No rest for the Wicked: Meet the Kildare carpenter working on the upcoming film

Starting from humble beginnings in Clane, Kildare man and experienced carpenter Ciarán Canning is now working on a Hollywood adaptation of a hit musical.

Wicked: Part One is adapted from the 1995 book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West is an American novel published in 1995, written by Gregory Maguire and illustrated by Douglas Smith, which in itself draws inspiration from the L Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of Oz.

The film adaptation, Wicked: Part One, will feature stars such as Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, but the film would not be possible without the hard work of those who make the very sets they act upon; this is where Ciarán comes in.

Ciarán is the the son of Ronnie and Jim Canning of Clane: he works as a master scenic carpenter for Film, Television and the Theatre.

Speaking to the Leader about his long and varied career, he said: "Working in a team we have just completed the biggest sets ever to be built in Europe for the up and coming blockbuster film Wicked.

"Prior to that, last year, again working in a team, we built the large set for the battle scene for the upcoming film Napoleon."

Ciarán added: "In the last few years my client base has consisted of (working on franchises such as) James Bond, Star Wars and Marvel, as well as companies such as Disney, Warner Bros, MGM, Paramount and the BBC to name but a few.

"In the years before that I worked as a production carpenter on The Brit Awards, MTV Awards, IDM Awards yearly.

"In addition to that, I built scenery and toured with some major pop bands such as The Prodigy, Boyzone , East 17 and Oasis to name just a few."

He continued: "In the time before that, I spent some six years working on the Southbank in London Training as a Master Scenic Carpenter.

"I worked at Sir Laurence Olivier’s theatre The Old Vic, The Royal Festival Hall for the English National Ballet, Shakespeares Globe, LWT, The National Theatre."

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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

When asked about his childhood in Clane, he said: "Growing up in Clane was very different than these days as you can imagine... (there was) a lot more freedom in my opinion back in those days for young people.

"It was very innocent and magical, we had so many play areas; I mean the type of access to open spaces that just isn’t here anymore.

"I went to school in the prefabs, not great, and yet still it was a good education; it was full of hope, I guess, for a better future for the village."

Ciarán continued: "In those days we had the roller disco on the Dublin road — what a place for teenage fun.

"Of course, we also had the other village disco to freequent, meet, dance and maybe some chance of getting off with someone you fancied!" he joked.

Ciarán added: "It was all very innocent; up at the back of the Abbey there was a large muddy hill area, we would have some craic running scramblers round there. It was such a smaller village back then, the roads were our own.

"In those times, we would think nothing of walking to Naas for a few pints and then walking home.

"The greatest teenage hang out of all was called ‘Georgie Dunnes’: it was a shop on the main street with a small pool room and juke box on the side. Man do I have some golden memories of the craic we had there; ot was a place for singing your favorite jukebox songs, meeting your girlfriend for a kiss and of course the odd time you might bunk off school!"

"Growing up in Clane, in my youth was adventurous, we played in bands, made up music, and had gigs in the local pub. In those day the pubs in Clane would be jammed packed, full of smoke! We loved it!"

"It’s enough to say growing up in Clane in my youth we’re some of the best years of my life."

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Regarding his initial work as a carpenter, Ciarán said: "Prior to that, I was here (in Ireland) training as a carpenter/ joiner at various training facilities for a body called AnCO.

"It was at this time during my apprenticeship that I got my first taste of scenery; I would help build the sets for the Moat Theatre of Naas.

"At that time it was run by the great Mona Conroy, and as a young lad, she always reminded me of Elizabeth Taylor."

Ciarán also revealed that the original Wizard of Oz was a childhood favorite for all of his family: "It was something as children we all looked forward to when it was on at Christmas time.

"I wanted very much to be a part of this latest production, and I was delighted that it had been brought to another level. In addition, being the biggest set ever to be built in Europe, it meant for someone of my background that it was a must that I be part of it."

A sneak peek of Wicked: Part One was shared by the film's director, Jon M Chu, on his official Twitter account back in April.

When asked about his favourite song in the musical, he said: "I’m still a 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' fan, but all of the songs are really fantastic in the production."

Commenting on the production of the upcoming film, Ciarán said: "There were so many great moments, the biggest one being the team work displayed throughout.

"All of us on the crew cared for so wonderfully by production, it was a great gathering of a great many people in a great way."

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Ciarán also said that people can expect to be entertained by the latest adaptation: "We all know everyone loves the stage performance, but prepare to be totally elated and mesmerised by the film.

"Production has chosen to go back in some way to the golden age of musicals, and that includes the scenery... I feel when the fans head into the movie theatres to witness this adaptation, their popcorn will be seriously popping! They’ll be singing in the aisles!"

When asked about the current Hollywood strike, he said: "I hope for the future of the industry that the people involved can resolve this matter and come to collective understanding for the good of all."

Furthermore, when he was asked the extremely divisive question of whether he was Team Oppenheimer or Team Barbie, Ciarán replied: "Well now, on this one I would have to stay on the fence.... show-business is like a family, and you know what families are like!"

He jokingly added: "You don’t want to show favouritism, it might shorten your Christmas card list!"

Lastly, while reflecting on his career, as well as his life in general, Ciarán said: "Since leaving Clane all those years ago and now to have come full circle with all that’s happened in the middle, I look to the future and what’s next to come. I have loved my travels abroad and all that came with them."

"I would like to see more of these large productions come here to Ireland; I would love to see a future where our own industry crew can find enough work here at home."

"This is a goal of mine: to assist in any way I can to make this happen," Ciarán concluded.