Stags and Hens

At the weekend we launched the 2009 programme for The Devious Theatre Company with a wee session and meet and greet in The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny. Kevin Mooney made the announcement that our main production for this year would be a production of Willy Russell's STAGS AND HENS, which he will be taking the directing reins on.

This is one that I'm really amped up about doing. The play is just an actor's playground and Kev has put together a really diverse ensemble cast of which I am delighted to be part of.

The play is a very sharp comedy about the social mores of a bunch of working class Liverpudlians in 1978. It all takes place in the ladies and gents bathrooms of a dingy nightclub where both the stag and hen parties of the same wedding have ended up. And from there, things take some very funny, dark and emotional twists and turns along the way. It's a fantastically well written play, definitely the best we've worked on so far. Over the years it has been marred a little by successions of dodgy student productions which tend to play up the booze and debauchery instead of the story and character but we're intent on keeping the story to the fore. And it's a damn good story.

Rehearsals started this week. Lots of acting rust to shake off. And the Liverpool accent is a bastard. I sound like one of the Chuckle Brothers at the moment.

All updates on Stags and Hens are going to be hitting the Devious Theatre website as we have 'em.

Also at the launch we announced our involvement in Shakespeare In The House and nicely asked people for funding by launching our 'Friends Of' program.

More of which can be found over on the website. I'll write further about Shakespeare In The House as our programme comes together for it.