{"id":440729,"date":"2026-05-09T18:45:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T18:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/440729\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T18:45:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T18:45:34","slug":"from-armagh-to-avenue-q-charlie-mccullagh-brings-puppet-chaos-to-the-west-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/440729\/","title":{"rendered":"From Armagh to Avenue Q: Charlie McCullagh brings puppet chaos to the West End"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHARLIE MCCULLAGH is currently playing one of the most outrageous characters on the West End stage, Trekkie Monster in Avenue Q. <\/p>\n

This week he told us about his influences growing up, his first memory of going to the theatre as a child, and his training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.<\/p>\n

Charlie, you are currently starring in Avenue Q in the West End. For people who don\u2019t know the story, what is it about?<\/p>\n

Avenue Q is very much Sesame Street for adults. The story centres on the residents of the avenue after recent grad and new arrival Princeton moves in. It\u2019s a silly, wacky comedy with some big themes that it approaches light-heartedly and with a sense of fun.<\/p>\n

It feels like those puppet characters you grew up with taking you into adulthood, with something for everyone \u2014 whether that\u2019s a search for purpose, a dream that might never come true, difficult break-ups, tricky conversations, and remembering that no matter how scary or difficult things get, everything is only for now.<\/p>\n

\"\" Charlie McCullagh and Meg Hateley with the Bad Idea Bears in Avenue Q (Pic: Matt Crockett)
\nHow difficult is it to operate a puppet, sing and act at the same time?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s crazy, bizarre and absolutely mental. At first, it very much felt impossible \u2014 you could see the gears turning in all of our heads \u2014 but it\u2019s so fun. Getting to be creative for a job stems from some sort of childlike experience: telling stories, dressing up, playing make-believe. The stakes may go up, but the essence of play always needs to stay.<\/p>\n

The puppets are wonderful and joyous, so when the going gets tough, it\u2019s fun just to play with them again and rediscover that childlike feeling. We\u2019ve been super lucky to work with Talk to the Hand puppetry and get such intensive support from Andy and Iestyn. They\u2019ve made it feel second nature, even if it is painful at times. It\u2019s a skill I hope to keep developing.<\/p>\n

\"\" Avenue Q’s Trekkie Monster (Pic: Matt Crockett)
\nTrekkie Monster is one of your characters \u2014 how much fun is he to work with?<\/p>\n

Trekkie Monster is the definition of manic joy. In the confines of the show, he\u2019s described as being a recluse and a pervert, but off stage he\u2019s the one everyone wants a cuddle from. When I\u2019m with Trekkie, I feel like we can get away with murder \u2014 we can say anything and it gets a laugh.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s brash, impulsive and silly, but he\u2019s got a heart of gold and it\u2019s impossible not to love him. The other day, Trekkie and I went front of house for some social media work, and seeing the Shaftesbury Theatre staff light up when he entered the room was so special. I love Trekkie \u2014 it\u2019s never a bad day when he\u2019s around.<\/p>\n

Tell us about Nicky\u2026.<\/p>\n

Nicky is a lovable slacker. He\u2019s that friend who doesn\u2019t seem to have a big goal or ambition and is maybe too good at going with the flow. He\u2019s easily overlooked as being a bit simple, but I think he\u2019s one of the most switched-on when it comes to the people around him \u2014 well, most of the time anyway.<\/p>\n

Throughout the show, he is doing everything he can to support his best friend, Rod. The problem is he often tries so hard to be helpful that he ends up going too far or saying the wrong thing and landing himself in hot water. He\u2019s endearing and a bit useless, but you love him anyway.<\/p>\n

\"\" Cast members Angelis Hunt, Oliver Jacobson, Amelia Kinu Muus, Charlie McCullagh, Noah Harrison, Emily Benjamin, Mag Hateley, Dionne Ward Anderson and Lesley Lemon bow at the curtain call after a performance of Avenue Q at The Shaftesbury Theatre last month (Pic: Dave Benett\/Getty Images)
\nYou also play the Bad Idea Bears \u2014 what can you tell us about them?<\/p>\n

The West End recently got the lovable Paddington, and the Bad Idea Bears are here to bring balance. They\u2019re sickly sweet, adorable and cute. They only have your best interests at heart \u2014 or so they say. They\u2019re the little voice in your head repeating, \u201cGo on, have another drink,\u201d or \u201cBlow your entire pay on one night out \u2014 you\u2019ll have a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019re Mrs Doyle if she was a cute teddy bear pushing drink, drugs and sex instead of tea.<\/p>\n

Tell me about your Irish roots\u2026.<\/p>\n

I grew up in Co Armagh before moving to Belfast in my late teens, travelling home when I needed my laundry done, of course. I was always obsessed with stories and songs. Every weekend I\u2019d retell them in intense detail to my nanny while my grandad watched the football. I\u2019ll also never forget reading Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney at school.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think I was ever really aware of what I loved about home or my culture until I left. The further I went and the longer I was away, the more I felt that pull. I don\u2019t know if it was being a ceasefire baby in the North or just being a wee dreamer, but it wasn\u2019t until I left Ireland that I realised how much it meant to me. I recently started learning Gaeilge and try to stay connected to my culture even while away.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Avenue Q company (Pic: Matt Crockett)
\nWere you always interested in performing growing up in Armagh?<\/p>\n

Not at all. I didn\u2019t really know it was much of a thing growing up, and I was a super shy kid. I loved playing make-believe and was lost in my imagination, but I didn\u2019t really dive into performing until my teens. Once I found it, though, my mum and I went to the Market Place Theatre, the Grand Opera House and Bord G\u00e1is all the time, with The Importance of Being Earnest an early favourite.<\/p>\n

What is your first memory of going to the theatre?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to say, but the most monumental memory was seeing The Phantom of the Opera in the West End. I wasn\u2019t a musical fan \u2014 I was a Phantom fan. My mum told me that at the interval I said, \u201cI don\u2019t think I blinked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" Charlie McCullagh grew up in Co. Armagh (picture Raw PR)
\nYou studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland \u2014 what was that experience like?<\/p>\n

Challenging. I was really hard on myself and had to work multiple jobs to support myself. It\u2019s not a normal university schedule \u2014 it\u2019s incredibly intense. I\u2019m grateful for the experience, the teachers, the friends, and Glasgow itself. I loved it, but I wouldn\u2019t rush to relive it any time soon.<\/p>\n

What advice would you give aspiring performers?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard \u2014 really tough. This business is brutal and requires work, dedication, talent and luck. But if you crack it, it\u2019s joyous.<\/p>\n

The main thing is never lose the fun, the joy, the play. Someone\u2019s going to do it \u2014 so why not you?<\/p>\n

One moment please…
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