New one-man show on John B comes to St John’s this week
EXCERPTS FROM PLAYS SUCH AS ‘SIVE’ AND ‘BIG MAGGIE’ TO BE PERFORMED
THE works of John B Keane will make a very welcome return to the stage in Listowel this coming Saturday night as actor and celebrity chef, Edward Hayden, performs extracts from some of his favourite pieces by the beloved Listowel playwright.
While some of you might know Edward from his weekly cooking slots on Virgin Media, what you may not have known about him is the depth of his appreciation for the written and spoken word, and the works of John B in particular, which have always held a very special place in Edward’s heart.
Not content with just getting to perform the works in John B’s hometown, Edward will also be donating all funds from the night towards Áras Mhuire Nursing Home.
On the night, Edward will be performing excerpts from: Big Maggie; The Field; Many Young Men of Twenty; The Chastitute; and Sive.
This is naming but a few as there will be many more on the night.
Edward will also recite a number of poems from ‘ The Street’, a collection of poems by Keane.
“It will be a celebration of John B Keane. I have always felt a deep connection with the works of John B Keane since I first saw Big Maggie performed by the Duiske Players, of which I am now a member, in the Abbey Hall in Graignamanagh in 1995, with Carmel Ryan in the title role and Paul Hickey directing,” said Edward, speaking about the night.
“I am so looking forward to performing this show in Listowel and trust that the audiences who will be well familiar with the text and indeed the cultural significance ” Edward continued.
Last summer, Edward played to full houses in Kilkenny’s ‘Watergate Theatre’ with this one-man show celebrating the works of Keane.
Edward is heavily involved with the Duiske Players Drama Group in his native Graignamanagh, and The New Ross Drama Workshop in New Ross.
In December 2019, he played the part of ‘Man’ in a two-hander monologue play, ‘Notes on Falling Leaves’, which won the New Ross Drama Workshop ‘first place in their section’ at the All-Ireland One Act Festival finals in West Cork.
The one-man show will take place in St
John’s Theatre this coming Saturday night, February 22 at 8pm.
Tickets for ‘An Evening with John B’ are available by contacting St John’s Theatre on (068) 22566. They are also available through the St John’s website.