‘Demented’ ugly Sisters to make a winning Cinderella

Date Published: 31-Dec-2010

It’s all systems go at Performing Arts School Galway where 100 kids are currently preparing for the group’s Christmas panto, Cinderella which will open in the city’s Black Box on January 1 and run until January 8.

“We are up to our eyes in costumes, carols, lights, all the works,” says Paula McGurrell, Director of Performing Arts School Galway (PASG), who is choreographing the show.

This is the sixth annual panto from the group which was set up almost 20 years ago in Galway by Paula and two colleagues who had all been trained in performing arts in Dublin. They had realised that there was no facility in Galway for young people who wanted exposure to a range of arts, with training in music, dance and drama being offered.

The three held auditions in the city, expecting 50 kids to turn up – such was the demand for places that over 100 auditioned. But because they had only three teachers, they began with 50 students. That grew steadily and now there are 250 kids in the PASG under the directorship of Paula who moved to Galway from Dublin 10 years ago. Of that 250 nearly 100 are taking part in Cinderella.

They’ve been in rehearsal since November, according to Paula, who explains that the school has two end-of-year projects. One is the panto, which is voluntary as rehearsals are held over Christmas which is outside of term time; the other is a compulsory show, which this year was the Wizard of Oz.

Students aged three to 22 come from all parts of Galway and beyond to PASG – currently there are participants from Connemara, Clare and Mayo. Weekly classes are held in the city’s GMIT every Saturday and there are also classes in Knocknacarra, Craughwell and the Rowing Club in Galway City.

Almost 100 students, who have been rehearsing for Cinderella since the end of October and early November, will join a cast of professionals who began working on the panto couple of weeks ago.

These include Co Sligo actor, Bob Kelly and local man Seán Ó Meallaigh who is well known for his roles in Ros na Rún,Kkings and Cré na Cille. They play the ugly Sisters and, according to Paula, are “demented”.

For more see this week’s Tribunes