Talented Kilkenny cast to star in The Beauty Queen of Leenane
The play will be performed at Thomastown Concert Hall from November 19 to 21
Martin McDonagh’s acclaimed dark comedy arrives at Thomastown Concert Hall this November, featuring a talented local cast and marking Owl Productions’ return to the stage. There is nothing quite like a family relationship – but in Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the ties that bind can become the ties that suffocate.
Owl Productions returns to Thomastown Concert Hall this November with one of contemporary theatre’s most gripping and darkly comic plays.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane promises audiences an unforgettable night of sharp humour, simmering tension and shocking twists as the company brings McDonagh’s celebrated work to life from November 19 to 21.
Set in the remote west of Ireland, the play centres on Maureen Folan, a lonely woman in her forties, and her elderly, manipulative mother, Mag. Living together in an isolated cottage, their daily routine is a familiar battle of resentment, dependence and emotional manipulation. When the possibility of romance offers Maureen a glimpse of a different life, long-buried tensions begin to surface, with devastating consequences.
Blending razor-sharp Irish wit with moments of darkness, McDonagh’s play explores loneliness, family, love, obsession and the desperate desire for escape. It is a story that can have an audience laughing one moment and holding its breath the next.
Directed by Philip Hardy, the production features Úna Ni Mhaoldhomhnaigh, Mags Whitely, John Prendergast and Sean Hackett.
Speaking about bringing the production to the stage, director Philip Hardy said:
“The Beauty Queen of Leenane is a wonderfully challenging play, full of complex characters, dark humour and moments that really stay with you. What makes it so compelling is that beneath the comedy there are very real emotions and relationships that audiences will recognise. We’ve been working hard to capture that balance, and I think audiences are in for a very special theatrical experience.
“The production also marks another welcome return for Mags Whitely, who is back in Thomastown for her third outing as a member of Owl Productions.
Mags said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to Thomastown with Owl Productions for a third time. There’s a real sense of camaraderie within the group, and it’s always a pleasure to work with such a dedicated cast and crew. The Beauty Queen of Leenane is a fantastic play, full of humour, drama and complicated characters. I’m really looking forward to sharing it with audiences in Thomastown.”
Owl Productions will be familiar to local audiences following its successful productions of The McGowan Trilogy by Seamus Scanlon and Big Maggie by John B. Keane. The company is delighted to be returning to Thomastown Concert Hall with another major work of Irish theatre.
With its distinctive blend of black comedy, compelling storytelling and unforgettable characters, The Beauty Queen of Leenane is an ideal night out for theatre lovers and anyone who enjoys a powerful story told with wit and bite.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane will be performed nightly at Thomastown Concert Hall from November 19 to 21 at 7.30pm. Tickets are €20 plus booking fee and are available at https://owlproductionsbeautyqueen.eventbrite.ie