New Moat production is challenging

Naas actor Padraig Broe faces the biggest challenge of his career to date, writes Pat Keaveny of the Moat Club, when he takes on the title role in the Moat Club’s production of 'The Steward of Christendom' which opens for five nights at the Moat Theatre in Naas on Tuesday 18 February.

The Sebastian Barry play is the Moat’s entry into the All Ireland festival circuit for 2014 and after the ‘home’ run will be competing at drama festivals throughout the county with the aim of qualifying for the All Ireland finals in Athlone in May.

Directed by All Ireland award-winning director Barbara Sheridan, the play tells the story of Thomas Dunne, who was the Chief Superintendent of the Dublin Metropolitan Police at the handover in of Dublin Castle to Michael Collins in 1922. Very loosely based on the life of the author’s great grandfather, the play is set in the county home in Baltinglass where an ageing and confused Thomas Dunne is trying to break free of history and of himself.

Barbara Sheridan says she was drawn to the play because of the way Sebastian Barry tells the story in a way that she describes as 'lyrical and profound, extremely funny and extraordinarily observant and above all hauntingly sad'. "I hope it will be memorable piece of theatre which will stay with the audience long after the final curtain," she says, adding that there are also lighter moments in the production.

Barbara is well known for directing plays that strike at the very core of people’s emotions. She directed 'By the Bog of Cats' by Marina Carr which won the All Ireland title for the Moat Club in 2000.

For Padraig Broe, who plays the challenging role of Thomas Dunne, it is 'an Everest of a part, but definitely extremely rewarding'. “It’s a terrific play and I hope that people who see it will cry a little and laugh a little and really enjoy it. The whole thing has been a very enjoyable and rewarding experience and hopefully that will come out in the performances in Naas and beyond."

Padraig has played many varied and demanding roles in his career with the Moat Club from Gar Private in 'Philadelphia Here I Come' to Oscar Wilde in 'Saint Oscar', but he says this is by far the most demanding and challenging to date.

Padraig is joined on stage by Anne Hurley and Eugene Delaney who play two attendants in the county home. Sarah Gallagher, Eilish Rafferty, Lisa Moorehead and John Lennon play his three daughters and son-in-law. Eoin Murphy is the recruit and David O’Carroll, Aidan Forde and Matthew Burke, three fabulous young actors/singers, share the part of Thomas’s son Willie.

The Naas performances are at the Moat Theatre at 8pm nightly from Tuesday 18 February to Saturday 22 February. Booking is at the Moat Theatre box office 045 883030 or online at www.moattheatre.com

The performance contains some nudity.