Fatdan Productions in association with Zero 3 Productions and AMA Music Agency presented the World premiere of Moonlight – The Philip Lynott Enigma, live at Vicar Street Dublin back in April
With the first three dates sold out, three extra were added due to phenomenal demand. The new dates are June 20, 21 and 22, 2025. Tickets on sale now, here.
Irish Examiner spoke with actor Peter M, Smith, who stars in the lead role of Moonlight – The Philip Lynott Enigma.
“Philip jealously guarded his private life,” says Smith, “which created a dichotomy for someone so public, someone who made a living from being in the public eye, having to sell his wares publicly. I remember feeling a tremendous sense of pride when I realised that because we shouldn’t be judged on anything but our output.”
Smith, who has been heralded for his performance incarnating Lynott, shares striking similarities with the Thin Lizzy frontman, both physically and in his background. Both grew up streets away from each other on Dublin’s southside — Lynott in Crumlin, Smith in Drimnagh. Both were raised by single mothers and maternal grandparents, not knowing their fathers.
“When you’re raised in our situation, your yearning is always to belong,” says Smith.
“Philip grabbed hold of his Irishness, as I do. No matter where I am in the world, I’m at pains to let people know how Irish I am, even above the fact that I’m black. I don’t go around talking about [being black]. I’ve read books on black consciousness, like Steve Biko’s books. I’m very much into black history, like the story of Frederick Douglass, but that’s more for my private reading. My real passion is the fact I’m Irish.
Learn more
“Ireland gave me and Philip something to belong to. He was fiercely patriotic and protective of all things Irish. That bore fruit in a lot of confrontations with journalists who weren’t Irish and didn’t understand the state of play, shall we say, in Ireland. I’m like that too. I’m quite spiky and defensive about my Irishness. I’m fiercely patriotic. I love being Irish because Ireland has given me something I’ll always belong to.”
Read more at Irish Examiner.
Moonlight – The Philip Lynott Enigma synopsis by John Merrigan & Danielle Morgan:
“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, his punishment (and his reward) is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” Oscar Wilde, The Artist as Critic
Philip Lynott would have been 75 years old on August 20th, 2024 had he won his battle with fame and fortune. He was a true innovator as a songwriter and showman who paved the way for a whole generation of musicians and bands around the world. He was complex, driven to overcome huge challenges as a young man and he was truly a poet at heart. We believe he deserves to be recognized in the pantheon of great Dublin writers, alongside Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan and others.
Moonlight is a major new rock / theatre production about Lynott’s early years and the first phase of Thin Lizzy, covering the period in the late 1960’s and early ’70s when Dublin and London were dynamic melting pots of musical innovation. It’s compelling and expansive, not a juke-box piece, complete with the Thin Lizzy hits, and new original music performed by a live band on stage.
We explore his character in depth and authentically – it’s time to move beyond the headlines and cliches. This is an honour piece, telling the less well-known side of Lynott’s story – honestly and powerfully.
A stellar cast, director and creatives have been assembled, with Peter M. Smith in the lead role, and featuring a cameo performance by Eric Bell, co-founder of Thin Lizzy. In the research, we have had numerous meetings and discussions with Lynott’s contemporaries – people who were in the room at key moments of the story who have generously shared their time and encouragement.
Quote from Peter M. Smith: “When offered the chance to play the role of Philip Lynott, I was truly honoured as an actor, as a proud Dubliner, and as a Thin Lizzy fanatic. Too much has been said about the rockstar lifestyle – it is a tired subject. This production seeks to honour Philip Lynott for what he was – a literary great and consummate artist.”
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The post THIN LIZZY – “Moonlight: The Philip Lynott Enigma” Actor PETER M. SMITH: “Ireland Gave Me And Philip Something To Belong To… He Was Fiercely Patriotic And Protective Of All Things Irish” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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With the first three dates sold out, three extra were added due to phenomenal demand. The new dates are June 20, 21 and 22, 2025. Tickets on sale now, here.
Irish Examiner spoke with actor Peter M, Smith, who stars in the lead role of Moonlight – The Philip Lynott Enigma.
“Philip jealously guarded his private life,” says Smith, “which created a dichotomy for someone so public, someone who made a living from being in the public eye, having to sell his wares publicly. I remember feeling a tremendous sense of pride when I realised that because we shouldn’t be judged on anything but our output.”
Smith, who has been heralded for his performance incarnating Lynott, shares striking similarities with the Thin Lizzy frontman, both physically and in his background. Both grew up streets away from each other on Dublin’s southside — Lynott in Crumlin, Smith in Drimnagh. Both were raised by single mothers and maternal grandparents, not knowing their fathers.
“When you’re raised in our situation, your yearning is always to belong,” says Smith.
“Philip grabbed hold of his Irishness, as I do. No matter where I am in the world, I’m at pains to let people know how Irish I am, even above the fact that I’m black. I don’t go around talking about [being black]. I’ve read books on black consciousness, like Steve Biko’s books. I’m very much into black history, like the story of Frederick Douglass, but that’s more for my private reading. My real passion is the fact I’m Irish.
Learn more
“Ireland gave me and Philip something to belong to. He was fiercely patriotic and protective of all things Irish. That bore fruit in a lot of confrontations with journalists who weren’t Irish and didn’t understand the state of play, shall we say, in Ireland. I’m like that too. I’m quite spiky and defensive about my Irishness. I’m fiercely patriotic. I love being Irish because Ireland has given me something I’ll always belong to.”
Read more at Irish Examiner.
Moonlight – The Philip Lynott Enigma synopsis by John Merrigan & Danielle Morgan:
“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, his punishment (and his reward) is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” Oscar Wilde, The Artist as Critic
Philip Lynott would have been 75 years old on August 20th, 2024 had he won his battle with fame and fortune. He was a true innovator as a songwriter and showman who paved the way for a whole generation of musicians and bands around the world. He was complex, driven to overcome huge challenges as a young man and he was truly a poet at heart. We believe he deserves to be recognized in the pantheon of great Dublin writers, alongside Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan and others.
Moonlight is a major new rock / theatre production about Lynott’s early years and the first phase of Thin Lizzy, covering the period in the late 1960’s and early ’70s when Dublin and London were dynamic melting pots of musical innovation. It’s compelling and expansive, not a juke-box piece, complete with the Thin Lizzy hits, and new original music performed by a live band on stage.
We explore his character in depth and authentically – it’s time to move beyond the headlines and cliches. This is an honour piece, telling the less well-known side of Lynott’s story – honestly and powerfully.
A stellar cast, director and creatives have been assembled, with Peter M. Smith in the lead role, and featuring a cameo performance by Eric Bell, co-founder of Thin Lizzy. In the research, we have had numerous meetings and discussions with Lynott’s contemporaries – people who were in the room at key moments of the story who have generously shared their time and encouragement.
Quote from Peter M. Smith: “When offered the chance to play the role of Philip Lynott, I was truly honoured as an actor, as a proud Dubliner, and as a Thin Lizzy fanatic. Too much has been said about the rockstar lifestyle – it is a tired subject. This production seeks to honour Philip Lynott for what he was – a literary great and consummate artist.”
Are you following Crimson Glory on Spotify? Do it today and when their new album is released you will be notified automatically.
Follow - https://open.spotify.com/artist/2B73nUiRlcSwjTyVaIAwhR
The post THIN LIZZY – “Moonlight: The Philip Lynott Enigma” Actor PETER M. SMITH: “Ireland Gave Me And Philip Something To Belong To… He Was Fiercely Patriotic And Protective Of All Things Irish” appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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