As part of the Friends of Ted Festival, Feckarse Productions will stage a reincarnation of the original Father Ted series, ‘Father Ted – The Divinely Inspired Episode’ at the Blackbox Theatre. Lisa Regan talks to Sean Flanagan about finding new life on ‘Craggy Island’

Why and how did you decide on Father Ted as the theme for your productions?
Well we thought ‘Hey what’s probably the best sitcom ever made? Hmmm...Father Ted!’ We were pondering the idea of writing a theatre version of our favourite episode but then we thought ‘No, it’s got to be an original episode with completely new material’. Our reasons for writing the play are simple. Firstly, as a tribute to the memory of Dermot Morgan, secondly as a tribute to the best comedy ever made and thirdly because everyone loves Ted and we believe people want more Ted.

How did Feckarse Productions come about?

Feckarse Productions was formed after two sell-out runs of the show in the Dramsoc Theatre of University College Dublin last year. Feckarse Productions is now the theatre company bringing Father Ted – The Play to the Friends of Ted Festival this February. Our logo features an arse with ‘Feck’ tattooed on its cheeks. ‘Sure it’s just a bit of crack’.

How did you become involved in the ever-popular Friends of Ted Fest?

One of the Friends of Ted Festival organisers saw the show in Dublin, asked us to get involved and now we’re an integral part of Ted Fest II.

Does The Divinely Inspired Episode follow along the same lines as the TV series Father Ted?

Yes...absolutely! We have endeavoured to stay true to the spirit of the TV series. Expect to see the Father Ted you’ve always know. We knew we were stepping into big shoes when we set out on this project. We knew expectations would be high and, if it was to be done, it would have to be done right. So we spent a year and a half researching, storyboarding, brainstorming, improvising, editing, re-writing, re-re-writing and getting drunk to produce a script we feel does justice to the legend of Father Ted.

Is there the same banter between characters on the stage and do the main characters hold the same prominence in the show?

Yes, the dynamic of the play will run exactly as you might expect a 1.5-hour episode of the TV series to run. Fr Ted, Fr Dougal, Fr Jack and Mrs Doyle will be joined by some of their old friends, such as John and Mary O’Leary, Fr Dick Byrne, Tom and, of course, his grace Bishop Brennan along with a few creations of our own.