GIVEN the flurry of footfall to Lunchtime Theatre at Savoy Hotel on the final Thursday and Friday of each month, it’s hard to credit that this day-time play-time concept was launched only in April 2012. In a cutting year that saw tail to two excellent professional venues, CentreSPACE on St Alphonsus Street and Belltable on O’Connell Street, and with Loft Venue losing Bottom Dog Theatre’s residency, Lunchtime Theatre at Savoy is remarkable.At its core are three producers who wear a mulitiplicity of hats – Limerick Local Heroes, Sídhe theatre company, Orchard Theatre Company and much to do with innovative performance festivals.
Bringing individual disciplines to the Savoy forum are Meave McGrath, Colm O’Briain who pioneered theatre in Limerick’s Bewley’s and Pius McGrath.
Their collective nous in bringing in professional shows from other parts, culling the best and most portable in city festivals from Edinburgh to Dublin, shows a clear ability to read their audience. And their showtime criteria are tough – 60mins or less, few actors or one, manageable sets and an ability to work in what is a plain length of room.
Lunchtime Theatre producers have other tangible assets in their favour: the will to engage a long time in advance with media and audience; their oustanding ‘meet and greet’ policy on the day and food, gloriously simple and welcome food laid on by Savoy Hotel. For a tenner, there is no better way to conduct an hour in this town.
On to the first show of 2013 which was, fittingly, their first show ever. Actress Frances Healy returns as the minx in her solo play, ‘The Candidate’, the candidate invoked being a teachta dála whom she ‘encounters’ on a holiday overseas.
Healy is back by popular demand. Go, seek some light in this damp January and chortle with the rest of us at 1pm of on Thursday January 31 and Friday February 1. Or opt for the Tea Time Show on Thursday 31 only, doors 5.50pm; show 6.05pm when wine/ beverage and nibbles are the plate.
Twitter @lunchteathre and book on lunchtimetheatre.gmail.com
