Kilcullen connections to Killarney young people's musical

Images: Prom Queen production.

A Killarney-based young people's musical coming to the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise on 29 July has strong Kilcullen connections, writes Brian Byrne. Prom Queen: The Movement (In Concert) includes in its cast CPC student Katie Smith, and Anna Dunlea — grand-daughter of Nessa and the late Pat Dunlea who built Kilcullen's Town Hall Theatre.

The show — written and co-directed by Killarney student Sinéad Greene (15) and produced and co-directed by Rachel Griffin (18) — aims to raise awareness about the importance of mental health amongst young people. Set in a fictional Birdhill High school, Prom Queen relates the conflicting lives of ‘The Popular Girls’, ‘The Handsome Jocks’, ‘The Emos’ and, of course, ‘The Nerds’. The show deals with many sensitive topics such as depression, domestic violence, suicide, internalised homophobia and LGBTQ+ representation, and bullying.

Katie Smith and Anna Dunlea in rehearsal.

The production debuted last November on the stage of the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney, and was a sold-out success that enabled a substantial donation to Jigsaw Kerry, the local branch of a mental health charity for young people.

Now going on tour, the show dates are 21 July – The Everyman, Co Cork; 23 July – glór, Co Clare; 26 July – KCYMS, Co Kerry (Understudy Show); and 29 July – Dunamaise Arts Theatre, Co Laois.

There are hopes that Prom Queen can at some stage be brought to Kilcullen's Town Hall Theatre, but in the meantime it's well worth a trip to Portlaoise at the end of this month.

Progress on the production can be followed on social media’s @promqueenthemovement on Facebook Instagram and TikTok. A link to their GoFundMe page is here for tour  support donations. 

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