Classic theatre returns to Westport stage

WITH a glimmer of hope on the horizon for live entertainment returning to normality at cultural venues across the country, Westport Town Hall are delighted to welcome Galway-based theatre group The Glenamaddy Players on Saturday, January 29, with Martin McDonagh’s classic play The Cripple of Inishmaan.

McDonagh’s work is known and loved by both theatre and film audiences alike.

The Cripple of Inishmaan is set on the small Aran Islands community of Inishmaan in 1934, where the inhabitants are excited to learn of a Hollywood film crew’s arrival in neighbouring Inishmore to make a documentary about life on the islands.

'Cripple' Billy Claven, eager to escape the gossip, poverty and boredom of Inishmaan, vies for a part in the film, and to everyone’s surprise, the orphan and outcast gets his chance…. or so some believe.

The Glenamaddy Players are marking their 50th anniversary this year. With a team of talented actors and a skilled, dedicated crew, they have had huge success in recent years having qualified for the All-Ireland Three Act Confined Finals on many occasions, the most recent in 2019 with Rabbit Hole, by David Lindsay Abaire.

Director Coman Keaveny is excited to be bringing this production to Westport, after it had to be rescheduled in 2020 due to imposed lockdowns: “Our group have been working hard pulling this production together, and we look forward putting on a really good show for our Westport audience - this will be our first performance in Westport and we hope it will be the first of many!”

In line with current restrictions, the show is scheduled to commence at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 29. Doors will open from 5.30 p.m. There's limited availability on tickets on sale at https://www.westporttheatre.com/.