Musical 'Once' being staged in Athlone this Saturday

Athlone art aficionados, theatre-goers, and music lovers will all be able to come together this weekend and celebrate St Patrick's Day in a uniquely Irish way.

A Kildare-based theatre group, The Odd Theatre Company, will be performing the captivating musical Once at the Dean Crowe Theatre for one night only on Saturday, March 16.

Once tells the story of two musicians living in Dublin; Guy, who gave up on love and his music, and Girl, a woman who reignites his passion for life while finding her own way.

From the very first song, Once takes you on an engrossing and honest journey of love, loss, and music. The musical is based on the 2007 film of the same name, which features the Oscar-winning hit Falling Slowly and a sensational score written by Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, and Fergus O’Farrell.

In what is sure to be a unique and engrossing experience for audiences, each of the twelve performers in Once act, play instruments, and sing throughout the show. Although the troupe are travelling from Kildare to perform, there are some faces which will be very familiar to Athlone audiences!

Playing the role of Billy the shop owner is Daniel Ryan. Daniel was a key part of the Athlone Musical Society's success in 2020 when the Society staged Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Playing the lead role of Joseph in what was a breathtaking performance, Daniel helped Athlone take home multiple awards including the coveted Best Overall Show at the AIMS awards that year. He will keep you laughing in your seats with this terrific part as well as keeping the cast in time as he plays the cajon and the harmonica.

On mandolin, playing the character of Svec, is Paul McCarrick. Paul is an Athlone native and was a mainstay for many years on the Dean Crowe stage as part of the annual Dean Crowe pantomime. He was also part of Athlone Musical Society for their productions of Chicago and Joseph.

He would be best known as a former drama teacher with MAD Camp and AKT Stage School up until 2020. Having moved recently from Athlone to Kildare he hasn't returned to the stage in some time, so he is thrilled be coming back to the Dean Crowe.

And as one Kilduff leaves the stage, another three enter! While Athlone Musical Society’s barnstorming Urinetown has just finished its run, directed by award-winning director Alfie Kilduff, the stage will be filled again with family talent.

In the part of Da is Alfie’s brother, Conor Kilduff. An Athlone native, Conor was influenced to enter the theatrical world by his late father and his mother Margaret.

He has truly turned into a master of the stage and has continued the family’s theatrics by steering the ship of the successful Newbridge Musical Theatre as chairperson for the past 20 years. Conor is delighted to return to the Dean Crowe to perform again; his last outing was with Tops of the Town for Athlone Apparel in 1981!

Conor's daughters, Emma and Keelin, are also starring in the show. Emma had lived in Athlone for some of her life as she was a former student of Graphic Design in the AIT, now TUS. She plays the part of Girlfriend while also handling the ukelele and the bass ukelele. Keelin has also spent time working in the town with MAD Camp and is no stranger to the stage as she has performed with Newbridge Musical Theatre, Clane Musical Society and The Odd Theatre Company numerous times before.

She takes up the challenging mantle of Girl, playing the piano and delivering a powerhouse performance.

Speaking about the show's appeal to audiences, Cian O'Dowd, director of the production, said, "Once has a very special quality that renders it almost unique in the musical theatre world.

"Yes it's a beautiful story, magnificently told, but unlike many musicals its characters are real people, its relationships are complicated, and for that reason it is much more gripping than other shows in its genre. You can't help but be moved by Once."

Tickets are available at the Dean Crowe Theatre & Arts Centre, by phoning the Dean Crowe Theatre Box Office on (090) 649 2129, or online at: www.deancrowetheatre.com