RATHANNA Community Hall was abuzz with excitement during the recent showcase of two captivating productions by Blackstairs Children’s Theatre. The performances of The Pied Piper of Hamelin and The Sad Queen, under the direction of acclaimed Irish playwright and poet Darren Donohue, mesmerized the audience.

Two classes took the stage - the junior class, aged six to eight years, and the senior class, aged nine to 12. Their spellbinding performances drew a full house on both nights, showcasing the strong support and enthusiasm of the local community.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin Cast:

• Narrator: Breanna Campion
• Rat 1: Molly Delaney
• Rat 2: Sadhbh Dunne
• Rat 3: Sadbh Clerkin
• Rat 4: Emilia O’Toole
• Mayor: Fallon Donohue
• Secretary: Cara Curtin
• Policewoman: Lily Curtin
• Pied Piper: Maryann Grennan
• Hypnotist Student: Olivia Kealy
• Psychologist/Teacher: Isla Breen
• Town Crier/Builder: Isabella O’Shea
• Madwoman/Shopkeeper: Doireann Scallan
• Townsperson/Builder: Sarah Doran
• Townsperson/Student: Anna Bolger
• Townsperson-Student: Evie Kennedy

The Sad Queen Cast:

• Narrator: Ruby Walsh Hynes
• Queen: Kara Rose Whitford
• Lisa: Ellen Murphy
• Mother: Leah Smithers
• Baby Bobby: Mia Carroll Alley
• Sally/Poet: Emma Doyle
• John/Singer: Sarah Griffin Roslan
• Fred: Ellie Nolan
• Doorman/Criminal: Saoirse Clerkin
• Maeve/Landlord: Caoimhe Clerkin
• Guard 1/Gill/Mary: Grace Brennan
• Guard 2: Isabella Kciuk Jordan
• Aide/Concertina: Amelia Kavanagh
• Nora/Concertina: Teegan O’Shaughnessy
• Tin Whistle: Kate Banks

Blackstairs Children’s Theatre offers drama classes every Monday evening for different age groups at Rathanna Community Hall. The classes run from September to May and include various drama games, exercises, and techniques to prepare students for their end-of-year theatre performance, all under the expert guidance of Darren Donohue.

For more information, visit Blackstairs Children’s Theatre on Facebook.