Our latest in house play for the festive period is 'CHRISTMAS LIGHTS'
Written by our smash hit team of writers Tim Hanna ,Byddi Lee and Malachi Kelly this dynamic trio
have once again raised the bar and produced a new take on panto season (adult style)!
You all remember the 'What's my Scam'2018 sketches; the 'Impact' play, 2019-23'; Our three zoom plays during Covid
(Zoomeo &Juliet- Social Bubble Toil and Trouble and Six Angry Women all still on youtube)20'-22'
And now in 2024 the trio have come together once again, at great personal cost to each, to delight and
entertain the wonderful people of Armagh in this soon to be Season of Goodwill.
Enthusiastic actors flocked to Abbey Lane for this historic reading and boy did they have a laugh!
As you can see below the camera never lies. They can hardly keep their faces straight while reading - but they did.
Tickets out soon for this side splitting pantotype fictional look at Armagh.
Full of do-goody fairytale characters fighting a complete lack of festive good cheer from our miserable city burghers.
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/armaghtheatregroup/t-jzdarpq
We welcome Flash Fiction Armagh to Abbey Lane Theatre for this fancy dress evening of drama and scary stories.
Tickets are extremely limited as witches covens and ghosts will be flying to Abbey Lane in great numbers. If you are young or of a nervous
disposition...THIS IS NOT FOR YOU! Use link above for those precious tickets Aaagggghhh!
The latest play from our in house writers Hanna,Kelly & Lee 'Christmas Lights' has it's final reading before casting
tomorrow night under the expert direction of the fabulous Margery Quinn .
Starting at 7.30 in Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh if you are interested in putting your name in the hat please come along
for the reading and a warm welcome awaits.
'Christmas Lights' is a fairytale of a romp for over 16's to be staged 5,6th and 7th Dec 2024 in Abbey Lane Theatre.
Open Mic in Abbey Lane theatre was special for several reasons this month. Award winning poet David Braziel presented the overall winner of our 30-3-100 final poetry competition to Jordan Rafferty. Guest artists this month Sarah McStay and Liam Hughes pulled out all the stops to royally entertain us on harp ,fiddle,guitar ,uilleann pipes and singing. Video clips can be seen on our Facebook page Armagh Theatre Groupatg.
We had our popular raffle and then the Open Mic with Ellen McKenna; story, Mark Brownlee; poetry; Theo Sinton; singing his own compositions ; David Braziel recited others and his own work; Jay Rafferty, Mary Jbara, Lily Rose Conway with their competition poems and Liam McIlvanna yarns. The welcome return of Dymphna Ferran after a sojourn in CAH proving no change in her style ! and Malachi finished with a true story- truly.
Next Open Mic 25th October then on Halloween night 31st Oct ATG are holding an evening of ghost stories and a play in conjunction with Flash Fiction Armagh...Halloween fancy dress is encouraged. And on 9th November Colm Gavin and D Cullen are in Abbey Lane for a night of misic and song . Tickets for this night on Evenbrite.
Our final Poetry Competition for previous monthly winners proved to be a difficult task for our judge David Braziel to decide on.
Everyone who entered raised the bar significantly resulting in a very close run race with Glenn Wilson's 'Damselfly' getting
Highly Commended; Michael Kennedy's 'The Rag Bag' second; and by a short head Jordan Rafferty's 'Benny' our winner of
the £100 prize.
Other finalists where Ellen McKenna 'Fragments'; Mary Jbara 'The Unanswered Question'; Liam McIlvanna 'What if'
Dymphna Ferran 'Rhapsody in Blue'; Jenny Murray Unanswered Question' Lily Rose Conway 'Sonder Embrace'.
Thank you all so much for making this inaugural competition such a success. Hats off to David Braziel as independent
judge and all who helped in the background to make this a memorable occasion. Poetry needs a platform and found one in
Abbey Lane @Open Mic Nights.
Winning poem; 'Benny' by Jordan Rafferty
Couldja give me a hand, Benny? Can't get
the lid off. Gotta get my smiles from a pill
bottle, Benny. Nothing else for it these days.
Doctor says I've got a touch of the blues but
I ain't talking about all that jazz. Scars ain't
worth the stories that gave you 'em, don't
you know that yourself Benny?
How're you anyhow benny? And the old boy?
And the missus? Gone? All Gone. I'll split
a smile with you Benny, if I can get the damn
lid off it. Man needs a wife and a father, you know,
Benny? They know where the bottle opener is kept.
Do you hear that Benny? Can't beat Gershwin
on vinyl, not for the world. You don't have
one on you, do you benny? Anyone'll do.
Can't stand this old one anymore. Too green,
too blue, too full, too lonely. Pick me out some-
-where new, Benny, near a hardware shop. Can
never have too many bottle openers. You know
the score Benny. Some place where they only play
Our house on repeat. Had enough of old Blue eyes
Benny. Think I'd quite like brown now. None? No?
Not to worry. A mug’ve brown will do just as well.
You ever had your tea leaves read Benny?
It's all Hogwash, don't give 'em a penny Benny.
A Washerwoman at the Fair read mine Once.
A dog or a King or both says she to me, Benny.
What d'you make of that eh, Benny? Unclear says she,
Another fiver might clear her eyes a bit. I left on
a question mark. A question mark, Benny.
Our long planned for extension at Abbey Lane Theatre to improve accessiblity for all progress over the past months.
New toilets, improved entrances, path ways and more seating will soon be enjoyed by all our members and loyal
supporters. Here's the progress to date.
Hello All, The Committee wishes to explain a simplification of our membership/subscriptions policy.
We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed over the years, be it monthly or annually and be it large amounts or small amounts, but we think it is fairer and much simpler in future for everyone to pay annually, at the same time and by the same methods. We have decided that we are going to start from scratch commencing 1st September 2024.
The annual subscription to remain/become a member of Armagh Theatre Group will continue at £30 pa minimum (there is no problem if you wish to contribute more, that is your option and is much appreciated) payable on the 1st September each year.
Payment can be made either by:- Bank Transfer: A/c Name: Armagh Theatre Co Ltd. Sort Code 90-20-47. A/c No. 40166793. Make sure you give your name in the reference. Or by cheque: made out to Armagh Theatre Co Ltd and sent (or handed to) Tim Hanna, The Treasurer, Armagh Theatre Group, 1 Tower Hill Close, Armagh BT61 9HY
Members who have already paid in 2024 i.e. since 1st January 2024 will have their subscription rolled over and will not be due to pay again until 1st September 2025.
All paid up members will be entitled to vote at AGM and to become members of the Committee if so elected.
The annual subscription is vital to offset a proportion of the cost of our annual overheads, namely insurance, heating oil, electric, entertainment licence, website, auditing fees and general upkeep of our building. If you currently pay by direct debit or standing order you will need to cancel these arrangements as in future annual payment will be by either Bank Transfer or by cheque as outlined above.
OR YOU MAY DONATE TO Armagh Theatre Group any time by;
The ATG Paypal Giving Fund donation link is
https://www.paypal.com/GB/fundraiser/charity/3998501
Colm Gavin returns to Abbey Lane Theatre as part of an All Ireland tour this November 9th along with singer songwriter D Cullen. Expect an evening of easy listening,singalong songs penned by these two talented Dublin writers/musicians.
. This will be Colm's second visit to Abbey Lane after guesting at our Open Mic in 2023. Warmly received and welcomed by our audience Colm has been hoping to get back to perform more of his hits and loved the imtimacy of our venue.
This is sure to be one of the nights of the year so get on the link below and secure your tickets before they sell out.
# 8PM start Doors open 7.30pm