Dundalk Musical Society to host Jack and the Beanstalk next month

It wouldn’t be the festive season without the Dundalk Musical Society and this year the popular group are staging ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ in An Táin Arts Centre at the Town Hall from January 6^th to 11^th.

The show features an amazing cast of local talent, with over 80 children and young adults taking to the stage as members of the chorus, whose singing and dancing will enchant audiences and transport them to the magical land of panto.

This year’s cast includes Helena Mullins as Jack, Niamh Craven as Jill, Patrick Browne as Lord Flatulant, Andrew Duffy as the Giant, Alan Doherty as Anto, Pierce McNee as Max, Nicky McCourt as The Dame, Paudie Breen as Deco, Deirdre Kenny as Fairy Ditzy and Craig McHugh as The Unbelievable Man.

Early booking is advised for each show, which takes place at 8pm each night.

Tickets are €12 with concessions of €10 available on Tuesday January 6^th and Wednesday January 7^th.

Matinee shows on Saturday January 10^th and Sunday January 11^th will also take place at 2.30pm, with tickets priced €10.

You can call to the An Táin Arts Centre booking office to buy them or get them online here.

MAD Youth Theatre enjoy successful trip to Prague

MAD Youth Theatre members performing in Prague

MAD Youth Theatre Dundalk recently travelled to Prague in the Czech Republic for a few fun filled days of performances, sightseeing and drama workshops as part of the Class In Action International Youth Theatre Festival 2014.

The festival promotes and encourages the use of English as a tool for international communication and it also encourages native English speakers to communicate effectively with non-native speakers.

MAD were the first Irish youth theatre to ever participate this year, alongside nine other youth drama groups from Russia, France, England and the Czech Republic.

The members also had the opportunity to stay with families from Prague Youth Theatre, which added to their Czech experience.

Director Kwasie Boyce said: “This was a opportunity for the young people to share cultures and bond over similarities, a chance to be ambassadors for their community.”

The senior members of MAD Youth Theatre are excited by this wonderful opportunity and have been working hard the past few weeks devising a short play to perform to their international peers.

Their devised play ‘Connor’ looks at the pressures young men face and issues that are often misguided as being a “man”.  Members agreed that this was a universal theme and the audience made up of their peers really related to the story.

This hard work paid off resulting in an amazing win for the first timers in this festival. They won Best Actor category for Craig McHugh and best overall play from the judges, as well as the audience members.

Organisers said that in the eight years running they have never seen such performance, great script and important message. Other audience members said they were moved and touched by the story. The young people are proud to represent Irish youth drama and their community and are delighted to be coming home so successful.

MAD Youth Theatre wants to thank all who have supported the organisation and helping them get the young people to Prague.

Since its inauguration in 2011 MAD Youth Theatre have been working consistently providing a space where young people who have an interest in drama not only learn the skills to be an actor but develop the young person as a whole artistically, socially and personally. If you want to get in touch find them on Facebook at M.A.D YOUTH THEATRE or email ytfordundalk@gmail.com or call 0860457026. The first class is free.

Participants that paved the way in Prague for more Irish Youth Drama Groups included: Lola Sara Farrell, Ogi Ugonoh, Craig McHugh, Rachael Winters, Jake Condon, Steven Jimenez and Andrew Duffy.