Wexford Drama Group unveils new cast

HOT on the heels of their sold-out run of Philadelphia Here I Come, Wexford Drama Group have announced the cast of their next two productions.

This October, the group will stage The Importance of Bring Earnest by Oscar Wilde in Wexford Arts Centre as one of the main events in this year’s Fringe Festival. George Percival and Stephen Byrne have been picked to play the lead roles of Jack and Algernon respectively. Meanwhile, Sarah O’Connor will grace the stage as Gwendolen and Aoife Beaumont Howell is set to play Cecily. Richard Connelly and Jennifer Boyd will take on the roles of Dr Chasuble and Miss Prism, while Michael Murphy will finish off the cast in the double role of Lane and Merriman. The upcoming production will be directed by Carol Long.

Wexford Drama Group are already looking ahead to 2017, when they will hit the spotlight again for their February production of Portia Coughlan by Marinna Carr. This will serve as the group’s entry on the Amateur Drama Circuit for 2017. The title role of Portia will be played by Shonagh Lyons, with her husband Raphael played by Thomas O’Leary. Her mother and father will be played by Eugene Mc Cloughlin and Louise Wickham Dillon while her Granny, Blaize will be brought to life by Hilda Conway. Other cast members include Catherine Biddy Walsh and Donal O’Brien as a glimpse of comic relief in the roles of Maggie May and Senchil. The remaining roles in the play are made up by Janette Sidney Kelly as Stacia, Alan Fitzhenry as Damus, John Crosbie as Fintan and Ronan Berry as Gabriel. The production will be directed by Paul Walsh. It will be staged in Wexford Arts Centre in February before it tours the country with the goal of reaching the All-Ireland Finals in Athlone in May of next year.