New Tallaght Theatre opens  doors with first show in six years
The new Tallaght Theatre

New Tallaght Theatre opens doors with first show in six years

THE performers from the Tallaght Theatre Group have been holding lively rehearsals this week for their performance of Brian Friel’s ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’, which will debut at the grand opening of their new theatre on Wednesday, March 30.

The 30-strong amateur dramatics group, which has been active in the locality for more than 40 years, saw the demolition of their former theatre in 2018 to make way for the Temple Woods residential development at the site of the Cuckoo’s Nest in Kilnamanagh.

A new Tallaght Theatre has since been developed where the former carpark for the original theatre was located. The opening of the theatre next week will mark the first performance by the group in six years.

Breda Sweeney is the director of the group’s performance of ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’ and is well known in the area as a former history and English teacher in Old Bawn Community School.

Ms Sweeney told The Echo: “The grand opening will be our first performance in the new theatre next Wednesday, March 30.

“We’re opening with what we do best – performing.”

The appeal behind staging a performance of ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’ is because it has a cast of 11 and could appeal to younger people in the area, as it’s an option on this year’s Leaving Certificate syllabus, according to Ms Sweeney.

Jimmy Frawley and Ken Golding reheasing for the show

The performance is a welcome return for the dedicated group of drama enthusiasts, who are looking forward to showing the community their new venue.

“It’s been about five or six years since we had a production on because the new theatre was being built, and then Covid happened,” explained Ms Sweeney.

“The new theatre is just amazing. We’re so lucky, because we know very few theatre groups have the luxury of having their own theatre space. But the move has been seamless.”

Demand for the return of the Tallaght Theatre Group has been high, according to Ms Sweeney, who said the group has received calls from eager members of the community asking when the group will once again tread the boards.

Performances of ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’, will be held in Tallaght Theatre on the Greenhills Road at 8pm on March 30 and 31, and at the same time from April 1 to April 8, with an admission charge of €12.

For further information, visit the Tallaght Theatre Group Facebook page or call 086 811 9688 to book tickets in advance.

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