Shirley Valentine coming to Westport in support of Jack and Jill Foundation
SHIRLEY Valentine, Willy Russell’s hilarious comedy, is coming to Westport Town Hall Theatre from November 25 to 27.
This heart-warming and critically-acclaimed play tells the story of a stuck-in-a-rut housewife who takes the chance to taste freedom and adventure on a holiday in Greece.
Her children have grown and her marriage is stale. She is fed-up with her run-of-the-mill existence as a middle-aged housewife who only talks to the wall.
She has just been given a chance to go abroad for the first time in her life. Just thinking about this trip of a lifetime has caused her to re-evaluate her youth, her marriage and motherhood.
In this play, the audience joins Shirley in her kitchen for a good gossip, a good laugh and maybe a little tear in this clever, heart-warming comedy.
This amateur production, as well as being a terrific night’s entertainment, is being held as a fundraiser for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. This charity funds and delivers specialist home nursing and end-of-life care for children from birth to six years of age who have highly complex or life-limiting medical conditions.
Jack and Jill support 402 families throughout Ireland, including seven families in Mayo and eight families in Sligo. Each ticket to the show will help fund in-home nursing support with all proceeds being donated to the charity.
The title role of Shirley will be performed by local talent Colette McGinty who is no stranger to the stage. Colette’s recent ventures on stage have been in darkly comic roles having played Maureen Folan in The Beauty Queen of Leenane, by Martin McDonagh, with St. Patrick’s Drama Group, and Joan Smiley in Peter James’ The Perfect Murder with Balla Drama Group.
Colette is looking forward to embracing a lighter side of comedy in this one-woman show.
“It has been great fun getting to know Shirley over the last few months. The script is an absolute gem - funny, thought-provoking and moving.
“Every rehearsal shows another side to the character and it has been great to get to play such a bubbly, witty character,” she said.
The play is directed by Alanna Barrett. Alanna has been involved with drama her whole life but in recent years has stepped into the role of director and producer. She is a founding member of Castlebar Musical and Dramatic Society. She directed their first three musicals and has directed plays and sketch shows around Mayo and Sligo.
Directing Shirley Valentine has been a dream of hers and she is delighted that it is being realised with this production.
She said: “I love this play and this character. The script will resonate with anyone who has ever felt a little stir-crazy trapped in a humdrum life - something I think we’ve all experienced over lockdown in the last 18 months. Shirley speaks her mind and speaks truth that I think audiences will find hysterical and touching.”
Alanna also has another reason to be excited about this production. As a mother to a little girl with complex needs, she is full of praise for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation who have supported her family since 2018.
“It is wonderful to be able to run this play as a fundraiser for Jack and Jill. When my husband and I brought our little girl home from a long stay in Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Jack and Jill came into our lives and introduced us to our wonderful nurse Trish. Having a qualified nurse available to mind our beautiful daughter Nóra has made all the difference in the world to our family.”
Tickets are on sale now from Westport Town Hall Theatre box office and can be purchased on their website www.westporttheatre.com or by calling (098) 28459. Tickets cost €20 and each ticket will help buy the gift of time for families of children with complex medical needs.