Theatre « Thurles Information

Is HRM Queen Elizabeth II Visiting Her Ancestral Home?

Phoenix Productions Present "Oliver" - 4th - 8th Aug

Why is there a red double-decker London bus Parked in Liberty Square, Thurles, we here you ask? Has Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II decided to visit her ancestral home we hear you query?

Here is a clue: What has Red Buses, London, the West End and Theatre got to do with the Town of Thurles in the coming days?
Yes you have guessed correctly, the answer is of course “Oliver Twist“. Now while Queen Elizabeth II may be visiting Thurles in the not too distant future, one thing is certain “Oliver” will go on stage in the Premier Hall Thurles this August 4th to the 8th inclusive, God willing.

But why the Red Bus I hear you say? It’s simple – the late and much lamented Mr Matty Ryan, who departed, regrettably from our midst on January 24th last, made arrangements for Phoenix Productions to use his Red Bus to promote the classic musical “Oliver” with the proceeds of one performance going to the charity to which he was so devoted, namely North Tipperary Hospice.

To honour and respect both his memory and his wishes it was decided to keep faith and so as he requested, his bus, which was a cherished birthday gift, is over the next few days, being used as a ‘Ticket Booking Office’.

So have you got your ticket? They are getting as scarce as rocking horse manure. Move quickly – Phoenix promise you a show to remember for a very long time.

Please Phoenix Productions, Can We Have Some More?

Oliver

Following last February’s sell out cabaret in The Source Theatre, Phoenix Productions here in Thurles are already hard at work on their next project, the timeless classic that is ‘Oliver’.

It’s been some eleven odd years since Lionel Bart’s famous musical adaptation of the Dickens’s classic ‘Oliver Twist’ last played to Thurles audiences and it has been greatly missed.

‘Oliver’ will take to the stage in the Premier Hall, Thurles, this August 4th to the 8th and sees the stalwart cast of teenagers and young adults of Phoenix joined for the very first time by a new upcoming group of young performers who will make up the infamous pickpocket’s of Fagin’s gang.

Oliver will be Phoenix’s twelve musical production in the town and follows on from successful recital’s of ‘The Hot Mikado‘, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar‘, ‘Guys and Dolls‘, ‘High School Musical‘ and ‘Seussical The Musical‘ to name but just a few.

The lead rolls for this show have been cast as follows:-

Olivers: Gavin Murphy and Philip Ryan – Artful Dodgers: Darren O’Sullivan and Darragh Byrne – Nancy: Katie Lawless

Fagin: Frank Tuohy – Bill Sykes: Jack Rossiter – Mr. Bumble: Shane Willoughby – Widow Corney: Deirdre Ryan

Mr. Sowerberry: Graham Maher – Mrs. Sowerberry: Emma Jane Purcell – Noah Claypole: Nathan Carroll – Charlotte: Fiona O’Sullivan.

Tickets for this timeless classic will be available from the middle of this month, so make sure you book early folks because we forecast, this one is going to be a definite sell out.

Phoenix Productions – Songs of David Friedman

Phoenix Productions will present “Listen To My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman,” for two nights on 29th and 30th May 2010.

The Source - May 29th and 30th

In preparation for their forthcoming 2010 Summer Production – the timeless classic that is ‘Oliver’, Phoenix Productions will take to the stage of The Source in May 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, Clifford Killeen 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 sooth your soul.

Tickets are very affordable, priced at €10 and €12 for students and adults respectively.

Warning: As with previous performances from this company, both these nights are guaranteed to be a sell out, so please do not be disappointed.

Booking: Contact The Source direct by clicking here or email boxoffice@sourcearts.ie

Health Warning – The Irish Canon (Abridged)

The Irish Canon (Abridged) comes on stage in The Source Arts Theatre, Thurles, on Thursday night next, 29th April,at 8.00pm, and is an absolute must for all involved with drama groups of all ages in Tipperary.

Completely and unashamedly abridged, watch The Irish Canon flash before your eyes dragging Irish plays kicking and screaming into the future.

This show is a high-speed roller-coaster type compression or condensation, and is carries a strict health warning. “If you suffer from bladder problems, inner-ear disorders, heart ailments and/or you are inclined to motion sickness,” best to give it a miss.

From the pen of very talented writers, The Irish Canon (Abridged) sees Irish Theatre of the last century condensed down to a rip-roaring 10 plays, 70 characters, and 3 actors all in the spate of one hour.

The stage will come alive with Irish figures who have dominated theatrical circles for over a century. Names like Kathleen Ni Houlihan, Christy Mahon, Bessie Burgess, the Bull MacCabe and many, many more, will grace the stage in quick succession, running breathlessly through iconic Irish theatre and unfurling into what can only be described as sheer mad comic chaos.

The result is a show that’s crammed with culture, comedy and hilarious hysterics. One of the funniest performances you will catch this season!

Don’t miss three actors hurtling themselves headlong through the most famous Irish plays ever written. On second thoughts, forget the health warning,I don’t know of anyone who died laughing.

Book now through the box office: Tel – 0504-90204 – Tickets only €10

Weekend Of Laughter In The Source Thurles

Economic Recession, Water Charges, Mortgage Rate Rises, and with all that depression about, what we all need is a good laugh. This ‘sure cure remedy’ is ready and available this weekend here at The Source Theatre, in Thurles.

God’s Official

To some people, football is a matter of life and death, to others it is even far more important than that great love of the sport itself.

Two football fans have just seen their side relegated after a referee disallowed a perfectly good goal and allowed the opposition to go down to the other end and score. This can be just one step to many, however the referee’s decision is final…or is it?

Two lads, Degsy and Cliff, decide to take matters into their own hands and kidnap the referee to force him to change his mind on this all important goal, with hilarious and the most unexpected consequences. This is a madcap comedy starring legendary Irish actor, Mick Lally, George McMahon of Mondo and Fair City fame and rising star Edwin Mullane.

Kidnapping a referee (and a Christian referee at that, hence the title) may seem a corny plot for a play. After all, we have all wanted to do something similar after a certain clash with a recent French team, but this script is a tremendous piece of writing, and superbly acted. Ostensibly about football, God’s Official is a powerful play about passion and commitment, a welcome relief in these dark and cynical times.

The play was a massive hit at the Edinburgh Festival winning the Spirit of the Fringe Award. Now, with Irish men taking up the roles, it’s on a nationwide tour set to amuse and delight soccer fans up and down the country.

So for all you football fanatics and soccer widows, why not make a night of it together, with a show that promises to entertain everybody.

God’s Official will appear at The Source Arts Centre for one night only on Fri next the 23rd April. Time 8.00pm.

Kevin McAleer

On Saturday night the 24th of April, complete your therapy with a dose of the veteran County Tyrone stand up comedian Kevin McAleer who will be in attendance at the The Source Arts Centre also at 8.00pm.

Is it possible for a comedian to be too Irish I ask? No, not when Kevin McAleer oozes that whimsical spirit of Flann O’Brien with almost every deadpan utterance. “Sure you couldn’t have a famine in Ireland now, people would just go and eat out.”

It’s nearly twenty years since Kevin lit up our hearts and the screens of our television sets with his psychedelic folk tales of Kojak, Dana, Gary Glitter, the Woman and the Washing Powder, Closedown, and dozens of other cultural icons too numerous to mention.

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McAleer has been hugely influential in comedy circles for a whole generation of comedians, not just in here in Ireland, but in the UK as well. Our own David O’Doherty, for example, tells how he decided to become a comedian after seeing the original Nighthawks show in the Olympia back in the middle of the Nineties.

His owlish storytelling occasionally rambles down a funny side, not often identified by the average man, and then finds it way back in a similar vein, leading you always into continuous bouts of uncontrollable laughter. His grossly understated absurdism’s will have you in stitches and most certainly he deserves to demonstrate his unique and talented wares to packed audiences.

This show is a must for economic depression sufferers.

To book for one or both shows call 0504-90204 or visit the Source website www.thesourceartscentre.ie

Tickets to both shows on both nights will cost you less than a trip to your doctor and no trip to the chemist for that medication needed later.