Kiltimagh’s Angela Curley-Staunton is hitting all the right notes in the world of musical theatre.
Her acting and singing credentials have been recognised at the highest level for the second year-in-a-row when she was awarded the top gong for best actress in a supporting role at the prestigious Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS ) awards last weekend in Killarney.
Ms Curley-Staunton threaded the boards as the bloodthirsty Madame Dafarge in Ballinrobe Musical Society’s production of A Tale of Two Cities in December.
At the glamourous awards ceremony - dubbed the Oscars of the musical world in Ireland - in the Gleneagles Hotel in Killarney the Galway woman said she was “dumbstruck” when she was announced as the winning actress.
This is the second major accolade for Ms Curley-Staunton, who lives in Kiltimagh with husband Jonathon Staunton.
She won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the AIMS awards in 2013 for her performance as Eva Peron in Ballinrobe Musical Society’s production of Evita.
Ms Curley-Staunton joined the musical society in 2012 after she was talent spotted at her own wedding by musical director Fionnuala Higgins Cosgrove.
“We had a band organised but there was a bit of a kerfuffle and we ended up on stage ourselves playing a few songs,” explained Ms Curley. Her husband Jonathon is also a keen musician and music teacher.
“Fionnuala took note and asked if I was interested in auditioning for Evita. I couldn’t believe it when I actually got the part in my first year the society.”
In A Tale of Two Cities, Ms Curley-Staunton, who works in her family’s food business in Galway, played a French revolutionary who is hellbent on seeking revenge against the aristocrats.
“She is a tragic character who is out for blood,” explained Ms Curley-Staunton.
Ms Curley Staunton is hoping to perhaps turn her talents to something a little ligther in her next role.
“It would be good to sink my teeth into something a bit more upbeat,” she laughed.
The actress was completely dumbfounded when she realised she had won a second AIMS award on Friday.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all. When they read my name out, I was standing on stage with the other nominees and it took me a few seconds to register that it was me who had won,” she said.
Ballinrobe Musical Society is no stranger to AIMS honours. As one of Ireland’s leading musical theatre groups, they have won numerous awards and nominations in past years, including Best Overall Show for The Pirate Queen in 2010.
