Melody – a deft two-hander with comic moments

A commissioned piece of art by Marie Cleere made for the show | file pic

placeholder image — A commissioned piece of art by Marie Cleere made for the show | file pic

The show runs daily at 1pm until Saturday (June 20)

Lunchtime theatre is no stranger to Kilkenny audiences and this week Barn Owl Productions have served up an impressive offering in their latest play, Melody by Deirdre Kinahan.

Running daily at 1pm daily (until June 20) at Billy Byrne’s on John Street this 45-minute play is the perfect antidote to one’s often busy day combining light, theatrical entertainment with lunch in a wonderful setting.

Natasha Murray is a stalwart in the local amateur drama scene and her performance as the eager and enthusiastic Kathleen is close to flawless as we witness her first encounters with potential love interest Mr Kane, who is played by Ollie Kelly.

This is Ollie Kelly’s first performance with Barn Owl Productions and he gives a strong performance as the audience watch on as the characters navigate and interpret the initial signals and chemistry between the pair. There are many moments of comedy for the audience to enjoy in this short and snappy comedy. Melody is directed by Philip Hardy who founded Barnstorm Theatre Company and was artistic director until 2024 and introduced lunchtime theatre to Kilkenny in 2022. The show was produced by Mags Whitely, lighting is by Vincent Dempsey and costume is by Joan Brennan.

To book see eventbrite.ie.