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Buncrana set to climb beanstalk
17.01.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
A POPULAR annual extravaganza in Inishowen’s largest
town for much of the past four decades, Buncrana
pantomime is back with its biggest ever cast.
Under the guidance of director Nicola McLaughlin and
producer William Doherty, Jack and the Beanstalk
will run for an incredible 21 nights at St Mary’s
Hall, beginning later this month.
With more than 200 people of all ages bringing the
magic to the stage, William said he hopes the show
will bring a much-needed boost to Buncrana.
“People need a lift this year more than any other
and we wanted to give something to the people of
Buncrana to take them out of the gloom of the
recession. Everyone is looking forward to the panto
and we expect it to be a great success,” he
enthused.
Having adapted this year’s traditional script for
St. Mary’s stage, William said he has been
overwhelmed by the support Buncrana Pantomime
Society has received.
“It’s a real community effort and everyone gets
involved, from the cast to the kids, to the mothers
and fathers and all those working behind the scenes.
The business community, in difficult times, have
been more than generous. People have pulled out all
the stops this year,” he said. |
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Willie Doherty and some of the cast
and crew of the upcoming Buncrana Panto Jack and the
Beanstalk. |
“We decided to go for
Jack and the Beanstalk this year because it is a
more traditional panto after last year’s original
performance, The Adventures of Lorenzo. The script
has all the popular ingredients - including the
giant, the hen and the golden egg - but it also has
a couple of interesting twists,” William added.
Producer William also had a word of praise for
parish priest Fr. John Walsh who, he said, had been
extremely generous in allowing the society to use
St. Mary’s Hall for rehearsals and performances.
William was also delighted to have the transition
year students from Scoil Mhuire involved in this
year’s mammoth production.
After retiring from the stage four years ago William
remains an integral part of the Buncrana panto
scene. He is expertly assisted backstage by Sally
McDaid, Marie McDaid, Paula Fletcher, Brid Tierney,
Cathy Kelly, Eilish O’Connor and Edel Noone among
others.
The part of Jack is played by experienced campaigner
Donal Kearney while Leanne McCarron, from Burnfoot,
is the female lead. Popular duo Eddie Murphy and
Eunan McConnell will perform the role of dames as
Jack’s aunts.
Musical director is Trevor Burnside while Vanessa
Chapman is choreographer. Children from the local
schools will sing and dance on stage as ‘rainbows,
rays and sunbeams’. Marie O’Neill is costume
director with Terry Tedstone in charge of the set
scenery.
Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk go on sale at the
box office in St. Mary’s Hall on Saturday, January
22 next with performances running from January 30 -
February 19.
Priced at €10 for stalls and €12 for the balcony,
tickets for all matinee shows are only €5. First
week concessions from Monday - Thursday, buy one,
get one free. All performances must be booked in
advance. |
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