Award winning play to be staged by leading Offaly drama group

TULLAMORE Amateur Dramatic Society (TADS) cast, crew and members are counting down the days to the opening of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole opening in Esker Arts on Tuesday, November 18, and running to Friday, November 21.

Actors, director, and production crew have been putting finishing touches for this play, whose writing shines through its authenticity. The play that deals with the delicate process of grief and loss in a family. The play is a deep, compassionate mirror reflecting the fractures that loss creates and the power of love, remembrance and human vulnerability.

Playing the character Izzy, Claire Lemass says ‘Playing Izzy has been really rewarding, as her chaotic, 'black sheep' nature brings much-needed contrast and levity to the intense grief at the heart of the play.’ Alongside Claire on stage will be the well known Ivan Hanamy, who is no stranger to the TADS stage, Sinead Handy - a familiar face to the stage in Offaly, but a first with TADS, Linda McGill - a long time member taking a welcome return since she performed in John B. Keane’s ‘Big Maggie and Seán Doyle, who you will remember from the 2024 production of ‘The Incarnation of the Prodigal Son’.

TADS are one of the leading drama groups in the midlands, with many genres of plays running through their theatre history, including Conor McPherson’s ‘The Weir’, John Millington Synge’s ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ TO Shakespeare’S ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ and a recent production ‘The Incarnation of the Prodigal Son’, by Patrick Fogarty. A full archive of the history of TADS plays has been carefully maintained by Michael Dunne - for a glance back through TADS past productions www.tullamoredrama.ie

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Simultaneously, TADS have a group on the One Act Drama Festival circuit performing ‘Dead Man’s Bells’, written by Máebh de Brún, across the country at 5 different venues from the Moat Club in Naas to the Kiltimagh stage in County Mayo. On the road with this production are actors Fionnuala Corrigan, Laura Molloy and Jacinta Dillon, director Frank O’Brien, and sound person, Mary Roche. The One-Act Festival Committee comprises 6 members of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland and 6 members of the Drama League of Ireland (DLI). The TADS members wish them every success on the circuit.

TADS are always open for new members, and welcome enquiries through their website www.tullamoredrama.ie

Tickets for Rabbit Hole are currently available on www.eskerarts.ie or through the Booking Desk in Esker Arts.

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