Oisin Kearney, Writer
Oisin Kearney, writer of My Left Nut.
Published: 26 February 2020
My Left Nut is a story from Belfast, that isn't about the Troubles. We also hope that it is different to other dramas by virtue of being funny - too often dramas are brooding and boring, and we hope this series is bright, light and life-affirming.
How different does the series feel from the stage play you wrote with Michael?
The story we told on stage is extremely similar to the TV adaptation. We based it on Mick's real-life experience and wrote in the way we thought suited the medium. For the stage-play, we wrote a number of recognisable characters, all to be played by one actor, and we could easily rely on direct address to a live audience to guide them through the story.
For TV, we use the central character's voiceover, and had to flesh out the characters, their hopes and fears. On stage, we had less than 60 minutes to tell the full story, whereas the TV adaptation gave us a total of 90 minutes to delve deeper into the story and the characters. We hope the story told on stage and the TV adaptation is equally as affecting, emotional and funny.
What were the difficulties in adapting the story as a TV series?
The main challenges were a difference in duration and style. We wished to keep the same playful tone, but realised we had to delve deeper into the characters and create more space for dramatic elements of the story, and for a new storyline we hadn't explored in the play.
Whereas we could sustain the story easily for a theatre audience over 60 minutes, we endeavoured to give TV audiences a reason to tune in again and again. The stage play was told primarily from the perspective of the central character, Mick, through direct address, whereas we wanted to populate the screen with more loveable characters that the audience would care about.
How did you find out about Michael’s story?
I remember when Mick came to me asking if I wanted to write a play with him for Fishamble theatre company's Show In A Bag initiative. He spoke of aliens and sandwiches, but none of the ideas struck true. It was only when he began telling me the story of his testicular problem as a teenager that I felt we were on to something. It had heart, comedy, and best of all, it was real.
I began writing with him from the beginning of the process, teasing out the beats of the storyline, characters, discussing structure and style, and this collaboration continued as we devised the piece together, with myself directing his performance. I was always conscious how much trust Michael put in me to help him tell his story, about his father, his family, and his testicles - and I always tried to be sensitive, respectful and professional as we worked together to tell the story of My Left Nut.
We've come to get to know each other quite well in the process, and I think our friendship allowed a safe space to turn Michael's memories into an entertaining, funny piece of drama for all audiences to enjoy.
What is at the heart of the series?
The story of My Left Nut is about a young boy becoming a man. It is about teenagers feeling inadequate. It is about sexual repression, masturbation, and attraction. It's about friendship, for good or for bad. It is about grief and loss of loved ones. It is about recognising the love and support we receive from our families, especially our parents. It is about growing up without a father to guide you through, and then being lumped with a seriously embarrassing issue and not being able to tell your mum. It is about young men not being able to talk about their problems, and how a lot of male mental health problems stem from fear and lack of communication.
How important was it to you to have humour in the series?
Essential. We began writing the story in the first place as a funny comedy about an oversized male testicle, and how Mick could play it like a bongo. The taboo around talking about our private parts is rich in humour, and we felt the lack of sexual education for young men (and women alike) is something to be made fun of, because it is so unnecessary.
Young men in Ireland may talk about sex a lot, but many of them have grown up in quite a conservative and prudish society that confers on them a great deal of confusion and shame. We felt that there is much humour in how teenagers talk to each other, their fears and their catastrophic perspectives. We've all gone through it, and it's part of the great journey of growing up. We wished to balance the humour with something more real. The experiences of losing a parent, or of facing up to a potentially life-threatening disease, are not easily dealt with - humour helps us to deal with these in our lives, and hopefully the laughs will balance out any tears in this series.
What makes My Left Nut different?
My Left Nut is a true story. It is a story from Belfast, that isn't about the Troubles. It isn't about sensational topics of murder, or betrayal, or criminal networks. It is a simple story of a boy growing up with a medical problem and how his friends and family react. We also hope that it is different to other dramas by virtue of being funny and not taking itself too seriously. Too often dramas are brooding and boring, and we hope this series is bright, light and life-affirming.
