Award Winning Irish Actress Brings Comedy To Newcastle

The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead, by Robert Hewett, featuring Clare Barrett, winner of the ‘Best Female Performer Award’ at the Absolut Dublin Fringe Festival 2010.xa0 The Play will be performed at 8pm on Friday 29th July as part of the Newcastle Summer Season live event programme, which runs throughout July and August in the seaside town. Set in Anytown, Ireland, the play tells the story of 43-year old Rhonda Russell.xa0 One day, her husband rings to say that after almost 20 years of marriage, he is leaving her. Dumbstruck, Rhonda turns to her neighbour and best friend, Lynette.xa0 In the events that unfold in the quiet suburban neighbourhood, some comic, some tragic, friends and strangers are drawn together, and relationships are torn apart. In this Irish premiere, produced by The Theatre Project, Australian playwright Robert Hewett’s play provides eye-opening insights into a world where relationships are not always what they seem, and asks who, in the end, is worthy of redemption – hair colour notwithstanding?! [caption id="attachment_26219" align="alignright" width="250" caption="The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead... in Newcastle on Friday 29th July."][/caption] This complex, very funny drama, featuring one of Ireland’s great comic actresses has been described by critics as, ‘a marvellous, mysterious and funny story’, and ‘stunning…just out of this world’. The show has been receiving rave reviews and standing ovations during its tour of Ireland and is guaranteed to be a brilliant night out – for people of all hair colours! At 8pm on Saturday 30th July the Newcastle Centre will have a complete change of pace and welcome Summer Season favourites, The Illegals to the stage with their double tribute to The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, featuring Ireland Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh. With the stage filled with a whopping 11 guitars, two keyboards and drums, the seven-piece band creates a brilliant reproduction of the close harmony vocals, ringing acoustics and punchy rock guitar that is the legendary sound of America‘s two top bands. In a foot-stomping show Niamh and the band will belt out a superb set of songs including Hotel California, Lyin’ Eyes, Desperado, Dreams, Rhiannon, a particularly rocking version of The Chain and many more Eagles and Fleetwood Mac favourites. [caption id="attachment_26220" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Illegals... in Newcastle on Saturday 30th July"][/caption] The band features the vocal talents of Ireland’s Eurovision winner from 1993, Niamh Kavanagh. Niamh again swept the boards at Eurosong 2010 on RTE’s Late Late show to reach the finals in Oslo. She is often described as the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of Irish vocalists. Joining Niamh will be Paul Dean, front man from the Belfast-based Paul Dean band; Torry McGahey, bass player from the 60s showband The Freshmen; Jim Sisk, ex-Apartment keyboard player; Paul Megahey of the Niamh Kavanagh Band and Zip Code; Joe Hanratty, ex-drummer of Apartment and Peter Cochrane, guitarist with Otis and The Elevators, Zip Code and Richmond Hill. The Illegals’ performance in Newcastle is a real summer highlight and a fantastic night, so get your tickets while you still can!xa0 Bar facilities will be available for both performances. To purchase tickets (Friday £10 / £8; Saturday £15 / £12) and for further information, please contact Down Arts Centre box office on 028 4461 2233 or visit www.newcastlesummerseason.com. The Ultimate Guide is available for download at www.downartscentre.com.]]>