Sold out event to raise the curtain on 90 years of amateur drama in Athlone

Athlone Little Theatre will raise the curtain on 90 years of amateur drama in Athlone in a Heritage Week event this Friday (August 22).

'Voices from Behind the Curtain' is the launch of a new oral history project for Athlone Little Theatre, and will take place on Friday at 8pm.

Established in 1936, Athlone Little Theatre has been centre stage ever since in producing and staging top-quality amateur drama productions to audiences in the local community and beyond.

As the theatre prepares to celebrate the 90th anniversary of its foundation, the community has been invited to come hear first-hand the theatrical experiences of those who have given their lives to the cultural life of Athlone and its environs.

The evening will feature on-stage interviews with some of our longest-serving members interspersed with readings from their favourite productions, recalling the many memorable moments in the theatre's long and storied history.

The event will also serve as a launch pad for a larger oral history project which will be undertaken in the coming season.

This will include audio interviews, podcasts, an exhibition and a digital archive to serve as a durable testament to the valuable contributions made by so many over nine decades in Athlone Little Theatre.

Renowned theatre historian Dr Fiona Brennan will officially launch 'Voices from Behind the Curtain' on the night with a short talk on the importance of amateur drama history.