The Letterkenny Panto returns to brighten your January blues - Oh yes, they are!

Letterkenny Pantomime Society is making its annual return to the stage with its eagerly anticipated new show.

This year they will perform the family favourite, The Wizard of Oz, in the wonderful An Grianan Theatre, with a few twists in the tale, as you would expect from LPS!

The curtain opens on Saturday, January 18, running until Saturday, January 25, with shows nightly at 7:30pm. There are three weekend matinees to suit little theatre-goers at 2pm on January 18, 19 and 25.

The creative team of Paul Doherty, Patrick Doherty, Tina Garry, Donna Ponsonby and Dáithí Doherty, with a committee of eager volunteers, have been busy for many months to bring you a week of pure joy!

Musical Director Paul Ward and Choreographer Katriona McNamee have weighed in to guarantee a spectacle of laughter, music and audience participation.

Lead director, Paul Doherty returns after a lengthy absence. His meticulous attention to detail and creative vision have brought the show to a whole new level. The society are confident that our regular patrons will marvel at the use of technology for this exciting show,

“I’m delighted to be back on board working with old friends and new,” Paul said. “It has been a great experience and we hope audiences will enjoy what we are bringing forward: traditional panto with modern innovation but plenty of fun and craic for good measure.”

As always, the show includes a magical children’s scene where many a budding Letterkenny thespian first experienced life on the stage. Huge credit goes to Donna Ponsonby and her team for the coordination of our littlest cast members, whose participation is a long-standing Letterkenny tradition.

“It’s a joy to have returning cast members as well as being able to introduce some new faces to the society - it’s a great show building on the success of Aladdin last year,” Tina Garry, Chairperson of Letterkenny Pantomime Society, said.

But who will you see on stage? Among the cast is Garry Coll, a pantomime veteran with his own brand of classic timing and easy audience rapport, who plays the demanding Wizard. The effervescent Ciara Herity will capture your hearts as the female lead, Dorothy! Indeed, Ciara looks like she was born to play this role and the ruby slippers are in safe hands!

Making a welcome return to the stage is Ciarán Doherty, who is so versatile, they have cast him twice! Watch him and show regular Tina Garry interrupt the show with regular updates as Oz News hosts!

Speaking of versatile, familiar faces include Adele Evans, Dáithí Doherty, Mark Mills, Karina Boyle, Brí Carr, Donna Peoples, Rosemarie Gildea and Chloe Borland who will bring the fun, the tunes and much mirth to the stage.

This accomplished, experienced group of performers know how to deliver the goods and audiences are in for a treat, though some cast members will be seen as they have never been seen before!

They really can’t give too much away here but suffice to say, Brí is less Wild Atlantic Woman and more west Donegal crooner … Adele’s performances trump all of her others, Karina has never been as scary and we’d be lyin’ - if you ever saw Dáithí and Mark like this!

“In terms of pantomime villains, Louise Flanagan’s and Shauna McDonnell’s witchy characterisations will have you booing in the aisles!,” the Scoiety added. “Shauna joins Ciara Herity and Kitty Pereira as panto debutantes this year and what fab additions they are to the Society! We are blessed with talent!

Most people involved in amateur dramatics were involved at some stage in the Panto and it’s part of the fabric of Letterkenny town

“We would like to thank our wonderful committee for many months of volunteering and support in organising our show: Emma, Joan, Jackie, Lisa, Patrick, Pat, Mark, Kazuko, Daithí, Chloe, Bernadette & Donna, we wouldn’t have a show without you! ,” the Society added.

“We would also like to thank Brian Gallagher of The Station House Hotel, Alma Kavanagh, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Geraldine Burke, Letterkenny Community Childcare Group and Enda Nicholls, Arena 7 for providing us with venues in which to rehearse as well as Donegal County Council and our sponsors for helping us get this far!

“We are also delighted to have the support of our friends at Kilmacrennan Men’s Shed who work so diligently in preparing the excellent props you will see at the show- it really is a fantastic community effort.

Assistant director Patrick Doherty has relished the chance to get back at it. He said: “Everyone is very excited to get the chance to kick things off after a lot of rehearsals and we’re appreciative of all who helped in any way and if anyone ever wants to get involved, volunteers are always welcome. We hope you enjoy the show.”

As always, we return profits made to the community in support of our host clubs; when purchasing a ticket for our show, you will be supporting the following clubs: Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál (Saturday 18), Letterkenny Community Childcare Development Group (Sunday 19), Scoil Mhuire Milford /Milford Parish Fundraising (Wednesday 22), Drumoghill FC (Thursday 23), Bonagee Utd (Friday 24), Letterkenny Rovers FC (Saturday 27).

Tickets are available from An Grianan Theatre, and are priced at €20/€15 each, and will each incur a €2 booking fee. Early booking is advised! Those who require accessible seating should arrange this in advance through An Grianan when booking tickets.

This is a fun show suited to all ages with an exquisite company of great performers, talented actors and vocal powerhouses who have been eagerly rehearsing to brighten up your dark January! The story of Oz is one of the most popular pantomimes and Letterkenny Pantomime Society brings us an updated and contemporary version of this show which is guaranteed to raise laughs. Come see for yourselves!