"Just in case you missed it!!!!
The Carlow Little Theatre Society Anniversary celebration dinner is on Saturday 24th January in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow 
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Tickets are available through eventbrite https://shorturl.at/8yUtK or directly from Mark on 0872237198 or Deirdre on 0872641901 
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Decades of drama and friendships deserves to be celebrated!!! Please get your tickets and let's have a great night together 
Now that we have all taken the time to catch our breath, we would like to thank all of the wonderful audiences that came to see our production of 'Noises Off' last week.
We always appreciate your support. The show may be over, but we hope the memories will live on.
A special shout out goes to our director Paddy Behan for his time, energy and vision for the production, and to Tadhg McSweeny (who was ably assisted by Vera Pigulevskaya) for his incredible set design and construction.
We would also like to thank Bryan Burroughs for his movement coaching, Ann Nolan (lighting), Richard Doyle (sound) and our terrific stage crew (Emma, Emilia, ZoΓ«, Aoife and Paddy). Also, to Harry Shorthose for his input into the play.
We look forward to announcing some exciting One-Act and Full length projects very soon.
Pictured standing (l-r) Aisling O'Halloran (Poppy Norton-Taylor), Paul McManus (Selsdon Mowbray), Jo O'Donovan (Dotty Otley), Jamie Dockery (Frederick Fellowes), Paul Dunne (Lloyd Dallas), Shannon O'Doherty (Brooke Ashton) Keith Whelan (Garry Lejeune), Audrey Cooper (Belinda Blair) and Richard Duffy (Tim Allgood).
27th May 2025
Our sincere thanks to the lovely audiences that came to see our short run of Eugene O'Brien's 'Eden'. We always appreciate your support.
We'd also like to thank the staff at VISUAL Carlow for their continued support, and in particular Tadhg McSweeney, whose lighting and staging of the production was exemplary, as always.
We now turn attention to our next production, Noises Off, which comes to the stage of the George Bernard Shaw theatre this May.
: Richard Smyth, Carlow Photographic Society
Paul McManus did however, pick up the adjudicator's award for his role as Big Boy, which at least gives us the satisfaction that each of the three kings won awards for their respective performances on the circuit (Paul Dunne in Dublin and Jamie Dockery in Carrigallen). Special praise was also given to Paddy O'Byrne throughout our circuit run for his role as the guard.
We are naturally all hugely disappointed at coming so close to qualifying (one win, three second places and one respectable third place), but we can hold heads up high knowing that the whole cast and crew gave it their all in the more difficult Open section of the circuit this year.
We'd like to thank everyone that helped us on our festival journey over the past five weeks, including a very dedicated backstage crew comprising of Larry McNally, ZoΓ« Sheriff, Regina Doheny, Emilia Kleczko, Damien Brett, and Emma and Ann Nolan, who travelled with us the length and breadth of the Country. Their commitment to the production and moral support along the way was second to none.
Huge praise must go to Mark Cradock for his sound design and to Joe Doheny for working his magic in lighting the play. We would especially like to thank Barry McKinley for believing in us and for allowing us to produce his work on the stage and of course, our director, Deirdre Fleming, who brought it to life and put her heart and soul into every moment. We salute you all!
Our 2025 One Act festival run concluded in November when 'The Lithium Waltz' finished second in Rossmore, West Cork.
Director Deirdre Fleming picked up the adjudicator's award for the best ensemble play, and Larry McNally won the second adjudicator's award for the best moment of festival with his character, the Professor's explosion.
Our cast and crew received multiple nominations and commendations for the production throughout its entire circuit run. Our three second places and one respectable third place finish this year meant that we fell short of qualifying for the finals, but it puts us in strong position as a group to build from in the future.
Our thanks to Barry McKinley, Deirdre, the cast and crew representing us with a wonderful production and the many laughs along the way. Onward!
Our sincere thanks to the lovely audiences that came to see our Autumn season of One-Acts in Visual in early October 2025, when we performed two plays. First up was πππ πππ¬ ππ₯πππ ππ’π¨π‘π¦πππππ‘π by Brandon Hicks, which was directed by Richard Duffy. The second offering was π§ππ πππ§πππ¨π πͺπππ§π by Carlow writer Barry McKinley, which was directed by Deirdre Fleming and went on to be Carlow Little Theatre Society's entry to the 2025 All-Ireland One Act circuit.
In mid-October 2025 we retuned to the stage of the George Bernard Shaw theatre with Patrick Hamilton's acclaimed psychological thriller 'Gaslightβ, which was directed by Mark Cradock.
'Gaslight' is set in fog-bound London in 1880, at the upper middle class home of Jack Manningham and his wife Bella. Hamilton's play is a twisting tale of a marriage based on deceit and trickery. Another dark evening in a house with a secret history is interrupted with the unexpected arrival of Detective Rough and with it, the Manninghams' lives are forever changed.
The play was the origin of the term βgaslightingβ which is the psychological manipulation of someone into questioning their perception of reality, memory or sanity.' As gaslighting is a key part of relationships at the centre of the playβs story, the society offered to run a charity night for Amber, which included a fascinating panel discussion with questions from the audience afterwards. The night raised β¬1,000 for the charity and helped to increase awareness about its services in supporting and protecting women and children across Carlow and Kilkenny.
All of us in Carlow Little Theatre Society are completely devastated by the recent unexpected passing of our Honorary Secretary and long-term member, Ann Nolan, following a short illness. Her loss comes so soon after the passing of her beloved husband David, and our hearts are broken for their daughters Emma (our fellow committee member) and Ruth.
It is almost impossible to put into words what Ann meant to Carlow Little Theatre Society (CLTS). She was at the heart of everything we did, the lifeblood of our group, our steady hand, our wise counsel, and our dear friend. Her devotion matched that of her late husband and both her daughters; the Nolan family has been a pillar of our society for decades.
Annβs first involvement with the Society began in 1990, working backstage on The Bespoke Overcoat. As she recalled in our history book 'Just Try It β A History of Carlow Little Theatre Society 1945β2025', launched in early December, her first lighting of a show was in 1992, when she had to step in at short notice for a one-act play, Walter, in Goresbridge. "The lights operator had to leave unexpectedly and βsomeone showed me how to put up two stands, put three or four lengths of cable on each one and connect them back to the lighting board". She recalled that "I was told off you go light the playβ.
Ann went on to light almost every production for the next three decades, lighting the way for others, both onstage and in life.
In her 35 years of involvement, Ann worked on lighting, costumes, props, sound, administration, finance, production support, and anything else the Society needed. She never sought praise, yet she was integral to almost every major production we staged. Her quiet leadership, reliability, brilliant mind, and immense heart shaped this Society in ways we will feel for time immemorial.
Everyone in our tight nit group is absolutely floored by her loss. Despite recent health challenges, Ann attended our committee meeting via Zoom last Sunday and watched the launch of our 80-year history book the night before her passing. Her indefatigable spirit, her determination to βjust get on with it,β and her abiding love for our theatre family were evident until the very end.
Ann was deeply respected, admired and loved by all who knew her. She was a cherished friend to so many in the group. Her passing, so soon after Davidβs, is a loss beyond words. The two of them were at the very center of our Society, and their absence will be felt in every rehearsal, every meeting, every show.
Today, we are filled with unimaginable grief. But we will carry the legacy of all that Ann, and the Nolan family, built for the Society in our hearts forevermore, and for generations to come.
On behalf of Carlow Little Theatre Society, we offer our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to Emma and Ruth, who have suffered the unimaginable loss of both their parents in such a short space of time.
Ar dheis DΓ© go raibh a hanam. Ar dheis DΓ© go raibh a n-anamacha anois, agus go mbeidh siad i sΓochΓ‘in shΓoraΓ.
Our sincere thanks to everyone including, John, Dermot, the staff of Carlow County Library and our special guest of honour, actor Patrick Bergin, for making the evening of our book launch such as tremendous success on 4th December 2025.
We were not to know it at the time, but the hours and days following the event have been tinged with great sadness with the passing of our beloved friend and fellow committee member Ann.
Ann and her husband David were such an integral part of the research of the book, so it is at least a comfort to know that she was listening in to proceedings as we streamed the launch live just hours before she left us. The book was dedicated to David, but we now dedicate it to them both as we carry their memories in our hearts.
So many of you have asked where you can pick up a copy or if it is available online for purchase as Christmas gift or personal memento. For now it is available over the counter at a RRP of β¬20 in the following outlets:
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ππ’π‘ππ¦ ππ¨π¦ππ‘ππ¦π¦ π¦π¬π¦π§ππ π¦
ππ’πππ ππ₯π πππͺπππππ₯π¦
πππ πππ₯π§π¦ ππ’ππππ π¦ππ’π£
π πππ ππ‘ πππ₯ππ’πͺ in shop or online at https://madeincarlow.shop/shop
We may add further outlets in the coming days.
Alternatively, please PM us or contact us via carlowlittletheatre@gmail.com and we will revert with contact / revolut details.
: Martin Doyle, who also kindly provided many of images that were published in the book.