We’re back! Here's what Mullingar Arts Centre have for you this spring
It’s beautiful to see what we have in the theatre in the next four months. After 22 months of lockdown, what’s the thing we most need? We need comedy in our lives and that is one of the things our programme is full of, and we’re fortunate the way it’s worked out.”
That’s how Sean Lynch, director of Mullingar Arts Centre, expresses his sentiments as the team prepare for a full reopening this week.
“We have Jason Byrne, David O’Doherty, Conal Gallen, Neil Delamere – four of the top stand-up comics in the country – all here in the next six weeks, which is phenomenal from our point of view.
“Keeping on the funny theme, we have plays like the Three Hail Marys, Menopause the Musical, and we’re very pleased that Friends the Musical is coming as well.
“That’s all to lift our hearts and give us a bit of light relief after everything.
“It worked out well that we can cater for every taste in comedy."
“Musically we are well prepared too – for the classical mind, we have the Spero Quartet on February 10, the Carducci Quartet on March 10, and a dear friend of ours who has been here several times, Young-Choon Park, who is a phenomenal pianist. She was to be here before Christmas, but with the Covid regulations, it didn’t go ahead.
“On the funny side of things we also have Shirley Valentine, which is a co-production between us and Dublin City Theatre, here on the April 16. It was here as one of our first productions back, in October, and we had a great house at it. Shirley Valentine is a great, funny piece – there’s a bit of male bashing in it, but you get used to that!
“Our drama programme has The Murder of Michael Collins, Strolling Through Ulysses, Most Peculiar Dreams, but the highlight would have to be the Nomad production of Tarry Flynn, here on March 29 and 30. For theatre-goers, that’s one not to be missed, I have to say.
“On the music side, we have the Fureys, a great singer, CallyAnna, and later on, Emmet Cahill is coming back to us, and a week later we have tenors, the Celtic Brothers, and then something completely different, the Pink Floyd Experience, and I suggest you look at the video for that one.
“Then one of the biggest things happening in the town is the Westmeath Bachelor Festival, and the final is here on the Sunday night of the May bank holiday weekend, and it promises to be a great weekend. So, all told, we’re back with a vengeance!”
One of the things Sean hadn’t mentioned by that point in his overview of the spring programme at Mullingar Arts Centre is Mullingar Voices. “It’s a project in which Maedhbh Hughes has taken Mullingar songs, by musicians from the town, and worked with primary schools and a youth choir to present them with a 10-piece band – different versions of the songs. Some of them I’ve heard, and it promises to be a great night.” (See panel below.)
Another major event is Jesus Christ Superstar, this year’s TY project with Loreto College and Coláiste Mhuire, on April 6-9. “That is probably my favourite musical and it’s nice to have the young generation introduced to my generation’s rock ‘n’ roll. The young people didn’t know much about it coming it, but they have embraced it. The rehearsals are going well. It’s seldom we get such a talented bunch in the one class, and it’s going to be a good production.
“The boys are also doing a production of the Borstal Boy, plus a devised piece for the TY festival on February 15 and a further devised piece of drama, so we’ve been busy with that.”
Mullingar Arts Centre does a huge amount of work with young people, and The School Musicals, which is sponsored by the Mullingar Panto Group, are doing Peter Pan this year. The first one is Milltownpass on February 2 and the last one is St Tola’s on March 31, and there are two or three schools every week.
The Rural Stage Schools are back too; some of the children performed in the panto last Christmas – and the 2022 panto is Beauty and the Beast, which is scheduled to run on December 8-30.
Tarry Flynn: a love letter to life in rural Ireland
Set in 1930s Cavan, Tarry Flynn tells the hilarious story of the farmer, poet and lover-from-afar, and his quest for big fields, young women and the meaning of life. Tarry’s adventures uncover the beauty in every aspect of nature and farm life, while he seeks to keep up his desperate campaign to woo the local girls. Or at least have a roll in the hay!
With a large-scale cast, this Nomad Theatre Network production of Patrick Kavanagh’s seminal work, adapted for stage by Conall Morrison, is given dynamic new life under the direction of award-winning Aaron Monaghan and Livin’ Dred Theatre Company, and promises to be one of the theatrical events of the year.
It’s a love letter to life in rural Ireland.
Mullingar Voices
Arranged by Maedhbh Hughes, Mullingar Voices is a selection of songs that have been written by local musicians, now transformed into a choral celebration. With 11 Westmeath schools and well-known local musicians performing, Mullingar Voices will showcase the incredible music and talent that the town has to offer.
Featuring hits from Joe Dolan (Goodbye Venice), The Academic (Bear Claws, Different), The Blizzards (First Girl To Leave Town), as well as the first choral arrangements of Niall Horan’s songs (Our Song, This Town), Mullingar Voices is an exciting night of unique music not to be missed!
Maedhbh has been playing and teaching music in Mullingar and beyond for many years. During her experience as a secondary school teacher and as a teacher with Music Generation Offaly Westmeath,
She has encouraged many students to pick up an instrument and perform.
As a musician, she has been part of numerous local music acts.
Composing and arranging have always been of huge interest to Maedhbh. She wrote her first mini musical in English for the students of St Colman’s NS, ‘Happily Ever After’ and is delighted to include one of its songs, ‘Happily Ever After’ in the Mullingar Voices programme.
Maedhbh said: “Creating Mullingar Voices has allowed me to highlight the musicality of this town. It’s been a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable experience, being able to include so many local students and musicians in a concert that is made up of music created right here in the midlands.
“The schools have been incredible right from the beginning, taking pride in their performance and a sense of ownership of their songs. Mullingar Voices has grown into something so special; it has allowed children and professional musicians to participate in a unique show that connects them to the music that was written in their own town.
“Principals and teachers have been so supportive and are just delighted to hear music around their schools again.”