Countdown to Christmas begins in Limerick as Lime Tree Theatre launches its autumn schedule

ONE OF the highlights of the new autumn season at the Lime Tree Theatre will be its festive panto Aladdin and his Magic Lamp.

As part of its continued commitment to mentor and develop artists in Limerick, the theatre will present its second professional Panto over the Christmas and New Year period.

Limerick actors Aidan Crowe and Jessica Bray return to join the stellar team from last year -  Mike Finn (Writer), Michael Finneran (Director), Noel Lennon (Music Director) and Pamela McGlynn (Choreographer) - for a 34 performance run from December 8 2023 to January 7, 2024. 

Aladdin and his Magic Lamp will once again feature an ensemble of young local performers, who will perform alongside the professional cast.

The long-term plan to keep local professional artists and supporting art-workers employed in the city will ensure a vibrant arts sector in Limerick for the next 10 years. 

I’m at the @LimeTreeTheatre | @BelltableLimk Autumn Season Programme Launch

More to follow @Limerick_Leader pic.twitter.com/hY8jlwalko

— Meghann Scully (@Meghann_Scully) September 12, 2023

At the launch of the new autumn season, Louise Donlon, Executive Director of Lime Tree Theatre | Belltable, said: “Since Island Theatre Company closed in 2008, Limerick has had no funded professional theatre company based in the city. This meant that any artist or technician wishing to develop a career in this field had to leave and move to a city like Galway or Dublin or abroad. It has always been the aim of the Lime Tree Theatre to help to re-energise the arts sector in Limerick. As part of this long-term plan Lime Tree Theatre is producing its own fully professional pantomime again this year, Mike Finn’s hilarious Aladdin and his Magic Lamp."

Ms Donlon says work on the panto production, is being done alongside and in addition to the continuous work of its core business, presenting work on both the Belltable and Lime Tree stages. 

"It’s a very busy season ahead and we hope Limerick audiences can support the work, which is the most important part of why we are here.”

Another exciting element of the autumn programme is the Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival which takes place in early October.

The programme is jam packed and there is something for every child to engage with the festival over the two-week run from October 1 – 14.

Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival Curator, Liam McCarthy said: "This year I’ve had the privilege to work closely with the Bualadh Bos Children’s Panel to shape our festival. Our priority was to include as many children as possible, especially those who may not have had the opportunity to experience Bualadh Bos before. We hope this year’s programme brings us another step closer to our long-term goal. This year will see the best of Irish and International work for children playing on our stages across the city. We’re thrilled that Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival 2023 also includes some brand new and home grown theatre for younger audiences.”

The autumn programme, which was launched this Tuesday, is packed with international, national and local work across all genres: music, comedy, theatre and a range of family shows.

The season opens with three preview performances of The Loved Ones, a new play by Limerick’s very own Erica Murray and presented by Rough Magic and The Gate. It then transfers to Dublin for its world premiere run as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival in late September.

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Over the season some old favourites will return including Mary Black and Declan O’Rourke and the musical legend Ralph McTell graces the Lime Tree Theatre stage next month for the first time.

Belltable Artist-in-Residence and Limerick playwright Joanne Ryan is back in Belltable with her new play In Two Minds which is presented by Fishamble: The New Play Company.

In November, Limerick theatre company College Players return to present Calendar Girls and for all musical theatre lovers the Cecilian Musical Society present the hugely popular family show Shrek the Musical. 

The season wouldn’t be the same without the regular Monday evening IFI@Belltable world cinema screenings and the wide range of programmes presented by the Polish Arts Festival, the Limerick Jazz Festival, and the Light Moves Festival. 

The Gaff host a gorgeous show Songs of the Pavee presented by artists Thomas McCarthy, Willzee and many more. There is literally something for everyone this autumn - see limetreetheatre.ie.