The Plough and the Stars

Continuing our 50th Birthday celebrations, Sligo Drama Circle returned to the Hawk’s Well Theatre in April 2007 for a production of Seán O’ Casey’s The Plough and the Stars. “The Plough”, part of O’ Casey’s trilogy of Dublin plays, provoked riots when first staged. Set in the Dublin of 1916, audiences at the Abbey Theatre, were horrified at O Casey’s cynical representation of nationalist heroics. Coming just after the ninetieth anniversary of the Easter 1916 Rising, it was entirely appropriate that we should revisit this O’ Casey classic. Following her outstanding success in her debut as director of The Memory of Water in June 2006, Ursula Smullen returned as director of The Plough. The play ran at the Hawk’s Well Theatre from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th April, 2007.

Tuesday 24th April, opening night, was a Fundraising Gala Night. The Rotary Club in association with the Inner Wheel Club of Sligo hosted the night. A large crowd attended this event and helped to make the evening a great success. All proceeds of the evening will go to secure much needed specialised equipment for St. Cecilia’s Special School, Cregg House, Sligo, a school for children with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties. There was a pre-show wine and soft drinks reception on arrival at 7pm.

Directed by Ursula Smullen, the cast included Averyl Dooher, Barry Deignan, Gerry Ryan, Siobhán Dooney, Máire Hynes, Ultan Burke, Murieann Tobin, Róisín Kilcoyne, Vinnie Holland, Kevin Boyle, Michael Leyden and Joe Mehan and welcomed young actors Dermot Ryan, Elaine Burke, Adrian O’ Neill and Michael Mc Morrow to the stage in their first Drama Circle show.

Photos of the show can be viewed in the Gallery