Can a play about a notorious criminal ever truly reflect reality, or does it inevitably sanitize the past? This question lies at the heart of the renewed debate surrounding Rex Ryan’s one-man play, The Monk, which chronicles the life of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, one of Ireland’s most polarizing figures. A decade after the Regency Hotel shooting, the production is set to return—this time on the grander stage of the Ambassador Theatre, following a sold-out run at a smaller venue last year. But here’s where it gets controversial: as Hutch himself announces plans to run in Dublin’s upcoming by-election, could this theatrical portrayal inadvertently boost his political ambitions? And this is the part most people miss: while the play delves into the complexities of Hutch’s life, it also raises broader questions about the role of art in retelling dark chapters of history. Written and performed by Rex Ryan, son of the late broadcaster Gerry Ryan, the show doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of the Hutch-Kinahan feud, which claimed 18 lives over 18 months, including innocent bystanders. Yet, does bringing such a story to the stage risk humanizing—or worse, glamorizing—a violent era? Tessa Fleming sits down with Ryan on today’s Indo Daily as opening night looms, exploring the fine line between artistic expression and ethical responsibility. Is it possible to tell a story like this without inadvertently rewriting history? Weigh in below—your thoughts could spark the next big debate.
