Beezneez Theatre Company hit a significant landmark in 2016, when they celebrate 20 years of national touring, during which time they have become one of the most popular touring companies in Ireland.
The mark the occasion, Beezneez is responding to constant requests by presenting a revival of John McDwyer’s first play, “Lovely Leitrim” and are delighted to be visiting the Hawks Well Theatre with this production. It is fair to say that the first production of “Lovely Leitrim” put Beezneez on the map as a touring company and introduced McDwyer as a playwright. “Lovely Leitrim” has been followed by seven successful stage plays from his pen, including the other two parts of The Leitrim Trilogy, Callaghan’s Place and Unforgiven.
Beezneez toured “Lovely Leitrim”, three times to full houses and widespread acclaim and the revival has been greeted just as rapturously. John McDwyer, who directs his own work, describes the rehearsal process as a ‘back to the future’ experience.
“With so many of the original cast available and keen to be involved again, it has been a surreal experience in the rehearsal room but we have all been anxious to take a completely new view of the work and with the themes of the play, unfortunately, as relevant again as they were twenty years ago, we know that our audiences will relate to the play.”
Lovely Leitrim tells the story of the Gallagher family who farm on a Leitrim hillside. Armed with the certainty of motherhood, Mary Gallagher is convinced she knows what is best for her family in the event of her death.
Her insistence on being granted her dying wish ultimately fragments her family and results in a cataclysmic evening in a London pub where her eldest son finally makes peace with himself and with the world. The unbridled wit of the dialogue sugars the sadness of a passing way of life.
Well known Co. Sligo actors Maurice Kehoe, Peter Davey and Michael Roper are among the returning actors in this production and Cliffoney’s Anthony Brennan, Louise Maloney from Ballisodare and Kieran Brennan from Tubbercurry make their Beezneez acting debuts.
“Lovely Leitrim” plays in Hawks Well Theatre on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7, at 8pm. Beezneez are ever popular visitors to Sligo and patrons will be aware that early booking is always advisable for a Beezneez show. Book online at www.hawkswell.com or through the theatre box office on 071-9161518.
Beezneez reprise 'Lovely Leitrim' to mark 20 years,
