The Corn Mill Theatre Group present 'Fiddler on the Roof' Directed by Killian McGuinness
PERCHIK (Bernard McCartin) & TEVYE (Seamus O’Rourke)

The Corn Mill Theatre Group present 'Fiddler on the Roof' Directed by Killian McGuinness
Caroline Bradley, Jacqui Rooney, Andrea Donohoe & Rita Gorby

Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November 2009

The 6th Annual One Act Drama Festival will be held in the Corn Mill Theatre on Friday 13th November, Saturday 14th November commencing at 8:00pm and on Sunday 15th November commencing at 3:00pm. This year there will be two plays on stage written by two local playwrights 'Wagging Finger' written by Seamus O'Rourke and will be performed by the Corn Mill Theatre Group. 'Faded Footsteps' written by Maura Williamson and will be performed by The Breffni Players, Carrick-on-Shannon. Admission is €10.00 or €20.00 for the weekend. Booking on (049) 4339612.

Corn Mill Theatre Group present 'Wagging Finger' by Seamus O'Rourke
Charles McGuinness as Ragan Hillard & Tommy Sharkey as Nathan Hollow Feller in Wagging Finger

Beezneez hit the Corn Mill Theatre with riotous comedy!

Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th August 2009 at 8.30pm

The much loved Beezneez Theatre Company finally arrive in the Corn Mill Theatre, Carrigallen with their rip roaring comedy 'A Wake in the West' play on Wednesday and Thursday, August 5 and 6 at 8.30pm.

A Wake in the West comes to Carrigallen on the back of sold out performances and standing ovations in Cavan, Carrick-on-Shannon and Roscommon. Indeed. such has been the reaction to the play in Carrick-on-Shannon that the company have had to add another week of performances there at the end of the current tour. A Wake in the West is a charming old Irish play which Beeznees artistic director John McDwyer describes as probably the funniest Irish play he has ever read.

Written in the 70s, it lay forgotten until revived a few years ago and has since become a hit all over Ireland. Set during the wake of Tom Healy who has drank himself to the grave and now wishes his grave to be a watery one by requesting cremation and the scattering of his ashes in the sea, the comedy begins when a neighbour decides that Tom is not entitled to take it all with him. It is a comedy of physical and verbal theatre and given Beezneez production values, this play will both amuse and delight. Beezneez accept no responsibility for anyone who dies laughing at this production! If experience is anything to go by, performances will sell out rapidly and early booking is essential to ensure a seat. The box office number is (049) 4339612.

Unique McGahern Drama in Aughawillan

On Thursday last an audience of up 100 were treated to a unique experience in Aughawillan. Three specially written pieces adapted from John McGahern's work by leading writer Brian Leyden were interpreted by the Corn Mill Theatre Company from Carrigallen. The performances were brought to life outdoors in places which featured in the Leitrim author's writing.

On a rare fine July evening three vignettes were performed. The first - a scene from The Barracks - took place outside the community hall in Aughawillan. Here a home scene depicted the young McGahern and his sisters, as their father is greeted by his wife as he returns from work. The audience and players then walked to the old national school, to a performance of a scene from the short story 'High Ground' - complete with an alcoholic schoolmaster, council workers, a vintage car.

As the audience walked up to the Church in Aughawillan for the final piece, we were reminded of the numerous descriptions of such walks in McGahern. Outside the church the evening closed with a superb setting based on Memoir, which depicted McGahern at the time of his mother's passing. Here the acting passed from McGahern as a young boy to the writer describing his own reflections. The scene cultimated in a most moving funeral passage. Throughout the evening there were exceptional performances by members of the Corn Mill Theatre Company which included Seamus O'Rourke, Eileen Ward and Gus Ward.

The overall performace was directed by Killian McGuinness (Corn Mill Theatre Artistic Director. Earlier in the evening, as the participants gathered in McGirl's (Mac Fhearghail) Ballinamore, Fiona Kuehl (Dromahair) read extracts from McGahern and subsequently acted as presenter between the scenes. As well as foreign visitors and students of the McGahern Summerschool, the large attendance incuded locals who knew McGahern personally and some who had attended school in Aughawillan.

The evening was the brainchild of Cairde McGahern, a small group from north Leitrim which formed after the Leitrim Arts Office initiative to encourage people in Leitrim to read McGahern. Susan Carton, the facilitator of the group said that she was delighted with the overall response to the initiative. Many people and groups had helped to make it happen. In particular she thanked the Corn Mill Theatre Company for their willingness to innovate and Brian Leyden for his inspirational work. Among the others who supported the initiative were the Aughawillan Community, the Leitrim Arts Office, Ballinamore Library, and the McGahern Summerschool (NUIG). The event was entitled An Droichead Beo – Retracing McGahern - a more apt title could not have been chosen.