Little John show marks new era for Ballygar theatre

One of Ireland’s finest solo theatre performers, Little John Nee, will present his one-man show Small Halls and Potholes in Ballygar’s Town Hall on Saturday, July 1, marking a new lease of life for theatre in the village.

In its heyday, the Town Hall was a hub of creative activity, hosting the Ballygar Drama Group’s lively shows, as well as renowned Shakespeare productions from Anew Mc Master’s touring company in the 1950s and other theatrical events. The drama group was disbanded in the early 1990s after which the building was used for other purposes – along the way, the stage was boarded up and eventually it fell into disrepair.

But now, thanks to a local initiative, it’s back at the centre of the community. Performer and theatre-maker Louise Holian with visual artist Sheila Flanagan of Ballygar Arts and Theatre Space, assisted by the local Men’s Shed and supported by Tús worker Brendan Corcoran, repaired the stage and have ambitious plans for the space.

The Ballygar Arts and Theatre Space wants to encourage experimental and challenging theatre, support emerging artists and create broader access to the arts, explains Sheila Flanagan.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.