Tuam Youth Theatre in spotlight with new production of West Side Story

It has been some journey for Tuam Youth Theatre since the group was founded just six years ago. In those few years, it has gone from strength to strength.

Its members have performed some challenging shows and the group has had a solid if a continuously revolving cast.

Now the young performers are performing West Side Story, which will run from Wednesday, August 5, to Friday, August 8, in the Mercy Secondary School.

Tuam Youth Theatre was established by Gillian Geraghty, the daughter of Esther and John Geraghty, who have played a huge part in the success of this group.

A superb cast of local talent will join forces to present West Side Story, the award-winning modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

The feuding families from Shakespeare’s Verona have become two warring New York City gangs in this American musical  – the white Jets led by Riff (Conor Flaherty) and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo (Jamie Harte).

Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. But when Riff’s best friend (and former Jet) Tony (Conor Walsh) and Bernardo’s younger sister Maria (Hannah Rhatigan) meet at a dance, no one can do anything to stop this relationship.

Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, and begin planning to run away. Then the Sharks and Jets decide to have a rumble under the highway – whoever wins gains control of the streets.

Maria sends Tony to stop it, hoping to end the violence. It all goes terribly wrong, and before the lovers know what’s happened, tragedy strikes and doesn’t stop until the climactic and heart-breaking ending.

Other performers in this production of West Side Story include: Hannah Wright (Anita), Jack Lee (Action), Sam Lee (A-Rab), Thomas Connern (Chino), Eoin Mullins (Baby John), Cian Forde (Snowboy), Eoin Greally (Big Deal), Neal McHugh (Diesel), Áine Neenan (Girl), Kate MacDonnell (Rosalia), Ollie Turner (Doc), Mervyn Fahy (Schrank), Mike Flaherty (Krupke), Róisín Fowley (Velma), Caoimhe Glynn (Graziella), Alisha Garvey (Consuela) and Mary Newell (Francisca).

Tuam Youth Theatre has become synonymous with providing the highest standard of amateur musicals in the past six years. The group has previously staged Hairspray, Our House, Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, Les Miserables, and Miss Saigon and this is will be its eight production.

A cast of almost 60, from all parts of the county, who are both in second and third level education, will present this latest classic musical, which is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages.

West Side Story will be staged in the Mercy Secondary School at 8pm nightly. Tickets cost €15 and there is a special on Wednesday night only for €10. The tickets are available from Quinn’s shop on Bishop Street and Geraghty’s Maxol garage.