MAC 25 – Silver Anniversary Revue
“Art is for the masses, not just for the classes,” said centre director, Sean Lynch, speaking to this newspaper in 2019, when the centre celebrated its 21s anniversary. “There’s only two centres in the country that are artistically driven, I am more of a theatre director than an administrator,” he said.
In fact, Mullingar Arts Centre has staged well over 100 plays and musicals since its inception. The annual pantomime is one of its biggest draws annually, and this year’s production, The Little Mermaid, is no exception. Opening on Thursday December 7 and running through Saturday December 30, tickets are already flying out the box office doors.
Aiming to recreate some of the most memorable performances to have graced the stage over the last 25 years, the MAC 25 Silver Anniversary Revue, with more than 50 performers, will shine a light on the high calibre of talent that exists in the town, a talent that Mullingar Arts Centre has forged and crafted, sending many a star out into the world of the arts. They include the likes of Mary McEvoy, Niamh Algar, Emmet Cahill, Mark Irwin, and Emer Keating, to name but a few.
Twenty-five years ago, Michael D Higgins, then minister for arts, approved grant funding to develop the County Hall into what is there today, a fully functioning arts centre. “At the time they wanted to demolish the cross arch in the auditorium but it was saved by the heritage group, meaning the front of house stage curtain and lift system is the last of its type and is unique,” said Sean Lynch.
Officially opened by Michael D and then minister for enterprise, Mary O’Rourke, on November 19, 1998, an in-house production of Chess was performed by Lakeland Productions, starring familiar names including Colette Dunning, John Smyth, Finbar Coady, and Liam Gilleran in leading roles.
Fundraising in the form of Over 30S Club nights began to raise money to fit out the arts centre, but in 2004, the unimaginable occurred when a fire ripped through the building. “We lost so much,” said Sean, including original costumes from the Playboy of the Western World in the Gaiety. “The only thing that survived was the crown of thorns from Jesus Christ Superstar.”
The phrase, ‘If these walls could talk’, springs to mind. The Mullingar Arts Centre walls would have plenty interesting tales to tell, but the silver anniversary programme MAC has lined up hopes to recreate some of those unforgettable moments.
On Sunday November 19, the Silver Anniversary Revue takes to the stage. Tickets are free, and limited to two per person; call 044 934 7777.