By Suzanne Pender

CARLOW Little Theatre is back at the George Bernard Shaw Theatre later this month with its production of Martin McDonagh’s darkly comic play The Cripple of Inishmaan.

The play runs from Thursday to Sunday 25-28 May nightly and promises to bring McDonagh’s rich, creative dialogue to life.

Set on the remote island of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland in 1934, word arrives that a Hollywood film is being made on the neighbouring island of Inishmore. The one person who wants to be in the film more than anybody is young Cripple Billy, if only to break away from the bitter tedium of his daily life.

McDonagh’s much-lauded tale examines an ordinary coming of age in extraordinary circumstances and confirms his position as one of the most original Irish voices to emerge in the second half of the 20th century.

The Cripple of Inishmaan will be directed by Mark Cradock and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.

The cast includes Scott Cooper as Billy Claven, Keelin McDonald plays Kate Osbourne, Pauline Hayes is Eileen Osbourne, Patrick O’Byrne as Johhnypateenmike, Zoe Hayden is in the role of Helen McCormick, Jack Lawlor Mason is Bartley McCormick, Jamie Dockery plays Babbybobby Bennett, Julien Jully is Dr McSharry and Deirdre Fleming is Mammy O’Dougal.

Tickets cost €21 and are available from the Visual box office or online at www.visualcarlow.ie.