Breffni Players bring sell-out comedy back to Ballinamore

Following a run of completely sold-out performances and an overwhelming audience response, the Breffni Players are delighted to announce the return of their hugely popular comedy A Bunch of Amateurs by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.

The smash-hit production will return for a special one-night performance at the Island Theatre, Ballinamore, on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The play proved an instant hit during its recent run at The Dock Theatre in Carrick-on-Shannon, where it sold out in record-breaking time over four nights from November 25 to 28. Such was the demand that the Breffni Players have now added this extra date to give audiences another chance to catch the laugh-out-loud comedy.

A Bunch of Amateurs tells the story of Jefferson Steele, a fading Hollywood action hero who believes he has landed a prestigious Shakespearean role playing King Lear in Stratford. Instead, he arrives in a sleepy English village, surrounded by a devoted — and delightfully eccentric — amateur drama group determined to put on the show of their lives.

What follows is a fast-paced comedy packed with clashing egos, theatrical mishaps and razor-sharp dialogue, while also offering a warm and affectionate celebration of community theatre.

Directed by Sinéad Quinn, the Breffni Players’ production has been praised for its sharp comic timing, strong ensemble performances and clever, layered writing that rewards repeat viewing.

Leading lady and new Breffni Players member Ann Marie Staunton said the success of the initial run made the return performance feel especially exciting.

“The reaction from audiences was incredible from the very first night,” she said. “The Dock is a really intimate space, so you could feel every laugh and every reaction, which made it such a special experience for us on stage.”

She said moving to the Island Theatre — which seats approximately 150 people and is almost twice the size of The Dock — will bring a different but equally exciting energy.

“The Island Theatre is a bigger venue, so it’ll feel different, but in a good way,” she said. “We’re really looking forward to seeing how the show plays in a larger space and to sharing it with even more people.”

Ms Staunton said the production features a tight-knit cast of seven main performers, supported by additional ensemble roles, something she believes adds to the chemistry on stage.

“It’s a relatively small cast, which means everyone really pulls together,” she said. “There’s a great sense of trust and teamwork, and that really comes across in the performances.”

A freelance television researcher who typically works behind the camera, Ms Staunton said returning to acting after a long break had been both challenging and rewarding.

“I hadn’t acted in years, so stepping back onto the stage was definitely daunting,” she said. “But the support from the cast and crew was amazing, and the rehearsals were intense in the best possible way.”

She added that the company rehearsed from early September, meeting two to three times a week in the lead-up to opening night.

“By the time we reached the Dock, the lines were second nature,” she said. “We’ll all be brushing up again over Christmas, but once you’ve lived with a script like this, it comes back very quickly.”

Ms Staunton also praised the quality of the writing, describing the play as one that rewards both performers and audiences.

“It’s such a cleverly written script,” she said. “There’s physical comedy, brilliant one-liners, and little callbacks that pop up later in the play. Even if you’ve seen it before, you’ll notice something new the second time around.”

With its irresistible humour and warmth, A Bunch of Amateurs promises the perfect antidote to the January blues — and an ideal post-Christmas night out.

Early booking is strongly advised, as demand is already high for this return performance.

A Bunch of Amateurs is produced by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French.