'The Girls in the Boat' returns to Carlow Rowing Club
(from left) Elaine Rowe, Susie Mitchell, Angela Keogh and Mary Pat Maloney
LOCAL playwright Angela Keogh is delighted that her play, , is coming back to Carlow Rowing Club for one night only as part of a six-night national tour.
Set in the fictional Lakeside Boat Club, the play centres on four women whose lives intertwine with their sport, encompassing themes of love, loss, friendship and a shared passion for rowing. The play was staged at Carlow Rowing Club twice last summer and Angela says “we are over the moon, we’re getting the chance to do it again. The masters women in Carlow and the Rowing Club were really supportive. The night in Carlow is a fundraiser for the club”.
At times sad, at times funny, Angela says it's a play anyone will relate to, although not suitable for young children. The work explores the darker side of competitive sport but ultimately Angela describes it as "a life affirming work", adding that "you can live the life of an athlete at any age, this work shows how."
Directed by John MacKenna, the play has a central cast of four. The girls in the boat are Elaine Rowe, Susie Mitchell, May Pat Maloney and Angela herself, with special guest appearances from other rowers. No stranger to writing, Angela received an agility award from the Arts Council of Ireland to help fund the writing of the play, which was then produced with the support of Carlow County Council.
Angela says: “You can live the life of an athlete at any age. I think this work shows how. I had great fun writing this play. I like to write about subjects close to my heart. I love rowing. I'm just back from France, where I saw the Irish rowers compete at the Olympics. I row with the Carlow Women’s Masters crew but the themes in this play are those very human situations and feelings we can identify with.”
is touring for six nights and will be in Carlow on Friday 30 August. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
