Drama feast of Laois plays on the menu in Mountmellick

A night of innovative drama is in store when the Mountmellick Arts Collective present a packed night of theatre this weekend.

The collective launched two years ago, presenting six ten-minute plays at the 2024 Mountmellick Cultural and Arts Festival.

Now, with support from a €4,000 grant from the Creative Ireland fund, the collective will stage 12 plays by writers from across Laois on a night of theatre they've dubbed 'Page to Stage'.

Collette Wrafter, producer on the night, outlined what the audience can look forward to on Friday, March 20, after the curtain goes up at 8 pm.

“We have young writers, first-time writers and a very brilliant young director, Ellen Buckley,” she said.

The plays, writers and actors on the night are as follows:

• Branddubh, writer Pauline Dunne, actors Isabelle Harriet, Reuben Cummins.
• Ash Wednesday, writer Johnny Renko, actors - Adam McAndrew, Conor Dowd, Gail Fitzpatrick.
• Steel on Steel, written and performed by Siobhan Hoy.
• Snowdrops (staged reading), writer Arthur Broomfield, actors Grace Milne, Tommy Looney, Conor Dowd.
• When the colours fade away, writer Siobhan Parkinson, actor Isabelle Harriet.
• First to Crack, writer Frances Harney, actors Francis Harney drama students.
• Red Tape, writer Amanda Kelly, actors Mary Pat Moloney.
• Family Hierarchy, writer Nul Moore, actors Jimmy Wrafter, Reme Quill.
• Decisions, writer Sheelagh Coye, actor Sheelagh Coyle
• Rex Machina, writer Colette Wrafter, actors Don Payne, Noelle Addai, Adam McAndrew, Hazel Restrick.
• Wastelands, writer Ciara Julia Ryan, actors Noelle Addai, Reme Quill, Karl Mulligan.
• Dance Bubblelock, United Grooves School of Dance.

Ms Wrafter sees the event as part of establishing the Mountmellick Community Arts Centre as a writing theatre where they can build an audience over time.

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“The seating capacity of the venue is the engine that determines the success of the project. New plays are a risk because of financing. Everything is about how much it costs. Production costs are high, hence our minimalistic approach here,” she said.

Ms Wrafter thanked Creative Ireland Laois for “generously” part-financing the project. She also thanked the public for supporting the project.

The collective aims to compensate the artists involved.

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Doors open at 7 pm, and tickets, which have been selling fast, are €10. Refreshments are available on the night.

The producer urges people to come along and enjoy a great night of local drama while supporting new creativity in Laois.

“If theatre is to survive and thrive, new audiences need to be flooding into our foyers. And new audiences want new stories. We present our new stories,” said Ms Wrafter.

The next iteration is planned for the autumn.