Owen O’Neill: Tom Joad and Me
Emmet McCrudden of Carricktown, Co. Tyrone is no more. Aged seventeen he has escaped his large working-class family and drunken violent father. He is now John Steinbeck’s fictional hero, Tom Joad. As an an immigrant in 1970s London Emmet is making a new identity. With the London pub rock scene in full flow, he’s writing for a music magazine and working on building sites.
‘A raw and lively tale with a vivid cast of characters all looking for better lives. Tender and hilarious dispatches from the boozers and building sites of 70’s London.’ Phil Jupitus.
‘A rambunctious freewheeling novel that feels like the fella at the end of the bar telling you a great story. I was simultaneously moved and frightened and ultimately cheered up. A real achievement.’ Alan Bisset
Darkly comic and moving, the master of the one-man show has progressed effortlessly to the novel form.
Pre-order the book here: https://www.thirstybooks.com/bookshop/tom-joad-and-me-owen-oneill
Watch the trailer here:
Doors 7pm, Starts 7.30pm
Tickets: £12/10 - A complimentary glass of wine will be given to all ticket holders
About Owen:
Owen O’Neill is an award-winning writer, actor, poet and director.
His theatre writing includes: sixteen one -man stage shows; two stage plays, ‘Shaving the Dead’ and ‘Absolution’; and an adaptation of ‘The Shawshank Redemption’.
His work in TV and Film: ‘Arise and Go Now’, a BBC film directed by Danny Boyle; ‘The Fitz’, a sitcom for BBC2 produced by Tiger Aspect; ‘Basketcase’, one of two short films for Irish Screen written and directed by O’Neill, won best short at the Irish Boston Film Festival. ‘A fine study of love and death in small town Ireland. A beautiful and memorable film.’ BOSTON GLOBE ‘Shooting to Stardom’, directed by Kieron J Walsh, winner of the best short at the Cork Film Festival.
Thirsty Books have published three volumes of Owen’s poetry collections, Volcano Dancing, Licking the Matchboxand Broken Songs. Tom Joad and Me is his first novel.
‘O’Neill’s writing manages to be earthy, humane and surreal with an acute sense of the absurd.’- THE SCOTSMAN
