The Castle Players set to take to the stage in Dundalk's An Táin

Join the Castle Players for four nights of murder, mystery, and subterfuge as they bring Agatha Christie’s The Hollow to An Táin Arts Centre at 8.00 pm from Wednesday 17th April to Saturday 20th.

Described as “a thriller of passion and betrayal” The Hollow was first published as a novel in 1946 and was originally a very successful Poirot story.

However, having “grown tired of her Belgian detective” Agatha Christie removed Poirot from the story when she adapted it for the stage, preferring instead to “let the whole cast shine” and shine they do in true Castle Players style.

As the family begin arriving at The Hollow, the home of Sir Henry and Lady Angkatell, they are looking forward to a civilised weekend entertaining Dr John Cristow, a suave Harley Street doctor, and his seemingly dim wife Gerda, with a selection of games, good food and a little bit of target practice. Unfortunately, the weekend is thrown disarray by the inconvenience of a murder.

At the helm are Irene Barr and Paul Casey. Irene plays Lady Angkatell, the charismatic, if somewhat eccentric hostess.
Her only wish is for Ainswick, her ancestral home, to remain in the family.

Paul plays the distinguished Sir Henry, an ex-governor of India and a man capable of keeping his composure as Lady Angkatell’s chaos flitters around him.

Brian Halpin takes on the role of Dr John Cristow, the lothario who seems to have it all and is oblivious to the feelings of those around him, especially his much put upon wife Gerda, brilliantly played by Siobhan Rankin.

Angela Hanna will play Henriett Anketell a successful sculptress and cousin of Sir Henry. She is a close friend of Gerda’s and is the mistress of Gerda’s husband John Cristow.

Edward Angkatell, who inherited the Ainswick estate and, much to the annoyance of Lady Angkatell, remains unmarried, is played by Peter Hoey.

Melissa Casey is Midge Hardcastle, the warm-hearted, proud but poor relation who, and to the bewilderment of the others, “works for a living”. 

Madhavi Pasapula plays Veronica Craye, a Hollywood actress and femme fatale who has rented a cottage nearby. She arrives at the Hollow unexpectedly intent on winning back the heart of her long-lost first love, John Cristow.

Inspector Colquhoun, Niall McCann, and Sergeant Penny, Adrienne Whelan, need to keep their wits about them as they try to untangle the web of lies woven around them by the Angkatell family, particularly Lady Angkatell.

Newcomers to the stage, Shane Kelly and Siobhan DeBhal, play Gudgeon the ever-faithful butler, and Dorris the under-housemaid. Gudgeon is of the opinion that Dorris is totally unsuited for the position, as her father “votes Labour”. Whereas Doris would love nothing more than to bring Gudgeon down a peg or two.

This production of The Hollow is the vision of co-directors Nigel Clinton and Pat McKenna. 

They are ably assisted by Nessa Toale, Debbie McKenna, Valerie Rogers, Kayleigh McCabe, Siobhan Owens, Charlotte McBride, Deirdre Kerr and David McKenna.