OLDER characters in stage plays more than often means you have younger actors ageing up.

But The Quiet Land, which arrives courtesy of Bewley’s Cafe in Dublin, comes with knowing the hair dye remains in the bottle, the make-up box is still clipped shut - and the actors haven’t had to contrive a slowness of movement.

Malachy McKenna’s play features two ageing farmers in rural Ireland, who they talk of changing times.

Nashee and Eamon (Derry Power) are two old friends, two old rivals, and now they have to confront each other with some heart breaking truths.

They talk of the violence inflicted upon older people in rural areas, they talk of the changing farming world, of ‘wind turbans’, of brittle hips and brittle commentaries on the elderly in society.

But thankfully, the actors are very much the real deal.

“Yes, we are of an age,” says the smiling 80 year-old Des Keogh who stars as Nashee, a man given to lovely malapropisms.

“We can bring the reality to the performance, but thankfully we can also bring the energy.”

That’s not to say the pair’s reflections are continually underlined with sadness.

They may yearn for days when bacon and cabbage was popular, and they may utter phrases such as ‘may as well be dead.’ But while they are shuffling in the direction of the final Exit door, they’re far from doom laden.

The play is filled with black comedy. For example, when Eamon turns up revealing a bandage on his head, the subject of a violent attack, Nashee says, in soft concerned voice; ‘I thought it was touch-and-go with you,’ before adding . . . ‘I thought I’d have to iron a shirt.’

This economy of gesture is what passes for affection between the two, and the dryness, the complete lack of sentimentality and disguise of feeling is as Scottish as it is Irish.

Indeed, the physical and social changes in the Irish landscape are paralleled in Scotland today.

“That’s true, and there is really is a lot of humour in this play,” says Des.

“There is references to the attacks on old famer guys in rural Ireland, which seem to be on the increase in recent times.

“What’s also changed is old fellas struggle to get to the local pub and have a drink and a chat, now that they can’t drive.

“But these two old guys are funny. They have the ability to take a dark comedic look at their world and yet the result of it all is a very poignant play.”

Des Keogh has worked with most major Irish theatre companies and has toured widely in plays by celebrated Irish playwright John B. Keane.

From his first appearance in Charley’s Aunt in 1965, Des has gone on to appear in films such as Ryan’s Daughter, Ulysses and Flight of the Doves.

He’s worked several times in New York with the Irish Repertory Theatre.

Yet, he set out initially to become a barrister.

“I watched lots of episodes of Perry Mason when I was younger,” says the actor, grinning.

“I had this idea of becoming a great defender, appearing in great courtroom dramas and making impassioned pleas to a jury.

“But what I didn’t realise is that law is largely about tork and tedium.”

Keogh didn’t go straight from law to the stage.

“Before I went into theatre I was employed by Arthur Guinness, whose product I still enjoy. I was a management trainee, and lasted a couple of years before I set off to pursue this wonderful bohemian career.”

The Quiet Land is about enforced change, but the altering social and physical landscape is also reflected in the changes in Irish theatre.

“What we have now is the growth of small, one-man shows which can be easily toured and don’t cost us a fortune.”

Are they shows which cater for an ageing population?

“Yes, Irish writers are writing more for older actors. However, a lot of the parts are being played by younger people, ageing up, not people of my vintage.

“The directors perhaps think we don’t have the energy. So it’s refreshing when myself and Derry are cast and we can come out and do it.”

But didn’t he say at the end of his last Irish tour this summer, in which he played George Bernard Shaw, that he had given up touring?

Three months later he’s in Glasgow?

“There’s a running gag in my family in which my daughter points out that after every show I announce my retirement,” says the actor, laughing.

“Then a few weeks later, I get restless and have to take on something new.

“But you know, there’s no way I could resist a play like this.”

* The Quiet Land, Oran Mor, Byres Road, Glasgow, 1pm, until Saturday.