Listowel crowds enjoy ‘Big Maggie’ as drama group celebrates 80 years

LISTOWEL Drama Group marked 80 years in existence in style this past week as they entertained a packed theatre of audiences with their production of of John B Keane’s ‘Big Maggie’ night after night in the beautiful venue that is St John’s Theatre.

It had been a long few weeks and months of rehearsals for the group but all this hard work well and and truly paid off for both the cast and crew they received rapturous applause at the end of each showing thus continuing the group’s long and well-earned history of success.

Indeed such was the demand for tickets for the show, the group were forced to put on an extra additional show.

One man who has been there and done it all with the group is Owen McMahon, whose father Bryan first set up the group way back in 1944. Owen spoke to The Kerryman about the group and why even now after 50 years of being a member, he can’t see himself quitting anytime soon.

“To keep anything going for 80 years is an effort and you know, people come and go, but in that time, there have been many, many landmarks and many beautiful and amazing people that I’ve met. It [acting is a bug]. I’m still working here in my mid-seventies as a solicitor and I go out to a rehearsal at 8pm at night and I’m thinking ‘why did I leave myself in for this?’ but then the minute we start rehearsals, you get a whole new burst of energy and it keeps you going all evening,” he said.

“Why do we do it? It’s hard to give a definite answer. It’s an opportunity to become someone else or to become another person but there’s also the community effort aspect to it. It’s a great way of making friends and it’s a great way of integrating into the community,” he continued.

The cast for the show was as follows:

- Owen McMahon as Mr Bryne - Frank McNerney as the Old Man

- Máire O’Connor as the Old

Woman

- Tina Enright O’Connell as Kate Polpin

- Helen Lane McPhilips as Ger Polpin

- Tom Collins as Mick Polpin - Kevin Barry (Director) as Teddy Heelin - Pa Sheahan as Maurice Polpin - Cora O’Brien as Mary Madden

- Liz Horgan as Mrs Madden - Madeline O’Sullivan as Mrs Madden

- Imelda Dowling Garvey as Big Maggie