Bringing Mary Lavin to life - ‘In The Middle of the Fields’

Live theatre is finally back, and this July, Joan Sheehy in association with Geoff Gould of Blood in the Alley Theatre Company, will present Mary Lavin’s ‘In The Middle of The Fields’ - live.

And where else would you find all this happening but in the middle of an actual field, amid the lush grasslands of south County Limerick.

Starring Kathy Rose O’Brien, Mark O’Regan and Seamus Moran, this ground-breaking production opens on July 7, in an open-sided tent, in the shadow of the historic walls of Kilmallock. Director Joan Sheehy will be joined by a talented, award winning creative team, made up of Paul Keogan (lighting and set) and Colin Dunne (movement direction), with original music by composer Tom Lane and performed by virtuoso accordionist, Dermot Dunne.

Audiences can expect a unique atmospheric experience that harks back to the theatre fit-up tradition of the 1940s and 1950s, but with a vivid, contemporary staging.

The evocative story centres around a young widow who displays a strong, independent spirit in running her farm. An encounter one night with a neighbouring farmer becomes emotionally charged and unsettling, posing provocative questions about past passions in a shifting and surprising story that promises to leave you captivated.

“I want the audience to have an adventure as they return to live performance,” says Sheehy.

“An atmospheric and dramatic encounter in magical surroundings. And I want them to enjoy the power of a great, rural story.”

Playwright Frank McGuinness says: “This story is a joyous testimony to what survives - our love, our truth, the heart itself, breaking … beating.”

Performances will take place at the West Wall Walkway in Kilmallock (beside Ryan’s SuperValu car park) from July 7 to 11 at 8pm.

Tickets are now on sale from limetreetheatre.ie or 061-953400. For further information, contact Gillian@limetreetheatre.ie or Geoff Gould at 086-0454458.