Panto season is back, and one Laois pantomime group is excited to welcome new faces to the stage. Rathdowney pantomime will hold their 38th annual show this week, with a brand new script sure to leave locals in stitches. Each year, Rathdowney's pantos combine stories, songs and media in a unique way that leaves the audience laughing and cheering for more. This year's pantomime 'Perry's ails and gangster tales' is set during the prohibition era in America, where main character Perry is trying to establish an illegal speakeasy. The panto is an ode to Perry's Brewery, a business that used to be synonymous with the town in days gone by. Group PRO Pat Keating spoke with the Leinster Express / Laois Live ahead of the event. "There are several gangs seeing his success and trying to muscle in on his territory, including the Shelbys and Bugsy Malone's cronies," Mr Keating explained. "This year's script was written by panto secretary Karen Holohan and fellow member Chloe Martin. We're doing something different this year, where the first four scenes are all the children. They are playing the young versions of the adult characters we will see in the later scenes," he revealed. "The kids are fantastic, they have been giving it a great run and they're loving it. We've spotted them rehearsing dances for other groups along with their own, they're so into it," Mr Keating praised. "The panto has been running in Rathdowney since the 1980's, everyone in the town expects it and looks forward to it. "It's great to be back for our 38th show, we are delighted that it is still going strong. We were very happy with last year's attendance, it was great," he said. "It's all great fun and it's a great way for kids and adults to make friends. Many of the children meet kids from other schools, and they make friends for life." The Rathdowney Pantomime was originally written and directed by local playwright Micheal Creagh and retired GP Dr Niall  O'Doherty. The pair wrote and directed over thirty pantomimes, and with the help ofplaceholder image
Panto season is back, and one Laois pantomime group is excited to welcome new faces to the stage. Rathdowney pantomime will hold their 38th annual show this week, with a brand new script sure to leave locals in stitches. Each year, Rathdowney's pantos combine stories, songs and media in a unique way that leaves the audience laughing and cheering for more. This year's pantomime 'Perry's ails and gangster tales' is set during the prohibition era in America, where main character Perry is trying to establish an illegal speakeasy. The panto is an ode to Perry's Brewery, a business that used to be synonymous with the town in days gone by. Group PRO Pat Keating spoke with the Leinster Express / Laois Live ahead of the event. "There are several gangs seeing his success and trying to muscle in on his territory, including the Shelbys and Bugsy Malone's cronies," Mr Keating explained. "This year's script was written by panto secretary Karen Holohan and fellow member Chloe Martin. We're doing something different this year, where the first four scenes are all the children. They are playing the young versions of the adult characters we will see in the later scenes," he revealed. "The kids are fantastic, they have been giving it a great run and they're loving it. We've spotted them rehearsing dances for other groups along with their own, they're so into it," Mr Keating praised. "The panto has been running in Rathdowney since the 1980's, everyone in the town expects it and looks forward to it. "It's great to be back for our 38th show, we are delighted that it is still going strong. We were very happy with last year's attendance, it was great," he said. "It's all great fun and it's a great way for kids and adults to make friends. Many of the children meet kids from other schools, and they make friends for life." The Rathdowney Pantomime was originally written and directed by local playwright Micheal Creagh and retired GP Dr Niall  O'Doherty. The pair wrote and directed over thirty pantomimes, and with the help of

PHOTOS: Laois panto to bring Peaky Blinders and Bugsy Malone to Rathdowney

Rathdowney locals in preparations for 38th annual panto

Related topics:
Register
Follow us
© 2026 Formpress Publishing LTD. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice