Tipperary drama group to bring a Roddy Doyle classic to the stage
Nenagh Players bring The Snapper to Nenagh Arts Centre
The chaotic and sometimes crazy world of Roddy Doyle’s The Snapper will be brought to life by Nenagh Players when they take to the stage at Nenagh Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 10, for a five-night run.
The play hinges around Dublin working class grocery shop assistant Sharon Rabbitte, played by Joanne Bracken, who discovers she is pregnant after a night on the town, but won’t reveal the name of the man responsible. Suspicion falls on George Burgess (Kevin Ryan), a married man and neighbour who took advantage of a young woman at a vulnerable time.
Sharon’s family, father Jimmy (Greg Starr), mother Veronica (Zelda Dillon), eventually rally round her, with Jimmy forming a close bond with his daughter, while excitement and curiosity surround her younger twin sisters Linda (Maud O’Donovan) and Tracy (Fae Hogan). Meanwhile, her brother Darren (Ollie Cronin), reacts with typical teenage indifference.
Doyle’s script is not only full of observational humour, littered with Dublin wit, it is also a window on a time when an unmarried woman was to be shunned, with neighbours tut tutting behind closed doors and laced curtains. But ultimately, The Snapper is a celebration of working-class family resilience, warmth, and unconditional love, with
Sharon’s defiance and doing things her way right to the very end a massive endorsement of empowerment. Greg Starr, as Jimmy Rabbitte, returns to Nenagh Players following his role in The Salvage Shop. He has toured with Borrisokane Players on the one-act drama festival circuit and appeared with Nenagh Choral Society.
Joanne Bracken (Sharon), a graduate of the Gaiety School of Acting and Bow Street Screen Acting Academy, played Katie in The Salvage Shop with Nenagh Players and Síle in The Local with Asylum Productions and Once Off Productions (Kilkenny Arts Festival).
Zelda Dillon as the beleaguered matriarch Veronica, a member of Nenagh Choral Society has taken part in shows such as Carousel, Annie Get Your Gun and Oliver!
Ollie Cronin as young Darren Rabbitte, aspiring goalkeeper and cyclist, appeared in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Nenagh Choral Society. He’s a Musical Theatre Academy Nenagh (MTAN) student.
Making her debut with the Players is Maud O'Donohue who plays Linda, one half of the Rabbitte twins. She has competed in several national competitions with MTAN.
The other half of the Rabbitte twins, Tracy, played by Fae Hogan, has had a passion for acting, dancing, singing and musical theatre since she joined MTAN at the age of four.
Kevin Ryan, as George Burgess, is no stranger to the stage and Nenagh Players, having taken part in The Salvage Shop, Witness for the Prosecution, Boeing! Boeing! Cash on Delivery and The Field; he has also taken part in one-acts and dinner theatre. Kevin’s most recent role saw him on stage with Red N Blue Theatre Company in Othello.
Kate McManus takes the role of Sharon’s friend Jackie and is another actor making her debut with the Players.
Also making her debut is Tara Gunning as Yvonne. A member of MTAN and Nenagh Choral Society, she has taken part in Nenagh Choral Society’s productions of Legally Blonde, Shrek and Young Frankenstein.
Christine O’Keeffe (Mary) began her theatrical journey with Young Nenagh Players, performing in her first production at Nenagh Arts Centre in 2013, directed by Jenny Bracken, who is now directing her in this production. Behind the scenes, Christine has worked on makeup and set design.
Lindsay Cleary plays Doris, wife of George Burgess, and this is her first time on stage since the Borrisokane Community College Christmas Concert.
Tanya Kennedy as Midwife is also making her debut on stage. Tanya is a public health nurse in Limerick so it is quite apt that her debut role is playing a midwife.
Kaedan Hogan Long (Young Boy) is still attending Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan but has been in many shows with Nenagh Choral Society. Kaedan has been a member of the MTAN since the age of four and has participated in several musical competitions with the academy. This is his first time on stage with Nenagh Players.
Director Jenny Bracken, who comes from a Nenagh family steeped in theatre, has starred on stage in many productions with Nenagh Players, the most recent being Chris in Calendar Girls. Jenny previously directed The Outgoing Tide, which made it to the All-Ireland Drama Festival finals in Athlone.
The Snapper, by Roddy Doyle, is at Nenagh Arts Centre from Tuesday, November 10, to Saturday, November 14, at 8pm nightly. Tickets, €22, from nenagharts.com or 067-34400.