Hard work of Rathanna kids pays off at theatre nights

A CHILDREN’S drama group based at Rathanna community hall brought two nights of theatre to the area this month, with full houses on both evenings.

Pupils from the Blackstairs Children’s Theatre staged three productions on 7-8 May, showcasing the work of children aged 6-13 years, who have been honing their performance skills since last September.

The group is divided into three age classes, each of which presented its own production. The youngest performers, aged six and seven, took on an adaptation of Cinderella. The middle group, aged eight to ten, staged Camping with the Scoutmaster, while the oldest pupils, aged 11-13, performed Talent.

All three productions were written and directed by Darren Donohue, an award-winning Irish playwright and poet, who tutored the group every Monday from September to May.

The Cinderella cast featured Mia Kelly and Isla Breen sharing the title role, with Doireann Scallan as the Fairy Godmother and Breanna Campion as the director. The Mice were played by Anna Bolger, Evie Kennedy and Lily Seren, the Pigeons by Evie Delaney, Caoimhe Smithers and Cara Curtin and the Pumpkins by Mary Ann Grennan, Sadhbh Dunne, Harper Holmes Nolan and Maddison Jordan.

Camping with the Scoutmaster featured Grace Brennan as Scout Master and Molly Delaney as Claire, with the Scouts played by Emma Doyle, Kate Nolan, Sadbh Clerkin, Olivia Kealy, Isabella O’Shea, Saoirse Smithers, Ailbhe Kennedy, Lily Curtin and Emilia O'Toole.

The cast of Talent included Kara Rose Whitford as Lisa, Ellen Murphy as the Teacher/Judge, Ruby Hynes as Claire, Leah Smithers as Maeve and Amelia Kavanagh as the Mother. The sisters were played by Roisin Byrne, Aoife Cummins and Zara Harris, with Caoimhe Clerkin as Jill, Teegan O’Shaughnessy as Sarah and Sarah Griffin Roslan as a student.

The performances were warmly received, reflecting the hard work and creativity of the pupils and their tutor throughout the season