Drámaíocht - Theatre

LINENHALL ARTS CENTRE

Linenhall St, Castlebar, Mayo. 

T: 094 9023733

E: linenhall@anu.ie

W: www.thelinenhall.com

 

Wednesday 17th February @ 8.00pm

London Classic Theatre - The Beauty Queen of Leenane

Set in a claustrophobic kitchen of a rural cottage in the mountains of Connemara in the early 1990s, The Beauty Queen of Leenane tells the darkly comic tale of Maureen Folan, a plain, lonely woman in her early forties, and Mag, her manipulative, ageing mother, whose interference in Maureen’s first and possibly final chance of a loving relationship sets in motion a train of events that leads inexorably towards the play’s shocking denouement. The first part of the highly acclaimed and successful Leenane Trilogy, Martin McDonagh’s multi-award-winning play was first performed by Galway’s Druid Theatre Company in 1996. Presented here by London Classic Theatre (Abigail’s Party and Humble Boy), in an acclaimed production directed by Michael Cabot, The Beauty Queen of Leenane is a blend of black comedy, melodrama, horror and bleak tragedy, with the capacity to shock and surprise, with a masterful and violent sting in the tail. 

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

 

Monday 22nd February @ 8.00pm

Bruiser Theatre Co - The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui is one of Brecht's best known plays. It is an alarming and savagely hilarious allegory of Hitler's rise to power, in which the Führer is portrayed as charismatic Chicago gangster Arturo Ui, endeavouring to seize the city's fruit and vegetable racket from top-dog Al Capone. He systematically seduces the public and eliminates his political rivals in his bid for total domination. This is Political theatre at its best and most powerful. Six actor/musicians will play over fifty characters to bring this powerful story to life in typically exciting, engaging and physical Bruiser style, as previous productions(The Government Inspector, Candide, Oh What A Lovely War) triumphantly testify. Adapted by Ralph Manheim and directed by Lisa May (Belfast Telegraph Woman Of The Year In The Arts 2009), Arturo Ui is as relevant as ever. The battle for political status and the corruption of power still fill our newspapers in 2010. When credits crunch, to whom do we turn? Arturo Ui offers protection and freedom - but at what price?

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

 

 

ÁRAS INIS GLUAIRE

ÁISLEANN BHÉAL AN MHUIRTHEAD, BELMULLET,

T: 097 81079

 

BEEZNEEZ BRING MORRIE TOUR TO ÁRAS INIS GLUAIRE

Áras Inis Gluaire welcomes back old friends when the much loved Beezneez Theatre Company bring their production of the beautiful play, Tuesdays with Morrie, on Friday 19th Feb @ 8.30pm.  Morrie will play the Belmullet venue as part of a ten venue, twenty four performance tour and patrons who saw their summer production of A Wake in the West will not want to miss this fine company’s second visit.

Based on the multimillion best selling book, this lovely play tells the story of a professor and a student who meet after sixteen years when the student, Mitch, discovers that his much loved tutor, Morrie, is suffering from a terminal illness.  They begin to spend Tuesdays together and Mitch learns lessons of life and death from Morrie.  Directed by John McDwyer and featuring Michael Roper and Pat Feeley, Tuesdays with Morrie is a warm, funny, compassionate and life enhancing evening of theatre. 

Beezneez Artistic Director, John McDwyer, says that this play is probably the most challenging work he has directed for the company and that as well as requiring acting from the top of the tree, the technical logistics have required extreme care.  However, he says that the project has been most rewarding and he doubts if two better acting performance will be seen this year that are being delivered by Michael Roper and Pat Feeley, both of whom are Beezneez regulars.

Tuesdays with Morrie is another unmissable Beezneez production.  If you have read the book, you won’t want to miss the play and if you see the play you will want to buy the book.  

Box Office is now open at 097 81079. 

 

Erris Players presents ‘Country Boy’

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th February @ 8pm

‘The Country Boy’ produced by The Erris Players & directed by Bridie Quinn appearing in Áras Inis Gluaire on Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th February @ 8pm.

Set in a quaint farmhouse kitchen beneath the majestic surrounds of the Nephin Mountain the scene that we are presented with from 1959, could be typical of most rural households in Ireland at the time. The all familiar dresser, the holy pictures, the kettle on the hob, the bread cooling on the window, the bottle of whiskey within easy grasp, are all images that are fondly remembered.

The Country Boy examines the whole problem of emigration, and the effects it has, not just on those who left the country but also the ones who were left behind. While the play may be full of comedy and humorous genius, beneath the laughs lies the harsh and sad reality of the bitterness, and regrets that emigration has inflicted upon Irish society over the years.

Eddie returns for a holiday to his native home fifteen years after he emigrated to America. Equipped with all the latest American slang the city boy brings with him his wife Julia to meet the folks.  However all is not as it first seems…..

As the drama develops, a lot more is revealed about the characters in the play and indeed a lot more is revealed to us about characters that shaped Irish life at the time.

John Murphy who wrote the play, was he himself a native of County Mayo, born in Charlestown in 1929. Murphy too was a Country Boy who emigrated to America.

 

 

THE TOWN HALL THEATRE

KILTIMAGH                             

T: 094-9381494

 

"The Banshee of Crokey Hill"

Friday February 26th and Saturday February 27th at 8.30 pm nightly

After a hugely successful two-year run "The Banshee of Crokey Hill" written and directed by Midwest Radio's Tommy Marren hits the stage again with two performances scheduled for Kiltimagh Town Hall Theatre on Friday February 26th and Saturday February 27th at 8.30 nightly.

The play is gearing up for a number of performances around the country as part of the Amateur Drama Leagues All Ireland 3-act Festivals in March so theatre lovers will have another opportunity to see this much acclaimed production which travelled to Birmingham, Manchester, New York, Chicago and Boston to huge crowds.  Set in rural Ireland in the mid-70's the play has a very interesting storyline that will keep audiences in suspense right to the final curtain.  It has lots of music and comedy thrown in for good measure and promises to be a great nights entertainment.

The Banshee of Crokey Hill at Kiltimagh's Town Hall Theatre runs on Friday February 26th and Saturday February 27th at 8.30 pm nightly.  Tickets are €12 and available at the door.  Special group rates available.  More information on 087 9674674.