Oh Yes, it is, Kinsale Panto Returns

(JJ Hurley)

Kinsale’s residents begin their Christmas celebrations early this year with the return of an old friend, the pantomime,Goldilocks and The Three Bears on Tuesday, November 25th.

David Pearse set to play (Auntie Sceptic) in the upcoming Goldilocks and The Three Bears at the Shane Fitzsimons Riverside Theatre at Kinsale Community School from November 25th, seen here with some of the cast. (John Allen Images)

Making a welcome return to the town’s Christmas diary, The Rampart Players will host what promises to be a hugely entertaining show at the newly opened Shane Fitzsimons Riverside Theatre at Kinsale Community School.

Absent for over seven years, Áine Ryan O’Brien, who is co-producing the show, with Cal Richards Duggan, believes the pantomime is a very important part of the town’s fabric.

‘It’s very important to the Rampart Players that this tradition be upheld. There is a very strong tradition of Panto in Kinsale going back decades, and it is important to us as a group to keep it going,’ she said.

‘There has been a substantial break as a result of Covid and life in general, and we are delighted to return this year full of vigour. It is a privilege to be able to perform in this wonderful new theatre.’

Of course, Áine continues a tradition in the field of amateur dramatics in the town set by her late father, Kilian Ryan, who, along with a number of other individuals including the late Joe Gimblet and Frank Hurley, set a standard the Rampart Players are proud to follow.

This year’s production will see the emergence of a new dame, or rather a ‘new auntie sceptic,’ the hilarious David Peare, following in the tradition of Finbarr Hurley, who is without doubt irreplaceable.

With a strong production team, including producer Liz Timmons, many familiar local faces will be front of house, strutting their stuff as Dan Buckley, the Dame’s son, tries to save Goldilocks, played by Aoife Martin, from the evil clutches of the Wicked Queen Bee, played by Carol McNamara.

Some other familiar faces make up the bear family: Daddy Bear is played by Tomás O’Brien, Mommy Bear by Michelle Sheehan, and Olivia Warren takes on the all-important role of Baby Bear.

Of course, no pantomime would be complete without the usual slapstick humour, and there are no better exponents than Michael T. Frawley and Aaron Cornally Bale, known in this production as ‘Choppit and Splint it.’

The final leading character in this production is Megan Cunningham as Finn MacCool.

It has been a mammoth task for the actors and production team, who are grateful to the Friary for making their premises available for rehearsals.

The team would also like to thank Fergal McCarthy, Brendan Barry, and Ethan Smyth of Kinsale Community School for their help.

It goes without saying that tickets are moving quickly at €15, available from the Boat House on Main Street.

The production runs from Tuesday, November 25th to Saturday, November 29th from 7.30pm.

It's all go for the cast from Kinsale's Pantomime as they get ready to stage Goldilocks and The Three Bears from Tuesday, November 25th. (John Allen Images)