Sounds like a ‘Likely Story’ The Voice Within coming to the Civic
By Taylor Gleeson
A young man successfully balancing his showband’s new-found success and a love triangle without drama ensuing? Sounds like a ‘Likely Story.’
A Likely Story Productions’ original play, The Voice Within: A Showband Story is coming to the Civic Theatre on Wednesday, July 3 to Friday, July 5.
Lead actor Sean MacMahon and the cast
Carol Gleeson and Helen Spring are the founders of A Likely Story Productions. They are childhood friends who come from Naas in County Kildare and had a dream to create their own play.
Carol said: “over two years ago we decided to fulfil a long-held ambition of ours which was to write our own original play with music and to see it through to production. And so was born ‘The Voice Within – A Showband Story’ which came to full fruition when it took to the stage in October, 2018.
“After a year of intense research, interviews with people involved in the Irish music industry of the 50’s & 60’s and conversations with men and women who attended the dancehalls religiously, our play was set into motion.”
A Likely Story Productions is based in Naas, County Kildare and was founded in 2016. With a set construction team, a technical team, 14 actors, seven dancers and six musicians, the production of The Voice Within was a huge task.
Helen Spring and Carol Gleeson, writers of The Voice Within
The production has had two previous sold-out shows, in The Moat Theatre in Naas and Visual in Carlow. Both performances received a positive response from audiences. Carol said: “The play is hugely nostalgic and strikes a chord with many of our audience members – particularly those who have had the joy of actually living through the magic of the showband years.”
The audience should expect to have many different emotions, “this play also delves into the many societal grievances of 1960’s Ireland which in turn only serves to accentuate the stark changes this country has witnessed in the last 50 years. There’s moments of laughter and of sadness but most of all it’s a celebration of a time somewhat forgotten,” concluded Carol.
For tickets to The Voice Within: A Showband Story, go to the Civic’s website or to the box office. Tickets cost €23/21.
