John B Keane’s timeless classic, Big Maggie, will be the headline opener of Athlone Little Theatre’s new season for 2009/2010. The news was revealed at the group’s AGM for the coming year, at which chairman Paddy Martin outlined a series of exciting new plans, including a theatre outreach programme, which will see the group bringing small plays and comedy sketches out into various venues around the town.
Athlone Little Theatre will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2011, making it one of the oldest social and cultural organisations in the town. As Paddy outlined at the AGM, the making of another 75 years of history involves moving with the times and embracing change.
Members of the public will thus get a unique opportunity to see some of the group’s most talented players strutting their stuff in various new locations. More information will be available on this as soon as it is finalised, so watch this space!
As well as these exciting new departures, the Little Theatre will of course continue doing what it has been doing for the last 75 years, providing top quality theatre and entertainment to the public as part of its intensive regular programme.
Big Maggie promises to attract huge houses when it opens to the public in the first week of November. Another comedy classic, Bernard Farrell’s I Do Not Like Thee Doctor Fell, is also confirmed for early in the New Year. There are also likely to be two other plays in the course of the season, and full details will be provided on these as soon as they become available.
Other events outlined at a well-attended AGM include a very enticing workshop on the immortal bard of Avon, William Shakespeare. This promises to be a very rewarding experience and takes place in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel on the weekend of September 11 and 12. The group will also present a variety of events as part of its contribution to the All Ireland Drama Festival fringe next May.
Presenting such a full schedule of events every year requires plenty of dedicated and enthusiastic people. Every year, the Little Theatre gives debuts to actors and actresses who have decided to try their luck on the boards.
The Little Theatre is looking for members of the public who might like to be part of a production without ever going on stage, which, after all, is not everyone’s cup of tea.
In particular, there is always a huge demand for set builders and designers: people with even a passing interest in carpentry, joinery, or painting to help put together the detailed look which is so vital to any good production.
If you are one of those people, then the Little Theatre wants to hear from you. Experienced people are ready and waiting to show you the basics of set building, and after that you can let your creativity run free. Being involved – whether in construction, backstage, or front of house – with a play that it is bringing joy to hundreds of people is one of the most rewarding experiences it is possible to have in this life.
Now is your chance to get involved and help open new horizons for one of Athlone’s most cherished institutions.
For more information email [email protected] or log on to www.athlonelittletheatre.ie
