Players take to Nenagh stage
Ahead of taking part in this year’s All-Ireland Amateur Drama Festival circuit, Nenagh Players return to Nenagh Arts Centre for two nights next week with their acclaimed production of Jim Nolan’s The Salvage Shop.
A richly-layered drama, The Salvage Shop is the story of three generations of a family in the fictional seaside town of Garris. At its centre is the fraught relationship of Sylvie Tansey (Kevin Walshe) and his son, Eddie (Kevin Ryan).
Sylvie, an alcoholic and opera buff, is dying of cancer but still raging against the machinations of the local brass band committee, who are seeking to oust him from his role as maestro of the band. Sylvie’s best pal, confidant and fellow band member Stephen Kearney is played by Kevin Whelan.
Eddie left the band at a crucial time for its success and has never been forgiven for what Sylvie sees as a betrayal. Eddie, struggling with regret and guilt, comes up with a plan for a major concert, which he thinks will make up for his actions all those years ago, but the plans is complicated by the fact that he has a new girlfriend, Rita Shanahan (Maggie Smith), and he must cope with bar and concert venue owner Josie Costello (Greg Starr), with whom he has a fraught relationship.
Against this background, Eddie carries on, trying to care for his father while at the same time trying to control the choices of his daughter Katie (Jayde Ryan), just newly returned from college, and keep the family salvage business going.
Jayde Ryan is not just making her stage debut with the Players, but is also making her debut on the festival circuit. She has taken part in various productions with Nenagh Choral Society and has been heavily involved in Mary Immaculate College Dramatic Arts Society, both on and off the stage. Jayde is a graduate of the college in English and Media and is current Mary Immaculate College Student Union president. She is delighted to be taking on the role of Katie Tansey and is looking forward to her festival journey.
Ultimately, The Salvage Shop is about reconciliation, and the redemptive power of mutual understanding and forgiveness. Along the way, audiences travel an emotional road paved with deep sadness, joy, triumph, and humour.
The Salvage Shop, directed by Margaret Walshe, runs at Nenagh Arts Centre on Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, at 8pm; tickets, €20/€18 through nenagharts.com.
Meanwhile, Nenagh Players will open their festival journey in Roscommon on Sunday, March 8, before heading to Mountmellick, Ballyduff, Claregalway, Claremorris, Rossmore, Scarriff and ending up on home territory in Holycross on Friday, March 27.