Energetic, vivacious and full of zest are the words which immediately sprung to mind when News Four’s former roving reporter, Mags Biggs dropped into our offices in the C.Y.M.S. for an interview recently.

An accomplished writer, full-time actress and entertainer, Mags’s hectic lifestyle is a never-ending series of festivals, parades, and parties. Mags has no regrets about her choice of profession.

“I succeeded in everything I set out to do because I believe if you’re determined enough you will achieve”, although she admits that it takes a lot of hard work, commitment and a good sense of humour to overcome the many obstacles.

“It took twelve years, through poverty and pitfalls, but the laughter and the kids keep you going”. And, of course, there’s been a lot of funny incidents such as stage sets going astray, badly hungover actors and travelling to shows in ambulances.

For years, people entered her home in Stella Gardens at their peril, as it was filled with puppets, sets and various theatrical contraptions.

Her future ambitions include establishing the Dublin City Festival of Samhain as a national festival, writing her own film and starring in a Woody Allen movie.

She is currently writing a diary of her life and memories of Ringsend: “You can’t beat the characterisation around here, the people have a lingo which is unique, and its a great place to live”
No doubt it will become a best-seller, and I am convinced that you will one day see Mags taking Hollywood by storm. Glamorous and glitzy, not when it involves innumerable screaming children, for Mags is the person who keeps the kids occupied while you can enjoy a quiet moment during the mayhem of your child’s birthday party.

Her reputation as a children’s entertainer precedes her. The ‘Beg Borrow and Steal Theatre Company’, which she set up in 1986, is renowned throughout the city for its excellent theatre and education programmes.

These theatrically-based workshops emphasise social issues such as bullying, numeracy and literacy. They are currently performing a drugs workshop courtesy of The Department of Health. Through a process of discussions, games and plays, it allows children to participate.

“Theatre is a great form of education, as there’s no point lecturing kids about these issues”.
The idea for a children’s theatre evolved during her time at Trinity College.

“We rehearsed in a premises in the inner city. Naturally the local kids were curious and a bit disruptive, so as a form of bribery we began drama and dance workshops during the summer”.
On leaving college, Mags discovered a great demand for a children’s theatre in the city and established the ‘Beg Borrow and Steal Theatre Company.’

Aside from touring numerous schools and summer projects, Mags, together with Paul Maher (News Four’s former photographer) organises the recently celebrated Dublin City Samhain Festival, which not only celebrates ‘Beg Borrow and Steal’s arduous work, but also extols Halloween.
The name reverts back to our Celtic origins when people exalted the land before the imminent approach of winter. This year, a colourful spectacle of actors, dancers, visual puppetry and fireworks drew an enormous crowd, who were invited to “participate not spectate”.

Mags’s objective is to dispel the negative image surrounding Halloween by making Samhain into an annual event.

Because the company tours throughout the year, Christmas isn’t any busier than usual. The educational workshops and her children’s show, ‘Billy Bathtub’s Daydream’ continues up until Christmas Eve.

Mags looks forward to the annual Wren Day celebrations on Sandymount Green, as it is the one festival she enjoys in a special way.

“It’s the one day I don’t work. I walk the Sandymount Strand and then up to the Green for a few pints in O’Reillys and Ryans and we have great craic.

Then home to Ringsend to plan the New Year schedules. Work, that is, not which parties to go to!