Playing Pretend with Chris McIlvenny

Paddy McDonnell is a stand-up Comedian from West Belfast. He has performed in venues all over the world and later this year he will be performing his sold out show ‘On the Tools’ in the Ulster Hall. In this episode we talk about how Paddy got into Stand-up Comedy, performing a show in Irish for a Loyalist audience, giving a Black Taxi Tour for Janice Dickinson and fooling Jack Whitehall into thinking Paddy was the biggest Comedian in Ireland with nothing but West Belfast Confidence.

Diona Doherty is an Actor and Comedian. She is best known for her appearances in Derry Girls, Give my Head Peace and Soft Border Patrol. She also has a comedy podcast on BBC Sounds, ‘What happens in Ulster’.  In this episode we discuss Diona's flawless Shakira impression, being 9 months pregnant, the Belfast comedy scene and filming 'Give my Head Peace' during a Global Pandemic.

Gerard Jordan is a TV, Film and Theatre actor. He is best known for his roles in Pulling Moves, Game of Thrones and Brassic. 

In this episode we discuss Gerard's accidental journey into the world of acting, performing in the Royal Court in London at the age of 17, working with Joe Gilgun and his two-man Christmas sketch show 'Em 2 Balloons' with Ciaran Nolan.

Ciaran McCourt is an Irish Actor who has appeared on both stage and screen. He has recently started a new Podcast, Brawl Boxing. In this episode we discuss how Ciaran first became interested in acting, our horrible flat in Manchester, our Spotlight Prize experience and Ciaran's podcast Brawl Boxing.

Raymond Walsh is a west end actor and singer. He has played Grantaire and Thenardier in Les Misérables on the west end and performed in the All Star concert with Alfie Boe and Micheal Ball. Raymond is also co-creator and director of Irish vocal group The Shamrock Tenors. In this episode we discuss Raymond's discovery of musical theatre,  performing at the Emirates for the Arsenal team, being cast in Les Misérables and his hopes for the future regarding his Irish traditional vocal group Shamrock Tenors.

Geradline Hughes is an Irish film, television and stage actress originally from West Belfast. Starring in films such as Gran Torino and Duplex. She is best known for her portrayal of “Little Marie” in 2006’s Rocky Balboa.  In this episode we discuss Geraldine's tough upbringing in a war torn Belfast, getting a role in a Hollywood movie at the age of thirteen, her process in writing her story in a one-woman show and becoming a Broadway star after leaving LA.

Rupert Hill is a fim, TV and Theatre Actor and Director. He is known for his roles in several soap operas, with his most famous being Coronation Street. He has both starred in and directed the stage version of the Full Monty.

In this episode we discuss Rupert's desire to be an actor from the age of three, the effect fame had in his personal life and his ambitious dive into the business of owning pubs, restaurants and music venues.