Venue: Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse St. Dublin 2

Date:                Thursday 4 September 2008 @ 6.30 p.m. 

‘The Best Baddie in the Business’ will bring back to life the bulbous-nosed, hollow-eyed villains played by Vernon Hayden in over fifty years of panto with the O’D company and the Gaiety Theatre. Spine-tingling moments from his life on the road will also be recounted in a visual physical performance by Valerie Coyne.    

Admission is free but booking is essential: Tel  01 6744873 or check out cityarchives@dublincity.ie  

Further information: Dr. Mary Clarke/Ellen Murphy Tel: 01 674 4997

ENDS 

Notes to the Editor 

Vernon Hayden was a stalwart of comedy, variety and pantomime in the Gaiety Theatre and Theatre Royal from the 1930s until his death in 1990. The show has been created by Valerie Coyne using Vernon Hayden’s personal papers which were presented by his family to Dublin City Archives in January 2008. 

‘The Best Baddie in the Business’ forms part of Dublin City Archives’ programme of events for Archive Awareness Month. Archives Awareness Month is an initiative of the Society of Archivists, Ireland and is promoted in partnership with the Heritage Council. The theme for 2008 is ‘Community and Family History’. 

Valerie Coyne has worked as an actor and director for many years with Rough Magic, Pan Theatre Company, and Gentle Giant Theatre Company. She trained with the Dublin Youth Theatre Company and at L’Ecole Phillipe Gautier in London.  In 2005 she completed an MA in Modern Theatre Studies at UCD and recently wrote and performed Hoofers and Troopers as part of the Bealtaine Festival in association with Dublin City Public Libraries.