Eimear "Mimi" Burns: Director of Pull Back the Curtain 2019

What made you travel so far from the UK and start your performing arts career in Hong Kong?
I’ve always loved to travel and experience different cultures. It’s something my parents instilled in me from a very young age. When I was freshly graduated from Trinity College Dublin I moved to Malaysia to pursue a career as an IB Theatre Teacher. I soon realised that this role wasn’t creative enough for me. But thankfully I then became aware of the extent of creative, theatre work in Hong Kong and made the move here… and I haven’t looked back since!

What makes a good playwright?
The skills you need to have as a playwright are actually pretty simple:
1. You need to have a strong awareness of the world around to give your writing relevance.

2. You must also have awareness, and be empathetic to the effect of your writing on your target audience.

3. You need to have passion! Be passionate about your vision, characters, themes and the message you want to tell. If you start to write and the passion isn’t there maybe it’s not the right story to tell.

4. Do your research! The more you read, watch and explore the richer your writing will be. You must be especially careful when portraying a particular historical event or time period. Imagine that an expert in that field will be attending the show, you don’t want the magic to be broken for them by a misplaced fact or unrealistic dialogue but rather impress them with your attention to detail and care.

​5. You need to have a strong sense of dramatic storytelling and include moments and opportunities for dramatic techniques that aren’t dialogue based. This will allow the director and actors to transcend your writing into a living, breathing work of art. 

You have been a playwright, actress and director. Which role do you enjoy the most?
If I had to choose, it would be director as it falls somewhere in between playwright and actor on its journey from page to stage. As a director you have the thrill of bringing people and their unique talents together and harmonising these to create unforgettable moments for your audience.

What was your most unforgettable memory in the theatre?
Playing Onka in HKYAF’s original production MELODIA! I’d never performed in such an impressively large space, with such a diverse and talented cast! 

Do you have any advice for youngsters who are passionate about scriptwriting?
Go and see as much art as you can … theatre, dance, music or fine art. See what there is to offer and aim higher! Inspiration can come from anywhere and at any time, so carry a notebook or have a dedicated note space on your phone to hold those important ideas. Don’t be precious about your writing. Get it written, then go back and edit! 

Tell us one quote that you find inspiring.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars…” from Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde. I hope to always be one of those looking at the stars. This quote reminds me to always reach out, aim high and dream big because of your talents and passions, whatever field they may be in, should be shared with the world.

Find out more about Pull Back the Curtain 2019