Navan Theatre Group presents evening of one-act plays this week
Navan Theatre Group (NTG) return this month with 'An Evening of Four One-Act Plays', running from 27th to 29th November at the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan. Audiences will be treated to four diverse and engaging pieces, each directed by a member of the group, offering an evening of emotion, laughter, tension, and wit.
The first play of the night is 'Bloody Yesterday' by Deirdre Kinahan, one of Ireland’s most celebrated dramatists, known for works such as 'Rathmines Road' and for her collaborations with the Abbey Theatre, Landmark Productions, and Fishamble Theatre Company, as well as with theatres across the UK. Directed by NTG veteran David Nelson, Bloody Yesterday is a 2022 drama exploring the fractured relationship between a mother and daughter. Inspired by a true story, the piece weaves together the voices of Lily, a mother who walked away from her family on a rural Irish farm, and her daughter Síofra, who retells their history with a potent blend of anger, bewilderment, and nostalgia - at times underscored by a 1990s soundtrack. The play delves into themes of loss, motherhood, identity and memory.
Next up is 'The Haunting of the Shay Spillane Players' by Peter McGann, directed by Seán Flanagan, who makes his directorial debut with Navan Theatre Group. Originally created as a podcast, the piece has been adapted for the stage and centres on a radio troupe performing a spooky drama—until the lines between performance and reality blur, unleashing a whirlwind of chaos, clashing egos, and unexpected supernatural twists. It’s a riotously funny comedy that promises plenty of laughs.
Another director making her Navan Theatre Group debut is Eimear Scully, who takes on Tony Domaille’s psychological thriller 'Even Numbers'. In this gripping drama, a prison psychologist sits across from Mary-Ann Twomey, a woman who has poisoned and killed five people. As Dr Vincent attempts to determine her mental state for the court, their conversations spiral into a chilling exploration of motive, memory, and the unsettling logic that Mary-Ann lives by.
The evening concludes with veteran director Nigel Ryan and a comedy by Peter Tolan, 'Pillow Talk'. In this witty two-hander, Aaron and Doug, two straight men with very different boundaries, find themselves stuck sharing a bed in Aaron’s eccentric grandmother’s mobile home. With space tight and tempers tightening, the pair are forced to confront their own hang-ups, challenge each other’s assumptions, and stumble through a long night of discomfort, unexpected honesty, and hilariously awkward moments.
Tickets for ‘An Evening of 4 One-Act Plays’ can be purchased online at https://solsticeartscentre.ie or by calling Solstice Arts Centre on (046) 909 2300.
Separately, Navan Theatre Group have once again enjoyed a highly successful run on the ADCI/DLI One-Act Circuit. This year’s circuit entry is 'From Eden' by Stephen Jones, directed by Sharon Carroll and featuring captivating performances by Siobhán Mallon and Robert Clarke. The play was previously performed in last year’s ‘Night of One Acts’.
Their circuit journey began on 25th October at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen. Since then, they have secured three first-place finishes, along with a remarkable collection of awards: five Best Actress awards for Siobhán Mallon, two Best Actor awards for Robert Clarke, Best Overall Play, and Best Director for Sharon Carroll. With these three outright wins, Navan have once again qualified for the finals in Tubbercurry from 5th to 7th December.