Irish premiere of Big Fish to be staged in Tipperary

Thurles Musical Society is all set to lift the curtain on their 2024 production next week - the Irish premiere of Big Fish, which runs in the Premier Hall, Thurles from Tuesday next, March 19th - Saturday, March 23rd.

This blockbusting show has seen the almost 70 strong cast and chorus rehearsing intensely since before Christmas under the watchful tutelage of Director Oliver Hurley, Musical Director Mary-Rose McNally, and Dance Captain Siobhan King. And, the spectacular set and stage which is being Managed by Anthony Kirby and Directed by Rita Callanan and their teams needs to be seen to be believed with the promise of something truly spectacular and unique in the Premier Hall. 

The show centres around the fantastical life of Edward Bloom (David McElgunn) - the tragic dreamer and hero of the story - and the characters he meets along the way. It is a wonderfully upbeat tale with great music, stunning choreography and catchy tunes which will have you hooked from the opening number to the concluding finale. With music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by John August, Big Fish is based on Daniel Wallace’s 1998 novel, Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, and the 2003 film Big Fish written by John August and directed by Tim Burton.

The story revolves around the relationship between Edward Bloom, a travelling salesman, and his adult son Will, played by John Hayes. The story shifts between two timelines. In the present-day real world, sixty-year-old Edward Bloom (Eanna Hayes) faces his mortality while his son, Will, prepares to become a father himself. In the storybook past, Edward ages from a teenager, encountering a Witch (Linda Ryan), a Giant (Frank Tuohy), a Mermaid, and the love of his life, Sandra (Fiona Delaney). The stories meet as Will discovers the secret his father never revealed.

Among other main role players in this show are Trisha McElgunn, Marie Therese Kirby, Barry Derby, Brendan Bailey, Ben Collins, Shannon O’Halloran, Denise King, Noel Dundon and John Butler.

Thurles Musical Society is very excited to be bringing this show to the stage for the very first time in Ireland and members feel incredibly privileged to be the first ones to perform it.

 RESPONSIBILITY

But, with that privilege comes responsibility and the cast and chorus have been flat out ensuring that everything will be right for the run which is attracting great interest from around the country.

While there are almost seventy on stage, in total there will be more than one hundred people involved in this production and the excitement is certainly mounting as they get closer and closer to the opening night. It will be a very busy few days for all between now and Tuesday evening.