Portlaoise Musical Society breaks new ground on the double with Irish premiere of new show

Portlaoise Musical Society are set to send sunshine soaring across Laois as they take to the stage at Dunamaise Arts Centre with their Irish Musical Premiere of Sunshine on Leith from November 19 to 26.

Now the award-winning group are delighted to announce that they will also premiere as the first Irish amateur musical society to perform with an Irish sign language(ISL) interpreter at one of their performances - on Monday, November 21.

Irish sign language interpreter Mary Guest will accompany the show to ensure that everyone can experience the magic of this wonderful production in all its glory. A portion of seats are exclusively reserved at this performance for those audience members who may benefit from the presence of an interpreter. Furthermore, all seats for the ISL assisted performance are priced at the reduced rate of €18 making it more accessible to a wider audience.

Mary, originally from Moneygall but living in Tullamore is a primary school teacher, and also a qualified ISL-English interpreter, having studied at Trinity College Dublin. Mary became interested in sign language after taking part in evening classes in Tullamore.

Secretary of Portlaoise Musical Society Hilary Treacy said: “We are so excited to finally get back on the stage and bring sunshine to the people of Laois in this gem of a show, and to present a more inclusive event to our local community. We received a lot of support from various vested individuals and organisations when we initially introduced the idea of having an ISL interpreted show, and we are so grateful to Mary that our hopes can become a reality.” MORE BELOW POST.

The musical society were delighted to receive letters of support from Minister for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, and from Minister Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, as well as Laois’ own Brian Stanley.

Support and encouragement was also welcomed from Laois Arts Officer Muireann Ní Chonaill; the Sign Language Interpreting Service; Reach Deaf Services and the Abbey Theatre in Dublin who regularly run performances with the assistance of an ISL interpreter.

Michelle de Forge, Director of Dunamaise Arts Centre is also glad to host the event as a test run for future events in Portlaoise that may be enhanced by ISL or other aids to assist with people’s enjoyment.

Featuring music by Scottish pop-folk band The Proclaimers, ‘Sunshine on Leith – The Musical’; who themselves sent a recent video message to wish the society well; is a funny, energetic and heartfelt piece of musical theatre about the power of home, family and love. The story follows the highs and lows of Davy and Ally, who, after coming home from serving in Afghanistan, have to re-learn how to live life in Edinburgh, together with their family and friends.

Don’t miss the timeless songs including I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), Letter from America, I’m on my Way and of course the emotive Sunshine on Leith performed by the multi-award-winning Portlaoise Musical Society that is sure to raise the roof off Dunamaise Arts Centre and have its audiences buzzing.

Sunshine on Leith, which is written by Stephen Greenhorn and created & produced by Dundee Rep Theatre, Scotland’s leading production theatre, recently enjoyed sell out success and high acclamations at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Portlaoise Musical Society, established in 1999, have won many awards most recently AIMS ‘Best Overall Show’ with Titanic - The Musical in 2019 and ‘Best Overall Show’ (Runner-up), ‘Best Visual’ and ‘Best Actor’ (Shane Kelly) with ‘Ragtime The Musical’ in 2020.

The show features an award-winning production team including Director Paul Norton, Musical Director Emer Hartnett and Choreographer Stephanie Browne and a cast and chorus of 55 people.

The main cast includes some faces well known to the Dunamaise stage as well as some new including:

• Shane Kelly
• Eoghan Fingleton
• Aishling Rohan
• Sarah Troy
• Hilary Treacy
• Andrew Docherty
• Rory Chadwick
• David Walshe
• John Lynch
• Johnny Mulhare
• John Coss
• Aishling Geoghegan
• Aoife Digan
• Tríona Talbot
• Emma Phelan
• Dawn Kavanagh
• Joan White
• Claire Carroll
• Derek McGinn
• Jamie O’Callaghan
• Laoise O’Connell
• Teresa Lynch.

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As part of the front of house display for the show, Portlaoise Musical Society's resident photographer, Terry Conroy and Sunshine on Leith’s Director Paul Norton will present a photographic exhibition of Edinburgh. It will also feature an additional photography by member Derek McGinn, who is well known in Portlaoise for his stage presence and being an avid sunset photographer.

The featured photographs, which were beautifully taken in Scotland’s capital city, are truly breath taking and show a city full of character, culture and heritage. The exhibition of photographs are on display at Dunamaise Arts Centre from Thursday 10th November and will continue for the duration of the show, and until Tuesday 29th November. The photographs are also for sale, with all proceeds going back to the society's fundraising.

Terry Conroy (Associate of the Irish Photographers Federation), is a Portlaoise based , International award winning photographer. This is Terry's seventh year to photograph the society's shows! MORE BELOW CLIP FROM 2013 HIT FILM ON HOW TO GET TICKETS.

With thanks to the support of People First Credit Union and Laois Arts Office, and AIMS, tickets are on sale now at €20/€18* (*Monday only) from Dunamaise Arts Centre Box Office, Tel: 057 8663355 or dunamaise.ie.

POLL: Do you think new sculpted Portlaoise bicycle racks will be used?

The latest steel sculpted bicycle racks in Portlaoise will soon be open for use by cyclists in Laois.

The newest additions to a string of similar racks around the county town are located at the bottom of Bridge Street, just opposite SS Peter & Paul's Parish Church. If you think they are needed vote YES if not vote NO.

The production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk .