Shortt turns hand to serious drama

He’s best known for his comedic wit but Pat Shortt gets serious as the star of TV3’s brand new drama, 'Smalltown'. Created and directed by Gerard Barrett, who was also behind ‘Glassland’ and ‘Pilgrim Hill’, Smalltown tells the story of Conor (played by Charlie Kelly), a twenty something, who is forced to leave his small town in rural Ireland and emigrate to London for a better life.

Years later he returns home, expecting things to be the same, but a lot has changed.

It’s a dreaded call from home, informing him that his mother is ill that forces Conor to face his past and return to the sleepy village he is from. His father Tom (played by Pat Shortt) and younger brother Timmy (played by Stephen O’Leary) are struggling to come to terms with their mother Mary's ailing health.

With so much left unsaid between Conor and his family and the friends and ex-girlfriend he left behind, he must battle with his emotions to answer the question many of his generation ask themselves: where do I belong, home or away?

‘Smalltown’ premieres this Thursday (1st September) at 10pm on TV3.