Ray Leonard Players to stage two Claremorris shows this week

THE Ray Leonard Players will stage two shows in Claremorris this week before they set off on the one-act drama festival circuit.

Tonight (Tuesday) and Wednesday night (November 1), the group will perform in the Western Hotel in Claremorris with Carl Nuzum’s A Night Without Stars. Admission is just €10 and part proceeds from the two shows will go to Mayo Rape Crisis Centre and One in Four. As well as a raffle, there will be a special performance at each of this week's shows, with a short excerpt from the group’s three-act show, which will go on the road in 2024.

A powerful drama that focuses on life, relationships and memory, the play centres on the main character attending a funeral. A mixture of dark comedy and tragedy, it explores how our actions can have life-long consequences.

Those planning to attend are advised that the play has an adult theme.

Directed by Tim Oates and with Mary Esler as producer, the show stars Robert Holden (Man), Vera Kilgannon (Tara), Marion Walsh-McGuire (Bridie), Bríd Roe (Francie), John Fallon (Mike) and Des Pollard (Priest).

Following the Claremorris performances, the group will have a busy few weeks, as they take A Night Without Stars on the road, participating in five one-act festivals. On Friday, November 3, the group will perform in Ballina Arts Centre, while on Friday, November 10, they’ll be in Bog Lane Theatre in Ballymahon. On Saturday, November 11, the group will perform in Kiltimagh Town Hall, on Friday, November 17, in St. Brigid’s Hall in Tubbercurry, and finally, on Sunday, November 19, they will round off their festival tour in Glens Centre in Manorhamilton.

This is the first time The Ray Leonard Players will compete in the one-act drama circuit and the cast and crew have put huge effort into bringing this powerful play to life.

The Ray Leonard Players was established to honour and perpetuate the memory of the late Ray Leonard, who was synonymous with drama across the west of Ireland throughout his life.

Ray - who passed away in 2005 - was a director, producer and mentor who made an outstanding contribution to drama, musicals and stagecraft. He was a great friend and a massive inspiration to the group’s founding members, and to countless other performers around the region. He was passionate about the stage and was affectionately known as ‘Mr. Drama’ in Claremorris and indeed all across the west of Ireland.