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With St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, so why not take a night out and enjoy some traditional festive fun by attending the Tipperary Drama Festival, in Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
This major annual event takes to the stage for the week beginning the 18th March next to 26th March inclusive.
The hosts of this hugely attended Tipperary Festival, namely Holycross/Ballycahill Drama Group, have been successfully running this event since 1983.
This year the festival will present some great nights of theatre, performed by passionate theatre groups from all over Ireland, in their newly restored St. Michael’s Community Centre, beside the 13th century Abbey of Holy Cross, former which now boasts comfortable seating, including a balcony area, for some 500 of its patrons.
Curtain rises at 8.30pm nightly during the festival, except for the final night, which will be 8.00pm.
Admission: Each night €12, with Student’s and O.A.P’s enjoying an entrance concession of €6. Of course best value is their Season Ticket costing, I understand according to their Facebook, a mere €60 for all 9 performances.
 Tipperary Drama Festival, Holycross, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Tipperary Drama Festival Programme 2011
Fri 18th March: Holycross/Ballycahill DG ‘Lovers At Versaille ‘ by Bernard Farrell.
Sat 19th March: Skibbereen Theatre Society ‘A Kiss On The Bottom ‘ by Frank Vickery.
Sun 20th March: Conna Drama Group ‘Stolen Child ‘ by Yvonne Quinn & Bairbre Ni Chaoimh.
Mon 21st March: Schull Drama Group ‘Kindly Leave The Stage ‘ by John Chapman.
Tues 22nd March: Silken Thomas Players ‘Angels In America ‘ by Tony Kushner.
Wed 23rd March: Bunclody/Kilmyshall DG ‘The Mai ‘ by Marina Carr.
Thurs 24th March: Brideview Drama Group ‘The Clearing ‘ by Helen Edmundson.
Fri 25th March: Palace Players ‘Doubt – A Parable ‘ by John Patrick Shanley.
Sat 26th March: Nenagh Players ‘Out Of Order ‘ by Ray Cooney.
Promises to be a week we can all look forward too, so to use the well-known idiom in theatre which means ‘good luck’ – “Break A Leg Everyone”
 Listen To My Heart Phoenix Productions in association with North Tipperary Hospice will take to the stage of The Source in Thurles this weekend for two unique performances of ‘Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman’.
Directed by Gerard O’Brien and accompanied by Internationally renowned musical director David Wray, (Latter founder member of Music Theatre Ireland) ‘Listen to My Heart’ sees this company stripped down to just five voices familiar to Thurles audiences from Phoenix Productions and Thurles Musical Society; Michelle O’Connell, Maria Griffin, Deirdre Ryan, Tomas Flanagan and Shane Willoughby.
‘Listen To My Heart’ is a musical written from the heart, addressing universal issues that chronicle all the lives, loves and losses of our modern world.
The first performance of its kind here in Thurles, ‘Listen to My Heart’ takes you on a musical journey that will lift your spirits and soothe your soul.
There will be two performances this Saturday November 20th, an early bird performance at 6.00pm for €10 and a traditional 8.00pm performance costing €20. Proceeds will go directly to North Tipperary Hospice. This promises to be something you will not want to miss.
Booking: Contact The Source direct by clicking here or email boxoffice@sourcearts.ie
After what can only be described as a sensational 10 night run in The Helix Theatre in Dublin last September, it was a foregone conclusion that the cast of NYMT‘s Spring Awakening would be invited to compete in this year’s Waterford International Festival of Light Opera 2010, latter celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
This unbelievably talented cast, under the direction of John Donnelly and which included top Tipperary performers Chris Britton, Ed Leamy and Shane Willoughby, latter playing the role of ‘Georg’, like Julius Caesar, came, performed and conquered.
Amongst the awards at last night’s banquet in Waterford the cast of Spring Awakening walked off with awards for; Best Lighting, Best Costumes, Best Set, The Special Adjudicators Award, Best Musical Direction and the much coveted Best Overall Show Award for this year’s Waterford International Festival of Light Opera.
Adjudicator for this year’s Waterford International Festival of Light Opera was Tony Finnegan, holder of many comedy, acting, singing and directing awards to his own credit, including directing the World Premier of ‘Requiem for Julie ‘ in the Rupert Guinness Theatre, Dublin and author of the children’s musical, ‘Once Upon a Nursery Rhyme ‘, which was premiered in Northern Ireland in 2000.
Running from November 2nd – 13th and showcasing productions from award winning amateur musical societies at home and abroad, this festival takes place each year in the very stylish and newly refurbished Theatre Royal in Waterford city.
Affectionately known as the “mother of all festivals,” the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera is the premier event of its kind in these islands.
The line-up this year included Seussical The Musical, Nunsense, Pirates of Penzance and Jekyll & Hyde. There was also homage to the 80’s with The Wedding Singer, the afore mentioned Irish premiere of Spring Awakening and the Festival closed yesterday with Sweeney Todd.
All in all, it was one of the most adventurous line ups in years and worthy of their 50th anniversary celebration.
Here’s to the next 50 years.
I do not know how music lovers in the south of Ireland are going to find €20 by November 11th, in these recessionary times, but find it somehow they must.
After what can only be described as a sensational 10 night run in The Helix Theatre in Dublin last September, the cast of NYMT‘s Spring Awakening are now headed down ‘the Waterford way’.
This unbelievably talented cast which, I am happy to relate, include top Tipperary performers Chris Britton, Ed Leamy and Shane Willoughby, latter playing the role of ‘Georg‘, are preparing to take this incredible show to the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera 2010.
 The Most Exciting Piece Of Musical Theatre Ever To Be Staged In Ireland
Spring Awakening, which tells the story of teenagers who are discovering for the first time the inner and outer tumult of their sexuality, will take to the stage of the Theatre Royal on Thursday November 11th.
If you missed it the first time around, you now really have no excuse not to attend. This is a one night only event, so climb in through an open theatre window, dig an underground tunnel, get a Leader grant, distract the doormen or maybe simply buy a ticket. Miss this show and you’ll miss out on one of the most original and exciting pieces of musical theatre ever to take to the stage here in Ireland.
Remember the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera is regarded on the Irish theatre scene as the “Mother of All Festivals” and is the premier event of its kind presently in Ireland. Congrats to all concerned, on your celebrating your 50th anniversary.
Expect a large contingent in attendance from the Premier County and remember we expect tea during the interval.
Tickets are available from the Theatre Royal website and you can book your seat by clicking HERE .
By the way Anne Marie, I’m deathly serious about the tea, – one sugar and a small drop of milk for me.
I attended the second nights performance of the Irish Premier of the landmark musical “Spring Awakening” in the Helix on Saturday last.
Spring Awakening. Firstly, what a beautiful theatre and so easy to find for rural ‘hicks’ like myself, who rarely travel into the big smoke. This latter fact, plus the provision on the theatre’s doorstep of easy, cheap parking, had me relaxed and in stress-free mood long before the show began.
I was aware that “Spring Awakening” is a rock musical adaptation of the controversial 1891 German play of the same title, by Frank Wedekind and it featured music by Duncan Sheik with lyrics by Steven Sater.
Set in late-nineteenth century Germany, it concerns teenagers who are discovering the inner and outer tumult of sexuality, but more than that they are discovering that their emerging thoughts and feelings are not just individual and personal, rather part of the development of every young teenager. In the early 19th century, the original play was banned in Germany for a while, due to its portrayal of masturbation, abortion, homosexuality, rape, child abuse and suicide.
In the past Spring Awakening was nominated for eleven Tony Award, winning eight, including Tony’s for best musical, direction, book, score and featured actor. The show has also won four Drama Desk Awards, while its London production, last year, won four Olivier Awards.
With this endorsement and my passion for all things theatrical, it became essential that I should attend, together with some close friends.
Forget Broadway, The Helix May Never Be The Same Again!
For those of you planning to attend Spring Awakening, which will run for only the next four nights, let me tell you it is nothing short of exhilarating. It is a delightful electrifying fusion of comedy, sadness, morality, sexuality and rock and roll and should be made compulsory to attend.
This show is maybe somewhat adult in nature, in both theme and content and possibly not suitable for those under 16 years, but for everyone else it is a ‘must see‘.
The set is modern and well lit. The orchestra are a group of amazingly talented, well rehearsed and dedicated musician. The talent on stage is, I believe, unlike anything I have ever seen in previous shows.
Songs like “Mama Who Bore Me”, “The Bitch of Living”, “The Dark I Know Well”, “Touch Me”, “I Believe”, in act one, followed by “Totally Fucked”, “The Song of Purple Summer”, “Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind” in act two, to name just a few of the numbers, are delivered professionally with high energy and with obvious passion, by each performer.
Here is a perfect opportunity for RTE Hosts to up their ratings, by showing some new, exciting, talent on our TV sets, instead of the washed up performers currently forced upon us, nightly.
I can happily report that Musical Theatre in Ireland, unlike most else, is safe into the next half century. I am also happy to report that no fewer than three of those associated with this cast come from here in Co.Tipperary.
Well done Guys and Gals, I’ve got tickets again for Saturday.
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