Claremorris drama group to bring 'classic' show to the stage this week

Claremorris drama group, Upstage Players, will bring John B. Keane’s classic, The Year of The Hiker, to Claremorris Town Hall Theatre on Good Friday night, April 3rd. 

Following their sell-out show at the South Mayo venue during this year’s local Drama Festival, the group is back by popular demand, promising a wonderful evening of entertainment. The show begins at 8pm on Friday night (doors open at 7pm) and admission is €15. Tickets can be purchased online at www.townhall.ie or by calling the Box Office on 094 931 0999.

Upstage Players recently completed its Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI) Festival Circuit with the lively John B. Keane play, sweeping the boards at Claremorris Drama Festival, as well as picking up a host of other awards in festivals across the country. At the weekend, as the circuit came to a close, the group secured its place in the All-Ireland Confined Finals. They will travel to Carrickmore in Co Tyrone to compete in the prestigious contest on Thursday, April 9th.

Set against the backdrop of 1960s Ireland, The Year of The Hiker follows the dramatic return of Hiker Lacey, a man who walked out on his young family 20 years earlier, to wander the roads. Old and ragged, he returns unknowingly on the day of his daughter's wedding. Is Hiker Lacey looking to be received with open arms and resume the role of family patriarch, or has the family moved on? And what was the reason he left in the first place?

Established in 2024, Upstage Players is based in Claremorris, and attracts members from across the region. While relatively new to the circuit, the group’s actors and crew are well known in drama circles all over the west and beyond.

Dunmore’s Andrea Silke is directing The Year of The Hiker, with Mary Esler from Claremorris as producer and Marie Murphy as stage manager. Irishtown’s Billy Freeley is on lighting, with Lisa Dowd-Hynes from Milltown on sound. Dunmore’s Niall O’Connor looked after set construction.

On the cast, it’s all Claremorris women – Una Monahan as Freda, Aishling Costello as Mary Lacey, and Karen Hahessy as Mary Lacey. Donegal native and Kiltimagh resident Jourdain Cunningham plays Simey, Balla’s Alan Heneghan plays Joe Lacey, Tuam’s Stephen Leo takes on the role of Willie Dolly, and the Hiker himself is played by Mayo native and Milltown resident Ollie Barrett.

Good Friday night’s show in Claremorris is certain to be well attended and booking is advisable. There will be a raffle on the night. The group will also stage one last show in Gort Town Hall on Tuesday, April 7th, before they set off for their All-Ireland Final performance.