Tag Archives: theatre royal

Avenue Q is a show that divides people – you either find it hilarious or offensive – or both in equal measure. This was the choice of Ignite Productions in 2013. Here’s a video of the Opening Sequence – ‘Sucks To Be Me’ and ‘What would you do with a BA in English’… and if you’re offended just a little …

Season 2 of our podcast continues with a lively and fun chat with Jamie Beamish and Richard Hardwick, creators of the much loved ‘CAT’ which returns to the Theatre Royal next week. Some great anecdotes and craic and even a soundbite from Elaine Paige (sort of) make up this weeks episode. Have a listen – to be honest it’s Cat! …

One of my favourite parts of ‘The Phantom Of The Opera’ is the ‘Notes/Prima Donna’ sequence – which was so wonderfully delivered in todays video back in 2014 by an amazingly talented cast of so called ‘juniors’. I say so-called as they would put many a seasoned performer to shame. Enjoy!

Here’s a clip from a lesser known show ‘The Boyfriend’. De La Salle College produced this back in 1994, directed by Bryan Flynn.

In 2017 the South Eastern Theatre Group produced ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ – another highly successful production with AIMS nominations reflecting this, winning the award for best Ensemble. Here’s the show programme for a look. 2017 – Jesus Christ Superstar – Show Programme

You know it’s great to get a good strong number with a male chorus in it, and Luck Be A Lady is one of those numbers where the male chorus is on display front and centre. This is from De La Salles production of Guys and Dolls from 2001. Enjoy!

Well now we are into the Irish Summer (!!) lets keep going with some summer-themed songs and ‘Summer Lovin’ from Stage Frights production of Grease back in 1991 – The show that re-invigorated theatre in Waterford. There’s a host of legends in this show… and in this clip too – see how many you can identify!

A little bit of Me And My Girl today and the opening to Act 2 – ‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’. This is from the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society and this production was staged in 2003, directed by Bryan Flynn. Enjoy!

1999 featured no Waterford Shows in the line-up – it is however always good to add in new WIFLO stuff to the archive!  Have a browse! Added to the WIFLO archive here. 1999 – WIFLO Season Brochure

Another Tops clip – this time from Ray Ban again – 1992. The Finale of the show started with a Blues Brothers ‘Gimme some lovin’ lead by Terry ‘Scol‘ Grant and led into ‘Blow Gabriel Blow’ led by Hazel Tebay. Another classic scene.

Way back 50 years today to the spring of 1969 and a production of South Pacific from De La Salle Musical Society. Here is the show programme from that show that featured many well known stars from yester year. South Pacific has remained a favourite – since being produced by De La Salle College in 1985, De La Salle Musical …

A throwback today and a first appearance from the Ray Ban 1992 Tops of the Town show – featuring ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ scene. Produced by Pat McEvoy

Billy McCarthy would have turned 65 this weekend just gone, and it seems as good a time as any to replay one of his party pieces – the beautiful ‘On The Street Where You Live’ from ‘My Fair Lady’ – produced in 1991 by the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society. Billy, as we all know, was a great friend …

Its been a while since we had some photos and something from Panto – so way back to 2006 and Babes in The Woods in the Theatre Royal. 2006 – Babes In The Woods Gallery

This time of the year has become Waterford Musical Society’s time of year and with their production of ‘South Pacific’ approaching here is a throwback to their last Rogers & Hammerstein production – the classic ‘Oklahoma’. Here’s the show programme (which is always a well produced treat from WMS). 2016 – Oklahoma! – Show Programme

Back a short hop today to 2017 and Ignite Productions were once again producing an original piece of theatre that was challenging. This time it was the recent Broadway / London Lin Manuel Miranda masterpiece ‘In The Heights’. 2017 – In The Heights – Show Programme

The Variety Show preceded the Bilberry Goats comedy shows and was in essence 2 tops of the town style halve with extracts from musicals, comedy and various other acts. Produced by Michael Grant and Padraig O’Griofa, they kept variety going in a city void of variety for a number of years. Here is one such extract from ‘Blood Brothers’ from …

A bit of light-hearted fun today from ‘Roast’ and an extract featuring some songs from Cats and A Chorus Line… no more description is necessary – enjoy!

The first Schools production of Les Mis in Waterford was performed by De La Salle College in 2006 in the Theatre Royal. Here is the show programme from that very performance. 2006 – Les Miserables – Show Programme

Another of the Backstage videos – this time of Crazy For You by Premier Productions in 2003. This mainly features a tour of the set (or lack thereof) by the Stage Manager Brian ‘Juckey‘ Collins in his own inimitable style. Good fun – enjoy!

Way back 60 years ago De La Salle MS were producing Oklahoma! A very old programme here and a very welcome addition to the archive! 1959 – Oklahoma! – Show Programme

No video exists of ‘Annie’ as a whole which took to the stage in 1996 – but some extracts of it were performed in Stage Fright’s Gala 121 in 1997. Here we have the kids from Annie performing ‘Never Fully Dressed’, Sarah Rochford as Annie with ‘Tomorrow’ – which the full cast join in with at the end.

Another classic photo today – and this time it’s from the Flaggy Lane Juniors production of ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ – 2005. Young and familiar faces here sharing the stage with some of the most experienced faces in Waterford Theatre. [Adsense-A]

Just a short update today – but what a great update and what a great photo. Fagin’s gang from the 1994 Stage Fright production of Oliver! , and how young are the heads in this one. ›

Des Manahan has long been the definitive G&S performer in Waterford and beyond, and in 1996 and 1998 he played one of his favourite parts for the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society – Major General Stanley. We’ve already featured the 1998 production in a previous video – so here is Des in all his glory in 1996 performing ‘Modern …

Once again for archiving purposes I like to include the season brochures of WIFLO from time to time. This year – 2001 – the sole Waterford entries were De La Salle College with a production of ‘Joseph’ – but Waterford’s Bryan Flynn did direct Fiddler on the Roof and our near neighbours Carrick on Suir were also taking part with …

Another rare extract from ‘The Little Whorehouse In Texas’ from 2003. Premier Productions produced the show in the Theatre Royal. No Video was recorded for this production, but thankfully WLR’s Waterford At 8 recorded some short extracts.

2002 was a quiet year for local participation, but Bowler Hat and local choir Lumen provided the final night concert. Added to the WIFLO Archive here 2002 – WIFLO – Season Brochure

‘Crazy For You’ is the modern-day Gershwin musical, and in 2003 Premier Productions produced the show in the Theatre Royal Waterford, directed by Liam Butler and Choreography by Michelle Condon. Here is the show-stopping finale to act 1 ‘I Got Rhythm’.

In 1989 De La Salle College produced arguably the finest College and possibly junior show of all time – How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. It was a pet project of Br. Ben Hanlon who discussed the show at length in our podcast here.  Here is the show programme from that legendary show which came 4th in the …

In 1997 Stage Fright produced ‘Gala 121’ – celebrating 121 years of the Theatre Royal as a theatre. One of the scenes in it was the ‘Tribute to Lloyd Webber’ featuring a host of musical theatre stars and starlets of the time. A lot of young faces in this one – worth a look!

This is another classic scene from the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society’s production of ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ in 1992 starring the legendary Martina Flynn as Annie and Denny Corcoran as Chief Sitting Bull.

In Spring of 2017 the South Eastern Theatre Group presented the ever-popular ‘Bugsy Malone’ in the Theatre Royal. Here’s the show programme. 2017 – Bugsy Malone – Show Programme

Featuring such songs as ‘Kisses of Fire Burning Burning’ and ‘Come on Baby Light My Fire’ – it’s easy to see the common theme in the opening to this particular ‘Glass’ show. The video quality isn’t great, but you can still sense the energy from the stage and make out some familiar faces! Enjoy.

Back to 2012 tonight and some more class video from the lens of Colin Shanahan of Digicol media. It’s the intro sequence and some clips from ‘The Sound Of Music’ all over the live recording of ‘Doe A Deer’ as performed by the cast with Gabrielle Holden on main vocal as Maria. It was of course Ignite Productions, produced and …

Episode 12 visits the wonderful world of Panto with the ‘Ghost of Panto Past’ – Padraig O’Griofa and the ‘Ghost of Christmas Present’ – Anne Corcoran Brown. 33 years this year makes the Waterford Panto the longest continuously running family entertainment show in Waterford! 

The European Premier of ‘Fame’ took place in the Theatre Royal in the winter of 1992.  It was probably not the best show ever to grace the Theatre Royal stage, but if it achieved anything – it started another group of youngsters on the road to producing musical theatre. Spotlight became Premier Productions, and the rest is history… but for …

Today we have the season brochure from WIFLO 2005 when Flaggy Lane Productions became the first Waterford Society to win the Festival with ‘Singing In The Rain’.. a feat they were to repeat in 2006 before South Eastern Theatre Group became the third and final winners of the Festival. Added to the WIFLO archive here. 2005 – Waterford International Theatre …

2006 was the year when Flaggy Lane lifted the international trophy for the second time in 2 years, and for only the second time out of 3 times in total that a Waterford show won the Festival outright. Have a browse! Added to the WIFLO archive here. 2006 – WIFLO Season Brochure

Back 17 years today to roughly around this time of year and De La Salle were presenting ‘Brigadoon’ in the Theatre Royal under the direction of Tony Finnegan. The show programme is below. 2001 – Brigadoon – Show Programme

The busy October schedule continues with the South Eastern Theatre Groups production of ‘The Beautiful Game’ rapidly approaching. Chairperson Dee Lanigan called in for a chat about what to expect and all things South Eastern….

Some comedy today from the cast of ‘Roast’ – a ‘Les Mis’ medley that any show fan will enjoy for sure…

Loads of audio snippets to add over the next few weeks to the archive. This one is from 2017 and Paul Browne dropped into Mary O’Neill on the ‘Fringe’ to discuss Man of La Mancha and Waterford Musical Society.  For more from WLR see www.wlrfm.com. 

Another one of these ever popular WIFLO Season Brochures – this time from 2007. This years WIFLO saw everything from The Mikado to The Most Happy Fella… Click on the Image below to view the programme.

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 it died out. Here is the season brochure for that 50th festival – some great reading in it, some old photos and some interesting articles. …

Back 34 years today to the Spring of 1984 and De La Salle College presented ‘My Fair Lady’ in the Theatre Royal as their annual production. As always – a tremendous success. Here is the show programme for a browse. 1984 – My Fair Lady – Show Programme

A bit of Panto today and the programme from Waterford Panto Society’s production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’. 2000 – Sleeping Beauty – Show Programme

This scene features the legendary Gary Power as Dr. Dolittle from the 1990’s Nokia Tops of the Town entry, produced by Michael Grant. It also has some familiar faces popping up along the way including Davy Sutton on his Ostrich! Enjoy.

Way back to 2002 today and a Liam Meagher production of ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ featuring a host of lovely girls and led by Ray Collins. This is a classic! Enjoy

In 2016 the Theatre Royal produced one of Eugene O’Neill’s rarely produced plays – A Moon For The Misbegotten. It was a co-production with the Geva Theatre Centre in Rochester New York with a cast made up of both Irish and American Actors. Here is the show brochure. Added to the Theatre Royal Productions archive here. 2016 – A Moon …

Firmly in the realm of Musical Theatre this week as we turn our attention onto Theatrebox’s production of Hairspray. Joining me is Liam Butler Director and Ben Nolan – Edna and Kayleigh Grant – Motormouth, both from the cast. We started talking Hairspray and went through everything from representing ethnicity on stage in this PC age, do kids in amateur …

Back in 2012 Ignite Productions (then known as the Waterford Glee Club) performed Cats with a largely junior cast in an award winning production directed by Vicki Graham. Here’s a flavour of it – the opening number ‘Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats’.

2007 saw De La Salle stage the perennial favourite ‘Annie’ – that seemed to pop up every couple of years in the noughties… Here is the show programme. 2007 – Annie – Show Programme

Back to 2013 today and the epic ‘This Is The Hour’ from the South Eastern Theatre Groups production of ‘Miss Saigon’. One of my personal favourite musicals. Featuring Holly Ryan as Kim and Josh Hurley as Thuy.

Avenue Q is a strange beast of a show – some find it hilarious, some find it – frankly quite offensive. Here are 3 promos that were made at the time (2013) to promote Avenue Q featuring Bill Stafford, Trish Orpen, Ciara Larkin and Alanna O’Neill… offensive or hilarious – you decide 🙂

More goodies from the ‘Flying Pigs Ball’ today as our esteemed theatre reviewer Pat McEvoy leads the charges in the Guys and Dolls showstopper. [Adsense-A]

Some more Tops nostalgia here – the opening to the 1982 Waterford Glass Show.

1999 saw De La Salle College producing the musical based on the classic Jack Lemmon / Tony Curtis movie. Here is the show programme! 1999 – Some Like It Hot – Show Programme

Another classic video today – way back to 1991 and the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society’s production of ‘My Fair Lady’. Featuring the late great Denny Corcoran as Alfie Doolittle, it also features prominently the late Peter O’Brien, another stalwart of the music and choral scene in Waterford.

So here’s something new for you – a weekly podcast, short and sweet. A few show tunes, a bit of chat about what’s coming up or with arts people in Waterford… the start of building up an original archive of audio to compliment the other wealth of material available on the site. This week – Michael Quinlan (or Q to …

I absolutely LOVE when rarities turn up and this one is a joy to get! It’s a programme cover from the 1945/46 Waterford Panto & Musical Society – a former iteration of the Panto in Waterford city. This was given to me by Alleyn Pheasey and if you look closely at the image you can see that Alleyn’s grandfather C. W. Pheasey …

A classic sketch from Davy Sutton and Terry ‘Scol’ Grant today. The Bee Keeping sketch comes from the early 80’s again, but was reproduced in the Flying Pigs Ball featuring the original 2 performers. It’s hilarious, and short. Enjoy.  

By request here is the final WIFLO Brochure from 2012 – the festival that saw the South Eastern Theatre Group sweep the boards with Les Miserables. The Festival had fallen from 18 shows at its peak to just 5 competitive shows and a School music festival. Despite this, the Festivals popularity continued, and its demise is still bemoaned all over …

Here’s a few familiar faces taking part in ‘The Flying Pigs Ball’ – produced by Michael Grant to fill the void that the Tops of the Town left behind after it’s demise. This show was a variety show made up of comedy and musical scenes from previous Tops shows. This particular one was from 1985 and the Waterford Crystal show. …

In 1986, De La Salle College presented ‘The Music Man’ to add to their wide and diverse range of productions. Here is the show programme. 1986 – The Music Man – Show Programme

Today’s video is the classic ‘Lambeth Walk’ from Me And My Girl from Bryan Flynn’s 2003 production of ‘Me And My Girl’ for the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society. A terrific front line, dancers and orchestra for this one.

More comedy today – the parody of Miss Saigon from Ignite Productions version of ‘Roast’… no more description is necessary – enjoy!

In 1988 De La Salle College produced ‘Oliver!’ for the first time featuring a host of young familiar names and faces on stage and off stage. Here is the show programme. 1988 – Oliver! – Show Programme

Here is the show programme from the 1990 Tops Quarter Finals that took place in the Theatre Royal in Waterford featuring ‘A Scoop for NTV’ from Nokia. 1990 – National Quarter Finals – Nokia

In 1993 the Edmund Rice’s production of South Pacific was a huge success. Here is a snippet – ‘Honey Bun’ … enjoy!

In 2014 Waterford Musical Society burst onto the scene with their debut production of ‘Carousel’. Here is the iconic Carousel Waltz from that production.

In 1985 De La Salle College presented that most beautiful Rogers and Hammerstein show ‘South Pacific’. Here is the show programme. 1985 – South Pacific – Show Programme

Here is the Tops Of The Town Local Rounds programme from 1990. Click below to have a read 1990 – Tops Of The Town Local Rounds Show Programme

Today it’s back to 1990 and Nokia’s ‘We’re In The Money’ finale from their 1990 Tops show directed by Michael Grant.

Taken from last Sunday nights stream and the last night concert of WIFLO 2003 here is the great Billy McCarthy in full flow with Irving Berlin’s ‘Let Me Sing And I’m Happy’.

Back in 2015 Ignite Productions performed a hilarious musical theatre revue in the Theatre Royal – ‘Roast’ where many of the biggest musicals of all time were lampooned. One such musical was ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ and here is the opening number ‘Tradition’ re-arranged to ‘Ambition’. This was performed by Ray Collins and Greta Rochford (who recently performed the ‘real’ …

In 1998 Edmund Rice presented another of their highly successful G&S outings – this time the all-time classic ‘The Pirates of Penzance’. Here is the show programme. 1998 – Pirates of Penzance – Show Programme

From the WIFLO winning production here is a classic from ‘Singing In The Rain’ – produced by Flaggy Lane Productions in 2005.

In 2000 De La Salle MS presented ‘Guys And Dolls’ directed by Tony Finnegan and choreographed by Oliver Hurley. The show programme is below. 2000 – Guys And Dolls – Show Programme

Tradition from De La Salle College’s 1992 production of Fiddler On The Roof directed and starring the legendary Gary Power as Tevye and the equally legendary Carrie Crowley as Golde.  

Another classic video from 1992 and the Tramore Tops entry that reached the national quarter finals. Featuring ‘Ain’t it Good’ – from Children of Eden.

For its 2004 production the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Society chose the Strauss epic ‘Die Fledermaus’ – and used a huge orchestra and a host of local talent with some national talent to bring it to the Waterford Stage. Here is the show brochure – have a look. 2004 – Die Fledermaus – Show Programme

Back 25 years today for the week that is in it and Jesus Christ Superstar from De La Salle College. Some very youthful faces in here!  

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’ of Musical Theatre for a considerable part of the last 40 years. From it’s early days when it attracted entries from all over the UK …

I’ve been holding this for this weekend – it’s appropriate to share with Rovers returning to the RSC tomorrow night! Some legends on display in this one – enjoy.

Back 35 years to 1983 today and De La Salle Colleges production of ‘Oklahoma’ – a vintage programme to add to the archive. 1983 – De La Salle College – Oklahoma!

Only a short video today, but one of my favourite songs. It’s a snippet from the final chorus of ‘The Sound Of Music’ from Ignite Productions, 2012.  Worth preserving.

Here’s Des Manahan with a great comic turn –  ‘My Motter’ from ‘The Arcadians’ in 1989.

Another video that was requested and very popular on our first stream was ‘Good Morning’ from ‘Singing In The Rain’, Flaggy Lane Productions 2005 WIFLO winning production. Here it is in all it’s glory featuring the wonderful Megan Cassidy, Michael Evans and Damien Douglas.

Back to 1995 we trip to the Edmund Rice Choral and Musical Societies production of Brigadoon. Featuring the lovely voice of Michelle Kennedy here is ‘Waiting For My Dearie’, one of the early songs in the show with the female chorus. https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=ZW3zXaVz8qg

Time for some Panto. Back in 1988 Denny Corcoran wrote and directed the annual Panto – this time Robin Hood. Here is the show programme. 1988 – Robin Hood – Show Programme

Probably not the most politically correct of sketches nowadays, but it was 2003 – and times were (a little bit) simpler then! Not quite Bilberry Goats – but a lot of the troupe appeared in it, so enjoy Cha O’Neill, Nicky Cummins, Paddy Madigan, Tony Corcoran, Paul Corcoran and Anne McGrath twarthing the housing officer – Michael Power. Also featuring …

Back to 1985 and Gee Officer Krupke featuring Davy Sutton and a host of legends was one of the key scenes. It’s a bit dark – but it’s great – enjoy!

Godspell was the production of choice for Spotlight Productions (before they re-named to Premier Productions the following year). It was a riot of colour and energy, directed by Gary Power and Choreography by Michelle Condon. Here’s a short snippet from ‘We Beseech Thee’ – with a lot of young and familiar heads in it

It’s time for another Tops video and we are back to 1986 and Nokia, produced by Denny Corcoran. This time Denny chose a ‘Swing’ opening with a song from A Chorusline added in for good measure.

Today’s look back is to 1995 and some original press clippings from the pre-publicity for the Edmund Rice Choral And Musical Societies production of  ‘Brigadoon’. Clipping 1 Clipping 2 Clipping 3 Clipping 4

Today’s update – a vintage programme from De La Salle College way way back to 1981, 37 years ago. ‘Oliver!’ – one of the most popular of all the shows a school chooses to perform 1981 – Oliver – Show Programme

Back to 2006 and one of a couple of productions of ‘Some Like It Hot’ that took place in the early noughties in Waterford. This one featuring another legendary character of Waterford Theatre – Paul Dillon who has been in everything and anything over a very long career. This time he’s playing a dirty old man accompanying a gang of …

The first of a three part audio-podcast series with Des Manahan – recent winner of the Waterford News And Star Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award. I spoke to Des the day before he won the award and he didn’t have an inkling what lay around the corner the very next night. All the episodes will be in or around 30 …

It’s wonderful to see extracts like this with the legendary Des Manahan in full flight. A short video – the opening dance and number from the 1992 production of Annie Get Your Gun. It never ceases to amaze me – no microphones on display anywhere… these days we have them on everyone, but back then it was project or get …