Letterkenny Music and Drama, All Ireland Award winners, 2012, present the first amateur production of ‘Calendar Girls’ in Letterkenny.
The LMDG are one of the first Amateur Groups to obtain the rights to this enthralling show which will be staged in An Grianán Theatre on the 8th, 9th and 10th Nov. Three nights only!
The Calendar Girls by Tim Firth, is based on the true story of John Baker’s death. John Baker died in 1998 after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona and this was the inspiration for the original calendar. His wife, Angela, friend Tricia and a group of ladies from the Women’s Institute in Yorkshire, England, decided to pose in a ‘nude’ calendar and raise money for their local hospital. This calendar was an instant success and became world-wide news. They raised millions for cancer research. Calendar Girls is their story. Calendar Girls went on to become a renowned film and now, a very successful stage play.
Do not miss the ingenuity of this production. While the play is hilarious, the story is one which touches us all.
The complexity of friendships and relationships are explored in the play bringing us very tense dramatic moments of theatre alongside laugh out loud situations. Their friendships are tested under the strain of new-found fame and this weaves into the fabric of the play itself.
The first night, 8th November is in aid of the oncology unit in Letterkenny and the proceeds from this will go directly to the unit itself.
In the play we meet two best friends, Chris, played by Geraldine Galligan, a seasoned actress who brings great life to this character and Annie (John’s wife), played by Rosemarie Gildea, who returns to the stage to bring us laughs galore. Affected by the loss of Annie’s husband John, played by well known local actor, James Mc Garrigle, to leukaemia, Chris and Annie decide to bring their Women’s Institute friends together to create a calendar to raise money in memory of John.
Their friends include Ruth, played by the charismatic Ursula Molloy, no stranger to the stage in Letterkenny and more recently with the Glenswilly Players; Cora, played by Ciara Gilmour, who debuts with LMDG in this sensitive poignant role; Jessie, played by Margaret Timoney, who also debuts with LDMG; Celia and Maria played brilliantly by the very experienced actresses, Kate Doherty and Mairead Hennessy; Elaine played by Elaine Gillespie, fresh from her Best Actress All Ireland Award from The 39 Steps; Brenda, played by Margaret Hannon and completing the women’s’ ensemble, Lady Cravenshire, played by Tanya Mc Laughlin. Other male parts are played by Diarmuid O’Gallchóir the delectable ‘Rod’, ‘Liam’ by Derek O’Sullivan also making his debut performance with LMDG and the infamous photographer himself, Lawrence, played by John Ruddy, again fresh from The 39 Steps
Of course, where would any play be without the back-stage crew? Fiona Mc Daid and all her crew are now of course no strangers to the demands of a play of this calibre following on their All Ireland Awards. Niall Cranney and Paul Rooney are in the demanding areas of lighting and sound. These are just to mention a few!
This calendar was not to be one’s average collection of photos of conventional bakery nor local scenic beauty, but would be the natural nude beauty of the ladies themselves. The comedy takes us on ups and downs through the antics of the adventurous ladies from questionable tai chi on the hill tops to the actual shooting of the calendar itself in all its wonderful glory and indeed all their own wonderful glory in the calendar! Do not miss. Seats are already booking up.
The play follows the hugely successful run of the LMDG’s recent multi award winning The 39 Steps which packed theatres from here to Dublin over the last few months – collecting the All Ireland Trophy and an unprecedented 55 awards along the way. Producer/Director Pluincéad Ó Fearraigh returns to bring us a great night of laughs and tears and possibly a few raised eyebrows!
In a classic life imitating art, LMDG have also produced its own calendar for 2013, with all profits going to the Oncology Unit in Letterkenny General Hospital. Calendars will be on sale at the performances and in various shops in Letterkenny too!
The play is on in An Grianán Theatre on November 8th, 9th and 10th. This is a show not to be missed!
For tickets contact An Grianán on 07491-20777 or www.angrianan.com or just pay at the door- but as with previous performances, early booking is advised to avoid disappointment! The last production of The 39 Steps was sold out long before first night!
All the profits from the first night Thursday 8th Nov goes to The Oncology Unit, Letterkenny General Hospital.
You can learn more about the group by visiting their website at www.lmdg.org.
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