20th anniversary milestone for busy dramatic group

Navan Theatre Group celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a presentation of 'The Playboy of the Western World' later this month. Regarded as Synge's great comic masterpiece, this iconic play will be staged in Solstice Arts Centre to mark the milestone for the group. The show will run from Wednesday 23rd to Sunday 27th November and the official launch will take place on Friday night in Ryan's Bar, Navan. From small beginnings in 1991, Navan Theatre Group is now a very successful and well known troupe, which has a membership of over 150 and stages at least one show every year. The Playboy of the Western World follows one of the best known characters in Irish drama - Christy Mahon, who arrives in a shebeen in County Mayo and spins stories concerning the death of his father. Rehearsals are underway in the Community Centre at the moment with Ruth Collins, Iseult Caffrey, Katy Leech, Des Lynch, Elaine McDonald, Seamus McMenamin, Aideen O'Sullivan, John O'Sullivan, Frank Poole, Nigel Ryan, Nöelle Tobin and Maurice Walsh in the cast. Since 1991, the group has performed a full length play each November and more recently have performed one acts plays in the spring. Rehearsals are in the Community Centre in Navan and since it opened in 2006, the Solstice Arts Centre has been the venue for their performances. Following a small notice in the Meath Chronicle, a meeting was called by Billy Goonan on 13th June 1991, which resulted in the foundation of Navan Theatre Group. Thirty six people attended this first meeting and all were very enthusiastic about having a new drama group in Navan. The name was chosen by those at the meeting and one of the group, Seamus Culligan, offered to design the logo. Anne Reilly, who was one of those first 36 members says there is a core membership from those days that are still involved. She says: "Enda Nugent looks after the sets every year and Kathleen Smith looks after costumes while Maura Gibbons, Tom Walsh and Bill Slattery are all still very active members." She points out that over the years they have had four directors, the late Billy Goonan, Catriona Heslin, Padraig Browne and Johnnie Grant, who is producing this year's show. "They have all brought their own unique skills to the shows," she says. The late Billy Goonan directed their first 10 productions starting with Juno and the Paycock in 1991. His last play, ten years later was 'The Field'. The establishment of this group followed in the footsteps of a long tradition of vibrant theatre groups in the town from the mid-1930s. To date the group has attracted a wide diversity of members and continues to grow from strength to strength. "We have also been fortunate in the loyal support we have received from the people of Navan and surrounding areas, who have attended our performances and supported us through sponsorship or practical assistance," she said. Anne recalls that until 2006, all their shows were staged in Navan Community Centre except for one occasion when it was performed in the Lyric Cinema, which had been lying idle at the time. They were all very excited when the new Solstice Arts Centre was being built. "We were invited to look around and we couldn't believe the facilities, the dressing room, showers everything. We decided we had to move our production to it, but it was also a wrench leaving the community centre which has served us well over the years." She points out that within the group they have been fortunate to have people with a range of talents and skills and have also benefited from the support of other locally based drama and musical groups to assist them with different aspects of their productions. Each year, readings/auditions take place in St Mary's Community Centre towards the end of August/early September. "They then meet on Tuesday and Thursday nights consistently from September to November. For some people there may be additional commitments for rehearsals during the week and at weekends. "We are particularly keen to foster a broad range of interests and skills and as a community/voluntary based group, members are always willing to take on a range of roles particularly during our busy pre-production periods. This may include set building, set painting, assistance with costumes, prompting, locating props, marketing and so on. "While there is a lot of work and learning for everyone involved there is also good support and enjoyable social opportunities," she said.