Theatre - Thurles Information

The Late Frank Thornton – The Thurles Connection

The much loved comedy actor Frank Thornton who died, aged 92, on March 16th last at his home in Barnes London, will possibly be best remembered as the impeccably tailored Captain Peacock, who played the store supervisor role, in the 12 year running BBC Television sitcom “Are You Being Served?,” which began in 1973.

Frank was born Frank Thornton Ball at Dulwich, South London, on January 15th 1921 and was educated at Alleyn’s Church of England School. He worked as an insurance clerk for a short time, before discovering his passion for comedy & all things theatre.

I wonder how many people living in Thurles today can remember back to 1940, when on leaving the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA,) Frank made his professional début, aged 19, in the still standing, old Confraternity Hall (Formally Thurles Jail,) here in Thurles, in Co Tipperary.

In the Thurles Confraternity Hall, back then, he took on the actor’s profile of the hearty, extravagant ‘Brian Curtis,’ in the dramatist, Terence Rattigan’s play “French Without Tears,” and later honed his craft, touring with this and other plays around the small towns and village halls in the then Irish “Fit-Up” tradition. The “Fit-Ups,” were the travelling shows that went from town to town around Ireland, and were so-called because the actors literally transformed or fitted up each town hall they visited, from the arranging of the seating to the organising of lighting and sometimes even building the stage.

Continue reading The Late Frank Thornton – The Thurles Connection

What’s On In The Source Arts Centre Thurles?

Gaybo comes to The Source

Spring has finally sprung and with it the prospect of many exciting performances, films, workshops and exhibits at The Source Arts Centre. Eloise Loughnane has been taking a look & reports here.

Sowing the Seeds of Dance – Community Dance Project

The highly successful Sowing the Seeds of Dance Community Dance Project, with pubic dance classes for all ages and dance in education workshops, anyone can get involved so abandon your notions of dance and try a class. Over 200 participants have taken part so far, why don’t you? No experience necessary & tickets reasonable priced.

Crawford Art Gallery

Crawford Art Gallery, Cork comes to Thurles. Tipperary Bealtaine Festival presents “The Way Home,” featuring works by Daniel O’Neill, Gerard Dillon, Barrie Cooke and Norah McGuinness to name but a few. School outreach and a public lecture by Dr. Peter Jordan make this a very special show. Also in the gallery this season is local artist P.J O’Connell who will show work from the past 30 years and also create new work in situ in his gallery studio during June.

Gay Byrne, David McSavage, Gemma Hayes, Ballet Ireland

A host of stars are coming to Thurles, in the coming weeks with season highlights including:-
Gay Byrne Live: A chance to hear Gaybo’s best stories from an outstanding career.
David McSavage: Savage Eye star is coming to town – lock up your daughters!
Gemma Hayes: Local girl Gemma brings an eclectic blend of folk, pop & electronics.
Ballet Ireland’s ‘Cinderella – after the ball’: An alternative take on a classic fairytale.
Silent: Award-winning and sensational show written and performed by Pat Kinevane – highly recommended.
The Man in a Woman’s Shoes: A charming piece of Irish theatre for Bealtaine.
Box of Frogs: Mary McEvoy, John Moynes & Dil Wickremasing, sharing stories of their personal experience with mental health & with a good dose of humour added in.

Children’s events

Upcoming Children’s events include:
Tic Teac: Playful interactive show for 3-6 year olds, using simple Irish, English & Song.
The Bockety World of Henry Bucket: Barnstorm return with stunning children’s theatre.
Wonderland Drama Workshop at Easter and Summer Workshops in theatre, art & design, singing and other activities for children from 4 years.

Information: For dates, bookings and more information on all events Click HERE or ring The Source Box Office on Tel: 0504 90204.

Opera d’Arte Comes To Thurles

Opera d’Arte – With Special Guests Phoenix Productions.

Experience all the passions of Opera in one spectacular production.

Opera d’Arte comes to the Source Arts Centre Thurles for one night only, following standing ovations at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, UCH Limerick and Cork Opera House last year.

Opera d’Arte presents a diverse programme of musical masterpieces including selections from La Traviata, Carmen, Cosi Fan Tutte, Die Fledermaus, La bohème, Turandot and The Barber of Seville.

The Production Features A Stellar Line Up Of Some Of Ireland’s Favourite Singers:-

Sandra Oman, Soprano (Opera Ireland, Co-Opera, Opera Holland Park).
Deirdre Masterson, Mezzo-Soprano (Opera Ireland, Wexford Festival Opera, Lyric Opera), Eugene Ginty, Tenor, (Opera Ireland, ENO, Scottish Opera).
Owen Gilhooly, Baritone (Opera Ireland, OTC, Royal Opera House).

Musical Director, David Wray is well known to audiences here in Thurles through his work with Phoenix Productions. For this performance, members of Phoenix Productions will join the principal cast to sing some of the great opera choruses. This is the perfect evening out for both opera buff and opera novice alike!

Date: Saturday 9th March 8.00pm. Tickets: €24 / €22 Concession.

Why not make a night of it and come early to enjoy a meal or bar bites at The Source Café from 7.00pm? Ring Matt Tel: 0504-58858 for more details. The Source Bar will be open from 7.00pm.

For bookings go to www.thesourceartscentre.ie or ring the Box Office on Tel: 0504-90204.

Thurles Musical Society To Stage Titanic The Musical

Cast of Thurles Musical Societies “Titanic The Musical,” to be staged from Tuesday March 19th to Saturday March 23rd inc.

Reporter Noel Dundon (Thurles Musical Society PRO.)

Thurles Musical Society will stage “Titanic The Musical,” in the Premier Hall, Thurles from Tuesday March 19th to Saturday March 23rd, in what is anticipated to be a spectacular piece of theatre.

A company of more than 70 strong have been preparing for the hit show since just after Christmas and have worked very hard under the watchful eye of Director Peter Kennedy and Musical Director/Chorus Mistress Mary Rose McNally. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone, the show opened on Broadway in 1997. It won five Tony Awards including the award for Best Musical.

Titanic is set on the ocean liner RMS Titanic which sank on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. The discovery of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in 1985 attracted Yeston’s interest in writing a musical about the famous disaster.

“What drew me to the project were the positive aspects of what the ship represented,” states Yeston.

Humankind’s striving after great artistic works and similar technological feats, despite the possibility of tragic failure.

The dreams of the passengers on board: 3rd Class, to immigrate to America for a better life; 2nd Class, to live a leisured lifestyle in imitation of the upper classes; 1st Class, to maintain their privileged positions forever. The collision with the iceberg dashed all of these dreams simultaneously, and the subsequent transformation of character of the passengers and crew had, it seemed to me, the potential for great emotional and musical expression on stage.

The high cost of Titanic’s set made it impossible for the show to have traditional out of town try-outs. Titanic’s previews began at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1997 with major technical troubles: ironically, during previews the model ship on-stage would not sink. These difficulties were mostly resolved by opening night, but the show received mostly negative reviews.

During the previews, the cast had feared the show would close. Nevertheless, the show became a surprise hit. Many credit at least part of the show’s success to former talk show host Rosie O’Donnell who championed the show, featuring members of the original cast on her daytime talk show and giving away tickets to members of her studio audience. The show got a further boost when it won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Musical among other awards. The release of James Cameron’s film Titanic in December 1997 helped fuel worldwide interest in the disaster.

There were seven Tipperary people on board the Titanic including a man from Thurles – Denis Corcoran who was a fire man. And, one of the Titanic survivors Katie McCarthy from Ballydrehid, just outside Cahir has a number of descendants on stage with Thurles – an amazing twist to a truly amazing story.

Among the main role players in this production, which is a Premier County premiere, are John Scott (Captain Smith), Cathal O’Donoghue (Andrew), Frank Tuohy (Ismay), Michelle O’Connell (Kate McGowan), Danielle Martin (Kate Murphey), Catherine Britton (Kate Mullins), Barry Derby (Bride), John Hayes (Barrett), Gary Dempsey (Murdoch), Geraint Fyler (Fleet), Damian Sweeney (Hartley), Pat Hayes (Etches), Donal Taylor (Edgar Beane), Maria McElgunn (Alice Beane), Noel Dundon (Charles Clark), Cathy Keane (Caroline Neville), Barry Cagney (Jim Farrell), Gerard O’Hagan (Isodor Strauss), Rosalie Butler (Ida Strauss), Sarah Keane (Mrs Astor), Breda Byrne (Charlotte Cardoza), and Leonie Wettengel (Mademoiselle Aubert).

The show brings a huge challenge to the doors of the Thurles Society with particular emphasis on the Set and Stage Design team led by award winning Manager Tommy Sweeney – the sinking of the ship is worth seeing alone and will leave audiences in amazement at the work undertaken.

The opening night of this production is a Charity Night in association with the Thurles Lions Club with the proceeds going towards the “Trabolgan Holiday Project.” All tickets on this night will cost 15 Euro with a cheese and wine reception beforehand to help set the scene.

Tickets thereafter will be €15 and €8 for children. There is a special OAP rate on Wednesday evening. And, this year we have introduced a special deal for anyone bringing a group of six adults for all performances (except Tuesday) where they will be charged just the price of five. Twelve adults will be charged the price of ten tickets and so.

Tickets can be booked at Hickey’s Pharmacy, Liberty Square, Thurles from Tuesday March 12th or over the phone at Tel – 0504 21423.

Don’t miss this chance to see a really fabulous show right here on your doorstep.

Pat Shortt’s “I Am The Band” In The Source

Ireland’s best-loved actor comedian Pat Shortt is back in the Source Theatre, Thurles, December 7th next, with his new one-man comedy show, which charts the life of one of his many character ‘Dixie Walsh,’ (Of ‘ Jumbo Breakfast Roll,’ & ‘Where Did My Money Go,’ fame) latter a solo lounge bar musician.

The show takes on the guise of a tribute night to Dixie, where all his peers and friends, (In this case you the audience,) come to celebrate his successful career.

Until now the much loved Dixie Walsh was one of many characters who appeared in Pat’s previous sell out shows. Pat’s well known quirky interpretation of rural Tipperary & other Irish characters will bring to life Dixie’s mother, his teacher and other locals, who queue up to recall their daft & dippy memories of Dixie and his music. Now Dixie comes centre stage to tell his full life story and shares his inimitable style of music with you in Pat’s new show “I Am The Band,” taking a look at life on the back roads between Ireland’s dance halls and a tribute to one of this country’s supposedly true music legends.

NOTE: Not surprisingly, due to high ticket demand, a second date, in the Source Theatre has now been added and tickets can also be obtained for Saturday December 8th.

This is one show not to be missed this Christmas.