A Date for Mad Mary

Synopsis

'Mad’ Mary McArdle returns to Drogheda after a short spell in prison - for something she’d rather forget.

Back home, everything and everyone has changed. Her best friend, Charlene, is about to get married and
Mary is maid of honour. When Charlene refuses Mary a ‘plus one’ on the grounds that she probably couldn't
find a date, Mary becomes determined to prove her wrong. But her attempts at dating are a disaster and
she winds up feeling more alone … until she meets Jess and everything changes.

A DATE FOR MAD MARY is a tough and tender story about friendship, first love, and letting go of the glory
days.

Biography

Darren established the award-winning Calipo Theatre Company in 1995. He has directed numerous stage productions during his tenure as Artistic Director. Recent productions include CHATROOM by Enda Walsh, PINEAPPLE by Phillip McMahon and the original stage-production of TEN DATES WITH MAD MARY by Yasmine Akram. He made his television debut directing the IFTA award-winning LOVE IS THE DRUG in 2004, a six-part comedy-drama series for RTE. His first short film FRANKIE won the Prix UIP award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2008 and the European Film Academy's award for best short film in the same year. His second short film TWO HEARTS also won the Prix UIP award in 2011 and was nominated for a European Film Award in 2012. In 2003, Darren established the Sharp Focus film project; a teenage film initiative that runs annually, Sharp Focus enables young people from the North and South of Ireland to work with established filmmakers on the production of original short films that explore the legacy of conflict within their communities. A DATE FOR MAD MARY is his debut feature film.