A haunting new musical which tells the story of a Kilkenny woman accused of witchcraft is about to open at The Watergate theatre, a moving production which will have theatre-goers on the edge of their seats and afraid to venture into the dark.
The Stone tells the story of Alice Kyteler – a rich woman who will do just about anything to stay rich and a bishop who will stop at nothing to destroy her. A superb stage adaptation of the novel, The Stone will come to life on stage at the Watergate Theatre on October 5, running for four nights until October 8.
Prepare to be amazed and astounded by a talented cast and fantastic musical numbers which tell the story of four husbands, famine, invasion, plague, a witch trial, burning at the stake, destroying the House of Kyteler, and the collapsing of St Canice’s Cathedral.
The show’s creators are all from Kilkenny and the original music and lyrics are written by singer/composer and director Jason Paul Ryan, and composer Tom Bolger.
The story is based on the novel The Stone by Claire Nolan who is also one of the co-directors of the musical.
In 2008 Claire Nolan, an administrator at the University of Dublin, originally from Kilkenny, published The Stone, a biography of the notorious noblewoman. Claire has just released the second edition of The Stone and it can be bought in all good book shops or visit www.clairenolan.com In The Stone Alice is played by Rebecca Murphy, her servants Philip of Kilkenny played by Jason Paul Ryan and his forbidden love Petronella de Meath by Sarah Brennan, and Bishop Richard Le Drede by Tony Murray.
Visit www.thestonemusical.com for more information.
For tickets contact the Watergate Theatre, Parliament Street, Kilkenny. Booking office 056 77 61674. www.watergatetheatre.com