An Grianán Youth Theatre followed up their well received production of Blackadder Goes Forth with this thrilling and funny adaptation of Joan Aiken’s classic children’s novel, perfectly suited for family audiences.
Performance dates: 12 & 13 April 2018
Written By Joan Aiken
Adapted by Russ Tunney
Directed by Nora Kavanagh
On the face of it things are looking up for impoverished orphan Sylvia. She’s just been invited to go and live with her rich cousin Bonnie at the family’s ancestral home at Willoughby Chase. However the dastardly Miss Slighcarp, newly installed as the girls’ governess, plans to make Willoughby Chase her own and hatches a wicked plan to get rid of the two girls. Together with their friend Simon the girls set off on a wild adventure across a wintry England as they battle to outwit Slighcarp and her evil henchman Grimshaw and reclaim Willoughby Chase.
Originally written as a spoof of the Victorian Gothic adventures that Joan Aiken read as a child, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is a funny and exciting adventure story set in Aiken’s alternative version of 19th century England, where wolves roam the land. It’s full of larger than life Dickensian villains, mysterious plot twists and as ever with the best young adult stories, brave and resourceful children.
Cast
Jasper Lee Kardos – James/Simon
Alanna Sweeney – Bonnie
Shannen Wilkin – Miss Slighcarp
Laura Foy – Sylvia
Adam Boyle – Mr Grimshaw/Abednego Gripe/Mrs Brisket
Fergal Lonergan – Sir Willoughby/Doctor Field/Dr Morne/Mr Wilderness/Storyteller
Tadhg Brennan – Wolf/Chorus/Guard
Ryan Cunningham – Wolf/Chorus
Maeve Foley – Wolf/Chorus/Emma/Aunt Jane
Kayleigh Gallagher Kenny – Wolf/Chorus
Praise Adetuyi – Wolf/Chorus
Niamh Langan – Wolf/Chorus
Christopher Kilmartin – Wolf/Chorus
Paul Gillespie – Musical Director/Cellist
Production Team
Amy McClintock – Production Assistant
Oscar Murtagh – Production Assistant
Eoin O’Donnell – Production Assistant
Nora Kavanagh – Director
Niall Cranney – Production Manager/Lighting Designer
Tanya McLaughlin – Stage Manager
Jude Barriscale – Assistant Stage Manager
Pete Rose – Sound Technician
Anne-Marie Kilfeather – Costume
Robert Attewell – Set/Prop Designer
Jacob Stack: Poster Illustration
Nicola Burns: Graphic Design
Paul McGuckin: Production Photography
