Solstice set for backstage chaos with 'Noises Off' comedy
Navan Theatre Group presents Martin Frayn 'play within a play'
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Ciara Cassoni playing Dotty Otley and Niall Conway playing Tim Algood during rehearsal. Photos: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net David MullenImage 2 of 5
The Navan Theatre group cast of ‘Noises Off’. Back row, Niall Conway, Padraig McLoughlin, Cecily Gibbons, Cathy Carey, Ray O’Hare, Keith Nealon; front, Deirdre Doyle, Ciara Cassoni, Nigel Ryan (director) and Johnnie Grant. David MullenImage 3 of 5
Cecily Gibbons playing Belinda Blair, with Padriag McLoughlin as Garry Lejeune. David MullenImage 4 of 5
A telling off from Selsdon Mowbray! David MullenImage 5 of 5
Cathy Carey playing Poppy Norton-Taylor and Ray O’Hare playing Loyd Dallas. David MullenNavan Theatre Group stages the hilarious comedy 'Noises Off' at Solstice Arts Centre this week. Michael Frayn's play has been consistently praised by The New York Times as a “magnificently funny” and “ingeniously synchronised” farce.
This play within a play offers audiences a glimpse into the backstage world of live theatre - think on-stage mishaps and off-stage drama. What could possibly go wrong?
The plot sees fictional theatre company, Otstar Productions putting on a show.
We follow them through three stages; the final rehearsal before opening night where things aren’t quite as together as they should be, a performance in the middle of the show’s run wherein cracks are beginning to show, and a performance on the last leg of the tour where the end can’t come quickly enough!
Navan Theatre Group’s production of Noises Off is directed by Nigel Ryan. A group stalwart, Ryan has masterfully directed several of the group’s previous full-length productions, most recently Martin McDonagh’s black comedy 'The Lieutenant of Inishmore' in 2023.
The production features a stellar cast of members, including Ciara Cassoni as Dotty Otley, Ray O’Hare as Lloyd Dallas, Keith Nealon as Garry Lejeune, Deirdre Doyle as Brooke Ashton, Cathy Carey as Poppy Norton-Taylor, Padraig McLaughlin as Frederick Fellowes, Cecily Gibbons as Belinda Blair, Niall Conway as Tim Allgood, and Johnnie Grant as Selsdon Mowbray.
Also making it possible for Navan Theatre Group to bring a play of this calibre to life and deftly land those moments of perfectly timed comedy is its dedicated team of stage and technical crew.
Noises Off runs at Solstice Arts Centre in Navan from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th March at 8pm nightly. There is also a special matinee performance on Sunday 29th March at 3pm, meaning younger audience members don’t have to miss out on the chaos and fun!