Acclaimed play to be staged by local drama group in Offaly
Tullamore Amateur Dramatic Society (TADS) to stage Oscar Wilde favourite in Esker Arts
The Tullamore Amateur Dramatic Society (TADS) is proud to present Oscar Wilde's comedy of manners, "Lady Windermere's Fan", under the direction of Fionnuala Corrigan, from Wednesday November 11 to Saturday, November 14 in Esker Arts.
The TADS actors are hard at work in rehearsal, honing their performances to bring Oscar Wilde’s ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’ to life on stage. The production promises an evening of sharp comedy, elegant drama, and first-class entertainment for theatre fans and newcomers alike.
This choice of play reflects TADS' broad spectrum of theatrical interests, being able to move from serious drama such as Marina Carr’s ‘Portia Coughlan’ to comedy, such as the recent production of ‘Bookworms’, and classics such as John B. Keane's ‘The Year of the Hiker’.
Speaking to the Tribune, director Fionnuala Corrigan said: “We’re enjoying getting to know Oscar Wilde’s work again, having taken on The Importance of Being Earnest many years ago in Charleville Castle.”
She added that ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’ was Wilde’s first major play, written before ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, and that it offers a sharper social commentary on the London society of his time—while still showcasing his trademark quick wit and mastery of language.
This Oscar Wilde classic features lines that may feel surprisingly familiar, even to audience members encountering the play for the first time. Lord Darlington, played by TADS newcomer Daniel Shanley, observes that “we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars,” while Mr Dumby, played by Frank O’Brien, remarks that “experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.”
Fionnuala adds: “These lines are famous because they resonate with us. They cause us to think, or hope, or reflect on ourselves and our own lives.”
The play is the first of Wilde’s celebrated quartet of society comedies, written between 1892 and 1895. It combines razor-sharp wit with a pointed critique of Victorian hypocrisy, class secrets, and the moral codes of upper-class society.
Asked how the play resonates with her and the wider production, Fionnuala said: “I think it’s a fabulous play, and I hope we can do it—and him—justice. We have a wonderful cast and backstage team giving Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan our very best, all hoping to honour this remarkable Irish writer.
“Following the success of these plays, Wilde was shunned by the very same society that had once applauded him. We’d love Tullamore audiences to come along and give him the applause and appreciation that we, as we get to know his work even more, believe he truly deserves.”
Tickets for the November production are on sale in Esker Arts or online at eskerarts.ie. For more information on TADS, visit tullamoredrama.ie and watch their socials for more behind the scenes content.