MOYROSS is going to be bypassed by international theatre companies prepared to play only to our regeneration communities because there is no venue suitable.
While Southill Area Centre is secure in September and October performances, tickets priced at just 5euro each, Moyross will lose out, according to tour promoter Richard Ryan.
Despite the confirmation of a new sponsor in Limerick Strand Hotel, the city’s northside remains disenfranchised from this opportunity to the bring world class theatre to its door.
“I very much want to bring top class theatre to these Limerick parts. Happy Days by Argentina’s La Compania is coming to Southill on Friday September 4 and could still book for Moyross on Saturday 5,” Ryan told Arts page. “There’s a brilliant new show, Playing Burton, with Welsh actor Josh Reynolds sensational in the role of Richard Burton, now booked for Wednesday October 7 in Southill. But I can still offer it on Saturday October 9 to Moyross”.
La Compania won the Theatre of the World award with its first production of Happy Days and its arrival is facilitated by Limerick Strand Hotel.
“We are delighted to be part of this pioneering initiative and host La Compania, all the way from Buenos Aires, in Limerick Strand Hotel,” says Maria O’Gorman Skelly, director of sales and marketing. “The hotel has taken a supportive role in enabling Southill and hopefully, Moyross, access this show”.
Other productions confirmed include Paris’ Dear Conjunction company’s entertaining play on the life of Oscar Wilde, More Lives Than One, on Saturday October 24. Shirley Valentine will hit Limerick next year, having launched at Wexford Opera Festival and the London based Godot Theatre Company will platform another play, Endgame, in Spring
It’s déja-vu for Moyross arts initiatives tailing into a vacuum. 14 months ago Moyross Community Variety Show packed 1000 locals into UCH, five miles and another world away. Jude Meaney of Moyross Development Company and the variety show committee wrote later in the local newsletter Moywrites:
“It was comprehensively proven on the night that so many people of all ages in Moyross are unbelievably talented on stage. I personally will be very disappointed if the powers that be in our wonderful Parish do not set up dancing, singing and acting academies in the very near future. With all the plans for the future of Moyross, I appeal to Brendan Kenny to consider building us our very own Concert Hall here in our Parish”.
Now that Buenos Aires, Paris and London are determined to wedge their talent in Moyross, what is possible?
Class act: Hear Winnie’s magnificent soliloquy by Viviana Lombardi.
