Thursday 29 November 2012

Kelly-Ann Whelan On Making Brownbread.


Firstly, I would like to say how honoured I was to be asked to Direct “BrownBread”, I have helped out in previous shows that Sparks Productions have put on stage and I had really enjoyed it so to be asked to direct this show was a huge opportunity for me and I am very grateful.

Directing “BrownBread” has so far been very enjoyable, exciting and tough at times. I have to commend each and every member of the cast as they really work so hard every week in making sure that this production will be the biggest and best yet! We have great laughs but work very hard at the same time and now in the build-up to the opening night we are working even harder. People tend to forget that we all have lives outside this and so people need to give this cast what they deserve which is huge credit. They have made my job very easy and are all great people to work with.

In the beginning I was very relaxed about the whole thing as I have no experience in directing so was unsure what the job actually entailed but after a few wise words from Mr Adrian Kavanagh I was not long about getting into action.




When this show is over, I can truly say I will miss all the cast and the “craic” we had up in the freezing cold tigeen over the past six weeks. But one thing is for sure with such a great cast and production team this play will not be forgotten in a hurry. It has been a great adventure for both me and I’m sure for the cast too and I hope that people can see the hard work and effort that has gone into it.So as the Director of “BrownBread” I hope to see each and every one of you at this great production. It would be a sin to miss it! Whaaa!!!!Thank YouKelly-Ann Whelan



Brownbread by Roddy Doyle runs in the Abbey Hall Graiguenamanagh December 12th to 15th for four nights,Wednesday to Saturday.

Tickets are 7 Euro and can be booked on 087-9439979.

Doors 7:30 Show 8:00.

Note: Strong Language Used Throughout.

Saturday 24 November 2012

Back To The Abbey Hall.


We'll be honest,it's been an absolutely hectic week for Spark Productions. We're less than three weeks to hitting the stage and Brownbread is really starting to warm up...Cheers to Stereotype.ie for that one and that lovely piece on the upcoming production.
Today is the first day that we hit the stage to rehearse the show. It's going to be long and tedious but it has to be done to get the show the way we want it.
It's no lie when we say that this will be our biggest production yet and we want to make to most of it. When you have a name like Roddy Doyle on the poster we don't want to throw out any ole performance, with this we really want to impress and we must say that since our last show...Bittersweet Graffiti, we have learned a lot.


We want to improve upon where we felt we slipped up on with Bittersweet Graffiti. Details such as lighting & sound, and we can unsure you, we got our hands on a rig of lights during the week with enough power that it will make Las Vegas look like a joke.
When dealing with a production as big as this it can be very easy to slip under the weight of it all, but it's nice to be able to say we have it all in order, but the next two weeks will be full on.
A wise man once told us that directing is 90% casting and from this show we have really learned what that means.
The cast have been amazing,hard-working, dedicated and completely professional. The same can also be said for the crew. 
About three months of work has gone in to this show, from the rehearsal stage of production and when your unable to pay people and your asking to take up there free time it can be hard, but you still need enthusiasm and a hard work ethic and by god these lads have by the barrel full.
As we said it's now time to make our way back to the Abbey Hall, but this time we're ready.


Brownbread by Roddy Doyle runs in the Abbey Hall December 12th to 15th.

Tickets 7 euro. Ticket Bookings. 087-9439979.

Doors, 7:30. Show, 8:00.

Note: Strong Language Used Throughout.

Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spark-Productions/316095895080502

Or on The Twitter @sparkstheatre


Thursday 8 November 2012

What Is 'Brownbread'?


We are now six weeks off to the show opening in the Abbey Hall stage,December 12th to 15th and with that we decided we should talk a little about our cast and what the show is all about.

'Brownbread' was first produced by Passion Machine Theatre Company in 1987, featuring Brendan Gleeson.

The play is set in Barrytown in the upstairs bedroom of a corporation house. Three unemployed young fella's Ao, Donkey and Johnner have been off playing golf in their local field. While playing golf the ball gets lost and the boys stumble across a gun...and this is when the wildness begins.

With no Derek & Thelma or Block busters on the telly, the boys decide the best thing to do with the gun is kidnap a bishop and keep him hostage, the business wha?

With the bishop held hostage this is the best idea the boys have ever had but they may just be in more trouble than they realize. With the guards, the army and Mr.Farrell arriving to get the boys and the bishop out of the house in one piece and most importantly alive.

Without...as it said's in the script 'getting themselves in to some serious shit'.

The boys ain't going down without a fight though and don't intend to give the bishop up that easy.

The boys are packing heat and they mean business, this is one day Barrytown is never going to forget.

Starring James Kilbride, Thomas Drennan, Adrian Kavanagh, David Behan, Mark Bolger, Jim Kielty, Jackie Douglas, Edel Bolger, Eoin MacNamara & Paul Hickey as the Bishop.

'Brownbread' is Directed by Kelly-Ann Whelan.

Running December 12th to 15th in The Abbey Hall Graiguenamanagh Co.Kilkenny.

Tickets 7 Euro. Ticket Bookings 087-9439979

Doors 7:30 Show 8:00

Warning: Strong Language Used Throughout.