Short plays (for longer evenings) at Kildare theatre this week

Two plays will be staged at the Moat Theatre, Naas, this week - billed as Short Plays for Longer Evenings.

The brand new Here We Go is a funny and poignant short play about a dad and son's wild ride as they follow the Irish soccer team's 1990 World Cup campaign.

It was written by Naas man and soccer fanatic Gerard O’Shea, who also directs its première production. 

The action recalls the summer of Italia ’90, as Des and Stephen follow the team on their journey. For the father and son, it was a time never to be forgotten — in more ways than one. Des is played by Pat Breslin, Stephen by Brian Lyons, and Louise Donnelly plays a multitude of characters, from the travel agent to fellow fans on the crazy adventure.

Here We Go shares the bill with another new play, Dada by Frank Houlihan, an award-winning dark comedy. 

READ NEXT Plans for 569 new County Kildare homes axed by an Coimisiún Pleanála

Dada is directed by Mary Newman. In it, sisters Nonie and Min arrange to meet the local priest in order to unburden their souls. 

Secrets are spilled, in hilarious, if deadpan, detail. Houlihan won the Drama League of Ireland/Amateur Drama Council of Ireland annual playwriting competition in 2024 with this darkly comic play.  The sisters are played by Libby Trappe and Rossagh Cusack; Fr Bill is Paddy Carroll; Michelle Hickey plays the local Garda and Nick Pearson, the barista. 

Short Plays for Longer Evenings continues the Moat Club’s proud tradition of producing high-quality one-act plays. 

The club has won the All-Ireland one-act drama circuit on many occasions, most recently with Nine, directed by Conor O’Connell, in 2019. It remains to be seen if either of the plays being staged this week will compete in the 2026 competition this autumn. 

Short Plays for Longer Evenings runs from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18  April at 8pm nightly. Tickets from the box office on 045 883030 or on www.moattheatre.com.