Leading drama group in Offaly fires on all cylinders as it prepares for 'Rabbit Hole' production next week

TULLAMORE Amateur Dramatic Society (TADS) is taking the wheel this month, leading the cultural circuit with a dynamic schedule of performances that highlight its growing influence on the local arts scene.

TADS are leading the way for theatre in Tullamore - currently on the road with "Deadman's Bells" performing on the drama festival circuit, and simultaneously preparing for the upcoming opening night of a full stage production of "Rabbit Hole" in Esker Arts on Tuesday, 18th November. All shoulders are to the wheel.

Touring the All Ireland One-Act Drama Festival Circuit this season were actors Fionnuala Corrigan, Jacinta Dillon and Laura Molloy, performing Méabh de Brún’s "Deadman's Bells", together with director Frank O’Brien and Sound/Production Mary Roche. When asked how the experience has been, Jacinta Dillon, actor, says “The hospitality and welcome at each venue was greatly appreciated.

The audience response to our work varied from place to place but overall they were responsive and positive, some just enjoying themselves more than others. Full of praise for us every night so that was great for us.

The adjudicators we found were fair and honest in their opinion and we did take on some of their suggestions as we advanced towards the end of the festival.” “We had scary moments along the way, but the upshot was the wonderful sense of achievement and accomplishment we experienced when the last line was delivered.” With one more show to go in Ballymahon on Friday 13th November, Jacinta adds “Still one result to come in but it is very unlikely that we will qualify for the finals in Tubbercurry… but we enjoyed trying”.

Despite not reaching the finals, the show has been awarded two Second Place rankings, and one Third Place ranking to date. The team have also picked up some individual awards, with Jacinta Dillon winning two Best Actress nominations at the Ballina and Mullagh shows, Fionnuala Corrigan awarded Best Actress nomination at the Kiltimagh show, and Frank O’Brien took home a Best Director nomination from the Kiltimagh show. Best of luck on the last show to all involved.

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Opening on Tuesday, November 18, David Lindsay-Abaire’s "Rabbit Hole", as directed by Mary Sherwin, is a poignant, intimate, and emotionally raw play about grief, love, and the fragile threads of healing. With the opening night only days away, the actors are refining performances for the final dress rehearsal on Monday, with the production crew busy putting final touches to a full stage production, under the guidance of the very able Production Manager, Frances Doyle.

The cast for "Rabbit Hole"includes some familiar faces to arts centre patrons, with Sinéad Handy, of The Handy Theatre Co. joining the TADS cast for the first time, together with TADS familiar faces Ivan Hanamy, Claire Lemass, Séan Doyle, and a past TADS member returning to the stage, Linda McGill Buckley. Linda returns to TADS to bridge her 9 year gap since performing in ‘Big Maggie’ withTADS in 2016. Linda says “the love of the stage and a good play never leaves you. Life can get busy, but you can always return to take it up again.”

When asked about his character, Ivan says “Howie is a challenging character to play because his behaviour is defined by supporting Becca's needs. He is the piece of glue that holds the family together while holding his grief internally. He tries to live a 'normal' life. He loves his wife and tries so hard to understand her feelings and comfort her as best possible.” The play deals with the sensitive subject of loss in a family, and TADS have been working hard to best develop the characters to portray the reality of their situation on the stage. Sinéad is playing Becca, Howie’s wife. She says “Stepping into Becca’s shoes has been emotionally demanding and challenging but the rehearsal room has also been full of laughter and shared experiences.Becca is navigating the unimaginable — the loss of a child — and is doing so with a quiet strength that both inspires and devastates. What I love about Becca is her complexity. She’s not always likable, and she’s not trying to be. She’s honest, brittle, and deeply human.”

The show is running for four nights in Esker Arts, opening on Tuesday 18th November. Tickets are on sale from www.eskerarts.ie or through the Esker Arts box office. More information about TADS can be found on www.tullamoredrama.ie

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