Longford panto reaches new heights
Longford audiences were certainly entertained when the panto, Billy and The Beanstalk took to the stage over the Christmas / New Year period in St Mel's College.
It was the third production since the staging of Cinderella in 2019 and Snow White in 2021, with no panto in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Billy and The Beanstalk ran for a total of sixteen performances in the spectacularly transformed sports hall in St Mel's College.
The 450 seat audience loved every second of the production with some commenting that they will "no longer need to travel to Dublin to see a professional panto when we have it on our doorstep'.
The cast led by Damien Douglas - Billy Doolittle, Mary Byrne - Fairy Mary, Davy Flaherty - Gloria Doolittle, Aoibhinn Macken & Niamh O'Brien - Ariana, Sean Hendley - Grisly McGruesome, Valerie Shiels - Baroness Daria, Conor McLoughlin & Iarlaith O'Rourke - Doom and Gloom had audiences on their feet at every performance.
One audience member, who's no stranger to shows in Longford commented that 'Longford has never seen a production on this scale'!
Over fifty members of Evolution Stage School made up the chorus and dancers consisting of juniors, teens and senior members who danced and sang their hearts out.
The producers, Paul Hennessy, Tracey Carty and Gerry McCann brought professional panto to Longford in 2019 and have already established it as a must see in the panto season calendar.
Audiences travelled from all over the country to see Billy save the day, with some travelling from Sligo, Donegal, Galway, Dublin, Meath, Wexford, Westmeath, Leitrim, Roscommon, Carlow and more.
There was amazing local support too with some locals commenting that it was their first time to see a panto and they can't wait for next year!
Written and directed by Pat McElwain, Choreographer Tracey Carty, Musical Director Paul Hennessy, Stage Manager Gerry McCann, Longford panto will be back on stage in St Mel's in December 2023 with 'The Adventures of Billy and Sleeping Beauty'!
For more details follow Longford Panto on Facebook and Instagram.