You are invited to be part of a captivating journey and rich tapestry of Irish life when Abingdon Drama Club brings Brian Friel’s masterpiece ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ to the Unicorn Theatre from Wednesday 2 July to Saturday 5 July.
‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ is a heart-warming and poignant snapshot of home life for the five spirited Mundy sisters: Kate, Maggie, Rose, Agnes, and Chris. Set over two enchanting afternoons in August 1936, the story revolves around the annual pagan festival of Lughnasa. As the world changes, modernity, symbolized by a whimsical radio they name 'Marconi', brings the music and influences of the wider world into their quaint Ballybeg cottage.
This memory play, narrated by the adult Michael, Chris's 'love child', beautifully frames the women's struggle for survival amidst social exclusion and economic change. The return of their elder brother, Father Jack, from Uganda, and the fleeting excitement brought by Gerry, Michael's charming and rakish absentee father, add layers of complexity and charm to the narrative.
Warm, poignant, and atmospheric, Dancing at Lughnasa is a beautifully written play with elegant monologues that transcend words to create theatrical magic.
ADC’s visionary director, Colette Lardner-Browne, shares her passion for the play and her journey with it. "I first saw ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ at The Garrick Theatre, London in 1991, and I still have the programme!" she recalls with a twinkle in her eye. "The play's rich characters and lyrical language captivated me, and I am convinced it will be appreciated by an Abingdon audience. Each of the five female leads has their own strengths, worries, desires, and memories. Casting the play was a delightful challenge, thanks to the wealth of talented actors at Abingdon Drama Club. I never cease to be amazed and delighted at what emerges during auditions. I am thrilled with the cast and only sorry that I was unable to use all the available talent."
Translating the play to the unique and magical setting of the Unicorn Theatre presents its own challenges. "The set design has to accommodate indoor and outdoor scenes in a cottage kitchen and a country garden, all on the compact stage of the Unicorn Theatre," Colette notes. "But it's these very challenges that make the production so enchanting."
Growing up in Galway, a city on the west coast of Ireland, Colette has a deep connection to Irish playwrights. "I’ve directed a number of plays by Irish playwrights for Abingdon Drama Club. The stories and themes resonate with me, and I feel compelled to bring them to a wider audience. Brian Friel is one of my favourite playwrights, and Lughnasa is the second of his plays I am privileged to direct, having directed Philadelphia, Here I Come in 2002."
Performance are 7.30pm 2 to 5 July with a matinee performance at 2.30pm on the Saturday. Tickets are priced at £15, with concessions available at £12 for those aged 65+, under 19, students, ADC/ODN members, and group bookings of 10 or more. For group bookings, simply select the concession rate tickets and choose the number you require. All tickets are sold as unreserved seating. The Front of House team will do their best to seat people together, but please arrive in good time to ensure this is possible. Tickets are available from Abingdon Drama Club's website and The Bookstore, The Abingdon Precinct (15 Bury St), Abingdon.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Abingdon Drama Club's website abingdon-drama-club.com
