1964 – WIFLO Season Brochure
Back to 1964 and a real rarity – the season brochure from the Festival of Light Opera. There’s 156 pages of pictures, shows and even adverts from old shops to look at (sometimes the adverts […]
Back to 1964 and a real rarity – the season brochure from the Festival of Light Opera. There’s 156 pages of pictures, shows and even adverts from old shops to look at (sometimes the adverts […]
It’s great to fill up the history of WIFLO with the season brochures… still a long way to go before I’m even close to it but it’s terrific to get older season brochures into the […]
The Tramore Schools consisted of Tramore C.B.S. and Stella Maris Secondary school. Their ground breaking production came with ‘Whistle Down The Wind’ in 1996 – a then unknown and rarely produced gem. Click below to […]
In 1996 Stage Fright were doing ‘Chess’, Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society were presenting ‘The Mikado’ and Tramore Combined Schools were performing the premier of ‘Whistle Down The Wind’. It was the most Waterford societies […]
Waterford Crystal got to the national final in two successive years in the 1980’s – ’86 and ’87, both produced by Michael Grant. Unfortunately neither resulted in a win for Waterford, but it was very […]
In 2010 WIFLO turned 50. It was hard to believe that just 2 short years later it would all be gone, and in my opinion is one of the greatest tragedies in Waterford Theatre that […]
The Waterford International Festival of Light Opera or WIFLO as it was more affectionately known was one of the main reasons (the other being The Tops) that Waterford enjoyed a status of being the ‘Mecca’ […]
For more see below. 2017 – The Collector National Tour – Show Programme 2016 – The Collector – Show Programme
So – there could only be one update for Christmas – the Bilberry Goats Nativity – which I’ve seen a dozen times and still has me weak with the laughing every time. Enjoy, and I […]
Thanks again to Waterford Youth Arts and particularly Ollie Breslin who has given me another link to an interview that they conducted with Liam Murphy – our esteemed arts critic for the Munster Express. This […]
Rehearsal videos are great to have – and this one is no different. Back to 1993 where some very young heads were preparing for Jesus Christ Superstar in the Theatre Royal directed by Bryan Flynn… […]
Here is the centrepiece scene from the 1994 Waterford Crystal Tops show – Aladdin – which at the time was just a brand new Disney Film. Enjoy!
These are great to see – although over 40 years old you can still make out some familiar faces in these colour photos from the hey day of Tops in Waterford. See if you can […]
Another stroll down Tops memory lane today. 1987 was the year of Les Mis in Tops shows and Michael Grant’s Crystal show marched to the national final. In this clip you’ll see too many familiar […]
People requested some more Bilberry Goats – so I’m happy to oblige, they haven’t been on for a while… Here is a bit of magic for you with Mossy the Magician with all the Goats […]
Some photos, reviews and the show programme from the 1962 production of ‘Sinbad The Sailor’ which featured such legendary performers as Dermot Graham and Richie Collins amongst others. Judging by the newspaper article attached a […]
Today’s video is a right trip back memory lane in Tops land. This scene was pure nostalgia when it went on in 1983, so 34 years later it’s even more nostalgic! Denny and Boola take […]
Today we’re rolling back 53 years to November of 1964 and WDS were presenting ‘The Poker Session’ by Hugh Leonard. As you can see from the attached newspaper clipping it was billed ‘For Adults Only’ […]
So I searched long and hard for a halloween themed update today, and I forgot – of course , the most unlikely source of all – the Panto! Yes in 2002 for some explicable reason […]
Video day, and it’s a departure from the normal Tops videos (plenty of those to come in the future!). 20 years ago this week Premier Productions had ‘Joseph’ on stage – to this day still […]
This weeks jump into the recent past is Dat’s De Y’s April production of ‘Assassins’ – Sondheim’s masterpiece which ran in Garter Lane for a week long run. Photos are courtesy of the brilliant Colin […]
I like adding in bits of memorabilia now and again. This time it’s back to 1975 and the adjudicators report from Jack Cruise on The Foundry show. He also gives the breakdown of points for […]
Had to share this other quick montage of Grease clips from the 1991 Stage Fright production. As well as all the youthful faces and of course Bryan Flynn you’ll also see Noelie O’Neill – another […]
In 2004 the ‘Really Youthful Theatre Group’ produced their final production before transitioning into ‘Flaggy Lane Juniors’ – the ever popular ‘Annie’ in the Theatre Royal. Added to the Really Youth ful archive here. 2004 […]
I’m delighted to share this today and a special thanks to Ollie Breslin from Waterford Youth Arts for access to this video. It’s a video interview that WYA did with Des for a social history […]
Delighted to get a copy of this 1993 feature programme that RTE ran coming up to the national final. Its an hour long feature with familiar faces including a song from Liam Butler and an […]
This is a clip from the 1989 Tramore Tops production – the ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ scene featuring some Tramore legends.
Something recent for today – Pat Daly’s ‘Urbs Intacta Manet’ – renamed to ‘Rigor Mortis’ that made a very successful return to the Theatre Royal last month. Although no programme as such existed, thanks to […]
I didn’t have to think twice about sharing when this footage came into my hands. It is of course from the 1992 production of Annie Get Your Gun by the Edmund Rice society. There are […]
Back to the original Tramore Musical Society and a production of ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ from 1998. Directed by Brendan Payne and staged by Brendan and Gary Power. Here is an old show programme from […]
I’m doing my weekly Tops video on a Monday this week as I missed last Thursday somehow! This is the finale to the 1986 Nokia tops of the Town produced by Denny Corcoran. Featuring ‘Big […]
In 2004 Variety made a return to the Waterford Stage in the guise of the Variety Club of Waterford spearheaded by Michael Grant and Padraig O’Griofa. This was the first ‘variety show’ in years and […]
2011 saw the final show from De La Salle Musical Society – the much loved Jerry Herman classic ‘Mack and Mabel’. Full of glorious melodies and exciting dance routines – but alas it wasn’t enough […]
Back 23 years ago Tramore Schools made their debut in the Theatre Royal with Fiddler On The Roof under the direction of Pat McEvoy. It was the first of a trio of shows from the […]
In 2005 the then artistic director of the Theatre Royal- Michael Hunt – produced a version of the J.M. Barrie classic ‘Peter Pan’ for the post – Christmas / New Year audience. At the time […]
Back in 1993 produced ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ under the direction of Denny Corcoran. It was a huge success with many of the cast and crew going on to become a who’s who of Waterford […]
Back in 2008 in The Forum John Grubb and Hound Productions gave us the multi-media spectacular that was ‘Hound’ using music, sound and imagery to deliver an (at the time) spectacular show to the Waterford […]
In 1999 Edmund Rice produced the classic ‘Showboat’ in the Theatre Royal. Directed by Pat McEvoy it managed to pick up an AIMS nomination for Richie Hayes in the role of rubber face at the […]
Another legend from Tops days and Waterford Theatre in general is one Patsy Sheridan. Here he is from the 1992 Port And Docks tops show with his team of tap dancers performing ‘Song and Dance […]
In 1994 De La Salle College produced ‘The Boyfriend’ by Sandy Wilson. It was maybe a bit unexpected direction to go in – following on as it did from Jesus Christ Superstar the preceding year. […]
The Theatre Royal Variety Performance took to the stage for it’s yearly outing in 2007, this time in the company of Flaggylane Productions. As usual it featured an all-star cast, and this year had a […]
This is a real blast from the past – a video taken by Martin Kennedy of what appears to be close to the final rehearsals for ‘Brigadoon’. Filmed in St. Otterans hall you can clearly […]
In 2014 The David Hennessy Musical & Dramatic Society was born, first producing this show – ‘Into The Woods’. Click on the image below to view.
Pats first produced play “The Pilferers” was staged in 1999 and since then Pat has seen his plays produced in numerous towns and cities. Most recently was a production of ‘Rigor Mortis’ in the Hope […]
From the 1985 Waterford Crystal show produced by Michael Grant comes this vintage piece of comedy – ‘The Military Fairy’. It’s only a short video – worth a look to see some Waterford Legends threading […]
In 2000 Red Kettle paired the legendary Anna Manahan with the equally legendary Des Manahan along with a host of other national names with it’s Irish Premier of Brian Foster’s ‘A Miracle In Ballymore’. Here […]
This is a great little slideshow that was originally put together by Michael Grant for the Variety Club of Waterford’s Tops dinner back in 2008. It has quite a lot of personalities in it (not […]
An absolute rarity today – Sean Cotter’s handwritten ACEC Tops adjudication from 43 years ago – 1974. The show was the famous ACEC final show featuring Jesus Christ Superstar. Have a read… its great to […]
in 2015 Waterford Musical Society burst onto the scene with their production of ‘Carousel’ – the Rogers and Hammerstein classic. It was a welcome return to the big ticket classic style musical that had been […]
Today we have the finale from the 1984 Clover Meats Tops of the Town show produced by Michael Grant. It’s a great clip because it features another Waterford Legend of days gone by – Richie […]
Darren Malone’s ‘Happy Robot Productions’ performed ‘Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me’ to rave reviews in Central Hall earlier in the summer. The three hander received great reviews from all who saw it. Here we have […]
For me this was – and always will be – the first real ‘game-changer’ in Waterford Theatre. Before Grease there were two societies performing tried and trusted standards. After Grease the floodgates opened and young […]
In 2005 Flaggy Lane became the first Waterford society to win the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera with their production of ‘Singing In The Rain’. Here is a photo gallery of some production images […]
The brilliant finale from the 1994 Waterford Crystal winning show featuring a huge finale version of ‘I Got Rhythm’. Produced by Bryan Flynn it swept to victory in the televised final against Woodville community group.
In 1987 Red Kettle presented ‘Arms And the Man’ by George Bernard Shaw in the Theatre Royal. Here is the show programme with loads of reading in it with some articles by Ted O’Regan amongst […]
In 1995 Spotlight Productions became Premier Productions and produced the iconic ‘West Side Story’. At the time it had a who’s who of emerging young talent, many of whom still thread the boards. Directed by […]
People seemed to really enjoy the last ‘Faces from the Crowd’ video – so here’s another one, also taken before a Tops show in 1990. There’s loads more familiar faces in there in the Theatre […]
Back in 2004 Flaggy Lane Productions were debuting with their production of ‘The Hot Mikado’ which went on to finish 3rd in the Festival of Light Opera. If you look carefully you might see a […]
In 1993 Tramore Players Anonymous were ‘Making the Perfect Man’, based on the Chris DeBurgh song of the same name. The scene was lead by Liam Molumby and the entire show was produced by Bryan […]
Nearly 30 years ago Red Kettle were on the boards of Garter Lane with ‘On The Razzle’, a show that Garter Lane produced again in later years – and you can see the show programme […]
WMS produced the lesser seen ‘Man of La Mancha’ in 2017 – here is the show programme.
This has everything from setting up at the Dress Rehearsal to some side stage shots, to the final chorus of ‘Anthem’ in front of a live audience. Its about half an hour long, but there […]
d recent stuff once a week with all the vintage material thats there as well. Here is Andrew Holden and Paula Weldon with a quick chat about ‘The Collector’ that played so successfully for the […]
Here is the programme from the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society’s production of Oklahoma! way back in 1987. Its actually quite a unique programme because a lot of the production team and cast signed […]
In 1990 Waterford Crystal were presenting ‘Metropolis’ as the Centre scene of their Tops entry. This entry went as far as the national quarter-finals in Athlone. Produced by Denny Corcoran.
Here is the programme from Red Kettle’s February 1991 production of Brian Friel’s Translations. It played in Garter Lane in Waterford before embarking on a national tour.
More mayhem from the ‘Goats’ as they bring their own unique take on CSI. As usual it’s a riot – enjoy!
In 2000, the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society celebrated the refurbishment of the Theatre Royal with a quite apt production of ‘Maritana’ by William Vincent Wallace. The show programme for this production featured articles […]
This programme has an absolute multitude of reading in it. From interviews about the tops to pictures of the tops, memories of legends gone by – its worth a read for anybody with even a […]
Starting with ‘Worlds Apart’ featuring Terry ‘Scol’ Grant and Tobie Hickey into ‘Muddy Waters’ featuring Ben Delaney and Rip The Calico this was a stormer of a scene from the 1987 National Final produced by […]
Some material added from the recent Waterford Musical Society production of ‘Man Of La Mancha’. Mary O’Neill from the Big Breakfast Blaa met some cast and crew at rehearsals for the audio interview, and there […]
I thought this would be different for a change. A pre-show crowd in the Theatre Royal before renovations with the distinctive old red seats and no pit. It’s before a Tops show. There’s a load […]
Some audio for you today – this time from Jim Nolan’s ‘Dreamland’ back in 2014. Pat McEvoy reviews the play on local radio and there is some reaction
Another relatively recent show – this time the David Hennessy Stage Schools production of Sister Act which took to the stage recently in Garter Lane, Waterford. Some photos courtesy of the talented Colin Shanahan and […]
Video day today, and I’m delighted to add the Miss Saigon scene from the Nokia Tops in 1990. Produced by Michael Grant you’ll find a host of familiar faces in this one as well.
Although most material here – 99% in fact – is totally Waterford based, I’m going to make the odd exception for something like ‘The All Star Wars’ which was created in part by our own […]
This will give you a good laugh for a bank holiday Monday – the Bilberry Goats in full flight with their take on a war scene defending the Waterford border. Hilarious as always – have […]
In Summer 2017 the Theatre Royal presented 2 one act plays by Samuel Beckett. ‘Footfalls’ starring Carrie Crowley and ‘Krapp’s last Tape’ starring Arthur Riordan. Various bits and bobs of archive material here – press […]
Added today are two show programmes from ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ – one from 1999 – a Bryan Flynn production and one from 2005 – Flaggy Lane Juniors – 6 years apart, 2 very different […]
Who could forget Paul Kavanagh in a bald wig and Kieran Doyle in full Rocky Horror garb as Tramore brought us a clip of the controversial ‘Rocky Horror Show’ in the 1992 Tops. Bryan Flynn […]
! Added today are three show programmes – a classic from 1982 with ‘Fiddler On The Roof’, 1991 – ‘The Bells are ringing’ and 1993 – ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. Enjoy! Added to the De La […]
The 1983 edition of this magazine proved to be really popular – so I’m delighted to be able to add the 1984 edition. More of the same articles about all the Tops centres and other […]
Here is a classic Tops moment from the Tramore Tops of 1989 – but the video also includes a slide show of some legends of Tops from years gone by. This video was used first […]
Today it’s a show brochure from Bryan Flynn Theatrix original production of Jesus Christ Superstar way back in 2000. It’s a production that so many still remember fondly for a wide variety of reasons. 2000 […]
Today I’m delighted to add the video of the 1986 ‘Me and My Girl’ scene that featured in the national final. Waterford Crystal reached the televised final 2 years in succession – 1986 and 1987, […]
Just like so many other places in Ireland and the world Waterford had a concert as part of its Millennium celebrations. Waterford’s one was produced by Brian Merriman and featured so many Waterford singers, comedians, […]
Mondays seem to have become the ‘alternative’ video day – a bit of comedy.. a bit of everything. Delighted to share this Bilberry Goats video with their hilarious take on Irish Ballads – and its […]
The Show Programme from Grease 2016 2016 – Grease – Show Programme
Todays update is a video put together by John Player towards the very end of the Tops competition in an attempt to encourage groups to enter.. feauturing adjudicators, Niall O’Flynn and others – but it […]
Back in 1959 the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera was a huge deal that involved the entire city. Reading through this selection of press clippings and looking at the photos will give you some […]
WDS – the longest running society in Waterford recently celebrated 80 years! What an achievement. I still don’t have a huge amount of their material, but here are 3 programmes. 1988 – Taking Steps, 1989 […]
Some photographs added to the archive today – from the 2011 Theatre Royal production of Jim Nolan’s ‘The Gods Are Angry Miss Kerr’. Click on the link below for the gallery. Enjoy! 2011 – The […]
I’m sure everyone expects some Panto stuff now and again, so I don’t feel too guilty since we are three weeks in 🙂 Found these last night – 2 from pre-Waterford Panto Society (1985) and […]
A vintage show programme from 1984 – Die Fledermaus. This is a throwback to the era when there were only 2 adult societies in the city – Edmund Rice and De La Salle and their […]
Today we’re looking back to a video from 1992 to ‘The Mighty River Suir’ which flows into ‘Downtown’. The Port and Docks group featured ‘The Mighty River Suir’ in all of their shows, and this […]
The David Hennessy Stage School started in 2006 in St. Johns College in Waterford before moving to its custom built premises which boasts the biggest rehearsal floor in Waterford. In that time countless productions have […]
Stage Fright was the society that re-invigorated the theatre scene in Waterford in the early 90’s and brought to the fore the talents of a young Bryan Flynn. Today I’m adding the programme from Chicago […]
Konor Halpin gives a great version of Enda Kenny as he visits Waterford to announce good news on the jobs front! From the Bilberry Goats 2014 show and starring Scol Grant, Brian Power, Dee Lanigan, […]
Have a look at the national magazine published in 1983 by the national Tops organisers. There’s loads of Waterford photos from various years, pieces on Waterford Tops, articles from Tops people – and what I […]
Three programmes for you today from 1994 / 95 and 1996. So many people started out on their theatrical journey through the Youth Arts (or Drama as it was back then). Have a look and […]
Copyright © 2024 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes