Welcome to Mary Rochford's Website

Mary Rochford was born and grew up in Dublin. She has spent most of her adult life in Birmingham, England, where she read English and History at the University of Birmingham. She obtained a Masters in Literary Studies at Birmingham City University and has worked as a lecturer in Further Education. Her collection of short stories, Gilded Shadows, was longlisted for the prestigious Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award and won Birmingham City Library Readers' Book for Birmingham Award.

Mary has read extracts from her books at libraries and other venues throughout The Midlands, London, New York, Wales and Yorkshire. Kieran Graham, composer/guitarist, has written theme music for both Gilded Shadows and Niamh Takes Ulysses Home and has accompanied Mary’s readings at ArtsFest, England’s largest arts festival, held in Birmingham each September.

Receiving the Award from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham

LATEST NEWS:

Mary is working on a commision to dramatise one of her short stories SOMEBODY'S  SON.

Quartet of shorts, BREAKING FREE, ALL'S FAIR...,  A STROLL IN THE PARK, and THE DANCER IS THE DANCE,  currently being considered for production by companies in Birmingham, London and Dublin.

November 2011

THE DANCER IS THE DANCE run through at the Blue Orange Theatre to critical acclaim, from producers actors and directors.

STOP PRESS!  STOP PRESS!  STOP PRESS!

September 2011

ALL'S FAIR... was a resounding success playing to a capacity audience with over 100 disappointed punters turned away.

Mary's new play ALL'S FAIR ... will premier at The Old Joint Stock Theatre on Saturday 10th September 2011 at 3.00pm.  Zofja Zolna plays Elaine Felles and Simon Marriott  Michael O'Reilly in this snappy comedy  in which  the lovelorn Michael contrives to have the object of his desire accompany him and his football team on a trip from Birmingham to Dublin.  The production is framed by Kieran Graham's funky guitar playing.

Sunday 8th May catch Mary talking to Carl Chinn about her writing on Radio WM at 12.30pm.

View a performance of Breaking Free by clicking on Readings and follow the links.

REVIEW OF PLAY:

Breaking Free by Irish author and playwright Mary Rochford, who was in the audience was an absolute delight.  Largely a single hander, Zofja Zolna plays Nuala, a young Irish women, trapped watching a tennnis match at centre court Wimbledon, when her heart is really with how the Eire National Football Team are performing in a world cup finals match being played at the same time.  Beautiful and feisty, Zolna's performance is a veritable tour de force as, with only the umpire to keep her company, events unfold.  Her 'Meg Ryan' moment at the end - outdid Meg Ryan! The combination of her acting talents and Rochford's nuanced script was a  triumph.

www.behindthearrows.com

Friday 4th February 2011 8.00pm. Catch premier of Mary's short play Breaking Free at Cafe Abri Cheapside Birmingham admission £3.

LATEST BOOK REVIEWS:

"I loved Niamh Takes Ulysses Home and found it an absorbing story with memorable characters.  I had a lot of sympathy with what Niamh was trying to achieve in overcoming her confusion and finding peace.  I loved the people she meet on her journey.  I was not sure from the title how Ulysses would be used in the story but it soon become obvious, and by the time I finished the book I felt I would like to have a go at reading it myself.  I loved the quirky Elizabeth.  She added extra humour and I thought stability for Niamh.  The reflections on childhood in Ireland are fasinating.  It is a thought provoking book.  Although there was confusion, loss and sadness in the story it was an optimistic book of a women searching for her identity and finding it.  Lovely!"

Viv Wheatley

"Niamh Takes Ulysses Home is an evocative and fulfilling read about one woman's journey with Joyce for company."   The Harp

For further reviews click on The Books and follow the link

Mary's new book Niamh Takes Ulysses Home is now available.

Gilded Shadows, Mary's collection of short stories, was a finalist in the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Awards.

Gilded Shadows was the winner of the Birmingham City Libraries' Book for Birmingham Award.

Receiving the Award from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham