to see Irish incorporated into your novel, and it was truly so well done. I think Irish is really having a resurgence right now, I get a thrill whenever someone pops up on TikTok having started learning the language. People from all around the world are starting to appreciate it.
I think with the success of “An Cailín Cúin” (“The Quiet Girl”) at the Oscars last year, Irish is finally getting recognition on the international stage. Not to mention the rest of the fantastic cinema being made “as Gaeilge” right now. It’s wonderful to see.
There’s a famous quote from Pádraig Pearse that reads “Tír gan Teanga, Tír gan Anam” which translates to ”A country without a language is a country without a soul.” which sums up my feelings on the important of speaking Irish pretty well.
What is the most challenging aspect of narration for you?
It sounds like a humble brag but because I read so quickly I can speed too much through sections of prose - making it impossible for the listener to follow. I have to remind myself to slow down and take it easy, which is really hard sometimes! Also, it can be difficult not to get caught up too much in the story, good narration requires you to be relatively impartial - without being monotone. It’s a balance to strike for sure.
Who was your favorite character to perform in “The States”? What about their character appealed to you?
I really loved Nana. She leapt off the page for me from the first moment I read the book. I loved that she was speaking in Irish and English, and how she seamlessly switched between the two. She just felt totally real to me. I think you captured that type of woman so well - her spirit and her contradictions. Characters like that are always the most exciting to perform.
If you could narrate any book, which would it be and why?
Hmm, that’s a great question! I’m going to say Niall Williams “The History of the Rain”. Number one, because it’s one of my favorite books ever written, it’s hilarious, it’s vivid, it’s gut wrenchingly sad. The way he captures Ireland (rural Clare to be specific) is so on the nose. I grew up very nearby and a lot of what he describes is incredibly familiar to me. It’s also a book that everyone in my family read and loved, it’s rare we agree on anything so this was monumental. Williams managed to articulate things that I’ve lived with my whole life and couldn’t find the words for, which is what a really good writer does. It’s an amazing piece of fiction.
What is your next project, when will it be out, where can people support your work?
In October, I’ll be starring as Goneril in a production of King Lear. We’ll be performing in the Clasach Theatre, Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin and the Dean Crowe in Athlone. I adore Shakespeare and I’m really excited to play such an infamous villain. I’ll also be shooting my self-penned comedy short in November, before entering it onto the festival circuit.
The best way you can support my work, and keep an eye out for what I’m up to is by following me on Instagram @siofsbrogs. I’m going to be publishing my website in the next few weeks, síofrabrogan.com, where you can keep up with all of my work - from writing to acting.
