A tireless and ferocious actor full of menace and charm

Karl Shiels, who died suddenly last Sunday at the age of 47, was a tireless supporter of emerging talent

Karl Shiels: a champion of emerging talent

Sara Keating

Eugene O’Brien (see review above) was just one of the many writers who Karl Shiels, who died suddenly last Sunday at the age of 47, fostered through his inimitable production company Semper Fi.

Shiels was a tireless supporter of emerging talent, giving young writers a much-needed platform for their work at Theatre Upstairs, which opened in 2010, just as many established venues were closing their doors to the risk of new ...