Roscommon Arts Centre and Roscommon Drama Group spent the summer months working on a project called 'Playing On The Radio' which brought members of the drama group together with well-known Roscommon actor, Enda Oates.
The group worked with IFTA winning actor Enda, who plays Pete Ferguson in RTE’s Fair City, both virtually and in person at Roscommon Arts Centre on two new productions - J.M. Synge’s 'The Tinker’s Wedding' and Lady Gregory’s 'Spreading the News' which will now be performed live as 'staged readings' at the Arts Centre this October 2–5, before being broadcast on radio later his year.
'The Tinker’s Wedding' tells the story of Sarah Casey, a young tinker woman, the beauty of Ballinacree, who makes a bid for respectability by marrying with Michael Byrne, father of her children and companion on the roads for many years. She attempts to inveigle the local Priest to marry them but things don’t quiet go to plan. Tom Holian, Con Connolly, Mary Cox and Marie Conroy star in this performance.
'Spreading the News' is a short one-act comic play by Lady Gregory which she wrote for the opening night of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, 27 Dec. 1904. This one-act comedy of rumour and misinterpretation is set in a small town in rural Ireland where gossip is prevalent and stars Tom Holian, Dermot Cox, Con Connolly, Mary Cox, Kevin Woods, Jim Conlon, Steve Gregory, Marie Conroy, Margaret Madden, Majella Flanagan, Aidan Flanagan and Leo Walsh.
Enda Oates’s theatre, film and television career spans over twenty years. From his role of Reverend George Black in Glenroe to appearances in films like Veronica Guerin, The Secret Scripture, and stage roles in Juno And The Paycock in The Gate Theatre and Big Maggie at The Abbey, Enda is no stranger to audiences and Roscommon Arts Centre is delighted to work with Enda on this project.
Playing on The Radio is a Creative Ireland Project in association with Roscommon Drama Group.
Staged Readings will take place from Saturday, October 2 to Tuesday, October 5, nightly at 8pm. Tickets are €15 and are on sale now from the arts centre on 0906625824/roscommonartscentre.ie
Capacity is limited so early booking is advised.
