Category: Drama

September Events

There’s something special about September, when you’re a retired teacher. Here’s a few ideas for activities you might like to enjoy this month:

3rd and 4th: Tuesday and Wednesday. Hillwalkers trip to Castlegregory. Leader Aidan Buckley.

6th: Friday. Social coffee morning. Clayton Silver Springs Hotel. 11 a.m.

12th: Thursday. Amble in Garnish Island. Details will be announced by text.

12th: Thursday. Camera group planning meeting. SMA centre. 2p.m.

22nd-29th: Trip to Lake Como with the Travel Department

27th – 29th: Friday to Sunday. Flower display, and concert. Cobh cathedral. Organised by RTAI member, Mary O’Brien (AOIFA National Chairperson) See earlier post.

CHOIR. Members have been notified of rehearsal arrangements. New members welcome! Contact Mary Fitzgerald 086 830 1195 as soon as possible.

DRAMA. Rehearsals are ongoing. New members welcome, for all theatrical roles, onstage and backstage. Contact Marian O’Callaghan. 086 407 2037 or rtaicorkblog@gmail.com

Dráma 2019

Tá Grúpa Drámaíochta an RTAI ag eagrú seó an Fhomhair faoi láthair. Taréis roinnt cruinnithe san SMA i Wilton I Mí na Bealtaine, tá an clár nach mór socraithe anois. Bheadh fáilte is fiche roimh bhaill nua, idir aisteoirí, scríobhnóirí nó éinne gur mhaith  bheith leo  bheith bainteach i slí ar bith leis an ngrúpa. Téigh i dteagmháil le Marian má tá suim agat bheith linn- 0864072037.

Ba bhreá linn dráma aon-ghníomh nó sceits as Gaeilge a léiriú  i mbliana. An bhfuil script  nó smaoineamh do script agat? An scríofá sceits nó dráma dúinn?

Slí iontach isea an drámaíocht chun cairde nua a dhéanamh, bíonn an chraic go diail ar fad agus is mór an sásamh bheith ar stáitse. Is iontach an rud é an lucht féachana a shásamh agus go deimhin táimíd fíor-bhuíoch as an dtacaíocht  dhílis a thugann sibh dúinn.

Táimíd ag tnú go mór   le Mí Dheireadh Fomhair agus Mí na Samhna 2019 le  seó úrnua.

Deckchairs by Jean McConnell

RTAI Cork Drama group at the Lee Valley Golf Club. Thanks to John Quaid for the photo. 

This year’s presentation by the Cork RTAI Drama group was “Deckchairs” by Jean McConnell. The group performed three shows in all. Two were in the Lee Valley Golf Club followed by one night upstairs in the White Horse Inn.

The shows were sold out for the three nights and a great night’s entertainment was enjoyed by capacity audiences.Directed by Marian O’Callaghan, each of the four short plays was enacted by two characters and each story had an unexpected twist in the tail.  

Kathleen sets the scene.

“Shoppers” starring Kathleen Lowney and Alice Barry opened the show. Set on a park bench in the city  centre, it tells the tale of two shopaholics who have a surprising secret.  Alice and Kathleen got the show off to an exciting start each night and delighted audiences with their exploits. 

Early Blight was the second show and starred Judy McCarthy and Ber O’Sullivan. It told the story of a fraught mother/daughter relationship which was very vividly portrayed by the two actors. 

Judy and Ber in action

Thanks to Seán Radley for the wonderful photos which capture the drama so effectively. 

Last Post 

Last Post starring Margaret Walsh and Kathleen Flynn features the widow of a recently deceased and well-respected gentleman who receives an unexpected letter. Mystery and intrigue are part of the unfolding story of the two ladies whose relationship is based on a very successful con artist’s scheming. 

Doggies

Doggies with Gerardine Shine and Grace Donovan and their dogs is a hilarious tale of two different dog owners and two very different dogs. Robbie and San San and their owners ended the night on a note of laughter and action. 

Sincere thanks to all who came to see the shows. Full houses make all the efforts worthwhile. Thanks also to everyone who helped out on the nights.  Particular thanks to Pat Lehane who did the lighting in the Lee Valley and to Willie Barrett and Deirdre who built the stage. They were helped by Jack and Leo. The staff of the Lee Valley and the White Horse  were extremely helpful and facilitated us with the production in every way possible and we are very grateful to them.  We appreciate your support and hope to see you again next year. 

Drama- November 8th and 9th Deckchairs by Jean McConnell

Cork RTAI  Drama group are busily rehearsing for their shows in the Lee Valley Golf Club on November 8th and 9th. Four short plays from the Deckchairs series by Jean McConnell feature in this year’s performance. These plays are written for a two woman cast and share a common setting – somewhere by the seaside on a sunny day.

The twist in the tail short plays which were selected by the cast include:

Shoppers starring Alice Barry and Kathleen Lowney  Two well to do shopaholics reveal  a surprising secret  in this very funny and entertaining piece.

Early Blight  starring Judy McCarthy and Ber O’Sullivan is an exploration of a doomed mother – daughter relationship

Doggies  presented by Grace Donovan and Gerardine Shine  (and their two dogs) is a hilarious tale of two very different dog owners with two very different dogs.

Last Post  presented by Margaret Walsh and Kathleen O’Flynn features the widow of a recently deceased and well respected gentleman who receives an unexpected letter.

Expect the unexpected in each of these playlets. Directed by Marian O’Callaghan, each play is approximately 15-20 minutes long.

 

 

 

Meán Fómhair 2018

Cuirimid fáilte roimh na baill nua, agus fáilte ar ais roimh ár gcairde go léir ag an tráth seo den bhliain. Seo hiad na himeachtaí a bheidh againn i mí Mheán Fómhair:

4th & 5th Tues/Wed, Amble and Hillwalk in Glenbeigh.

4th Tues, Drama group resumes.

6th Thurs, Camera group planning meeting. SMA, 2 p.m.

7th Fri, Coffee morning, Clayton Silversprings Hotel, 11 a.m.

10th Mon, Choir practice resumes.t

 11th Tues, Guided tour of Fort Camden, 11 a.m.

12th Wed, Camera group outing to Ballycotton.

13th Thurs, Amble in Castlemartyr Woods. 11.30 a.m.

21st Friday, Line dancing resumes.

27th Thurs, Camera group meeting, SMA, 2 p.m.

For more information on any of the ongoing activities; choir, drama, photography, please ask any committee member, or email rtaicorkblog@gmail.com.

To have your name added to the email list for notifications of hillwalking, please email rtaicorkblog@gmail.com

Notification of coffee mornings and individual events will be sent by text message. If you wish to amend your preferences for text messages please contact any committee member, or email rtaicorkblog@gmail.com

 

Sir Henry at the Opera House

A group of RTAI members went along to see the musical “Sir Henry” at the Opera House on Tuesday evening February 13th. Presented by the Lee Valley Enterprise Board and directed by Cathal McCabe (RTE), this was a most entertaining show.

Sir Henry Brown Hayes (1762-1832) lived at Vernon Mount, near Douglas in Cork city. His story, a musical drama by Cork composers, Alan Kiely and Kevin Connolly, is based on documented fact and Cork legend. Sir Henry (35) was an inveterate gambler and womaniser who created scandal  and uproar while being made Sheriff of Cork city and being awarded a Knighthood.

The story follows the abduction of Mary Pike a wealthy heiress, her imprisonment in Vernon Mount and the eventual capture, conviction and transportation to New South Wales of Sir Henry. The Pikes were  a Quaker family of bankers who lived at Bessborough House. The show abounded with references to well-know Cork places and families.

A stellar cast, brilliant music and singing brought the story of Sir Henry to life in the Opera House. Another great hit for this hugely talented group who last year brought us “Murder at Shandy Hall”.

We had a lovely meal and get-together at Coqbull Restaurant in French Church Street prior to the performance.  Thanks to everyone who came along and helped to make this a very enjoyable evening.

 

 

There Goes the Bell

The first production of the RTAI Cork Drama group has just completed a 4 night run in the Cork Arts Theatre. The show was a tremendous success and played to packed houses each night. Cast, crew, director and production team worked very hard since last February to present a show which was filled with comedy and fun from start to finish. The audience reaction for each performance was heartening and made all the hard work worthwhile.

Helen Hallissey’s briliant writing and direction provided an insight into school life which everyone can relate to.

Comhghairdeas libh go léir! Bhaineamar lán-taitneamh as an dráma aréir!
Every little thing which happens in a school was there and we had a brilliant laugh.
Every part in the play was so well conceived, not just by Helen’s writing, but by the obvious insight, fun and glee brought to the table by every múinteoir in the cast!!!!!