'You Kiss Me, Cause I'm The King'.

Learning how to play poker can be tricky starting off, especially if you're young. The young characters of Danti-Dan are eager to learn how to play the game but with slightly different rules.

Tonight we head to the Abbey Hall and with three weeks to show-time this is when the hard work really starts. Nights and days will be long, but we sure it's all going to pay off, as if you want to be really good at cards you have to practice and hopefully win big.

So far everything has been going swimmingly but we made it our objective on this show to be well organised, work hard and deliver on a solid show. So far the first few weeks has been all about blocking, learning lines, delivery and putting shape on the show. Now it's time for the real work. When we completely rehearse and rehearse and get this as close to perfection as humanly possible. We also got a sneak peek at the set during the week and we can honestly say it may be the best set we ever put on stage with thanks to Nefarious Designs.

Well with three weeks to go, we are going to be throwing on our costumes and going for Danti-Dan hell for leather and with the cast & crew we have involved in this one we are pretty damn confident on delivering on a great piece of theatre. But like playing cards, if you want to win big, you practice....or cheat!

Now all that's left to do is for you to come see the show!!!

Danti-Dan runs in the Abbey Hall Graiguenamanagh Co Kilkenny from March 20th to 22nd. Doors 7:30, Show 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are 8 euro and can be booked via 0857191898.

It also runs for one night only on March 29th in the Watergate Theatre. Tickets are 10 euro and can be booked via watergatetheatre.com

Note: Strong language and sexual references used throughout.

Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/sparktheatre

Or on the twitter @sparkstheatre

RAWHIDE, Rehearsing Danti-Dan.

It's always nice to go behind the scenes. Be it on a big Hollywood blockbuster or when VH1 did Behind the music(Those were the days) or even if it's your local production company getting a play ready for the Abbey Hall stage.
We've been working on this comedy from writer Gina Moxley who we've been told is an absolute legend and from what we've seen in the script it's obvious she is. She also has fantastic taste in the tunes from the class soundtrack she picked out, which she herself described as fab.

Here's the full cast rehearsing the hell out of it, with a pic taken by our fab producer Shannon Keegan, also if you look closely you can see everyone's favorite sound man Gary McDonald. Fun fact if you are ever out with this man don't leave your shoes around him, cause he will use them as a musical instrument.
With Danti-Dan we have Spark regulars Thomas Drennan(Brownbread), Aine Ryan(Bittersweet Graffiti) and Adrian Kavanagh(Everything bar Bunny) who is also directing the piece and not writing this blog. But we also have two newcomers to the show in the cast by the names of Keleigh Drea, and yes it is with an 'E' and Sinead Hayes and yes she is adorable.

(Thomas as Dan & Sinead as Cactus)

From our last two shows we had been to Barrytown and we've been to Luton but this time we wanted something more rural and more closer to our home. Something we could recognize and have a lot of fun with at the same time, and Danti-Dan was perfect. As Gina Moxley saids 'Danti-Dan is set in the middle of nowhere but that nowhere is Cork'. Dialogue is obviously important but we were absolutely amazed how much more the show came to life when we started acting with our Cork accents, it really brought another level to the play, another level of comedy. Yea sure we could have set in Graig and said nothing, but who doesn't love Cork, right?

So the story is about a group of young teenagers in the summer in the 70's in rural Cork. And really that's all that needs to be said. But we can tell you this, they are promiscuous and they are at an age where they want to know all about the birds and the bees. All the while Dan who has a mental age of 8 just wants to head off to the Wild West and ride the range.

Danti Dan opens in the Abbey Hall on March 20th and runs for three nights. Tickets are 8 euro and can be booked via 0857191898.

Or if you fancy seeing the show in the Watergate on March 29th then booking can be done via watergatetheatre.com and tickets are 10 Euro.

Note: Strong Language and Sexual References Used Throughout.

Project Y.E.S, Kicks off. YES!!!

Tomorrow we can say that Project Y.E.S really kicks off and we are very excited by this opportunity that we have been giving. January has been one hell of a month of meetings, emails, and generally getting organised for the coming months, that is going to be one hell of a roller-coaster ride.

So what is Project Y.E.S? 

Over one year ago, we began working with the Kilkenny Leader Partnership on Y.E.S(Youngsters on the European Stage Initiative) and the idea was that working with Leader and our friends over in Devious Theatre we would work on setting up the first rural theatre group in Kilkenny which is now known as Spark Youth Productions.

This project would be managed and delivered by two fine gents by the names of John Morton & Ken McGuire.

This project isn't just about us setting up a youth theatre this is about training and mentorship and further development of the work Spark Productions has been doing for over two years. We are not just here to entertain we believe, we are also here to help develop the arts in our fine home of Graiguenamangh.

Over the coming months there will be workshops in acting and technical theatre. There is no denying that Graiguenamangh and the surrounding areas is full of great talent and potential, all it needs is a platform, a platform which we are doing our best to provide.

The next show we will be hitting the stage with is a great comedy by Gina Moxley called Danti-Dan. A comedy about a group of teenagers in rural cork & learning about growing  up and the birds and the bees, Devious will be mentoring us on this, to help deliver what we hope/believe will be our best production yet.

Danti-Dan hits the Abbey Hall stage on March 20th to 22nd and then we return to our home away from home the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny on March 29th. Danti-Dan sees veterans such as Aine Ryan, Thomas Drennan & Adrian Kavanagh return to the stage. We are also delighted to have newcomers Sinead Hayes & Keleigh Drea working on this production, they've brought some fresh air and some great cork accents to the show. We also have a great crew, with Shannon Keegan as the assistant producer, Maree Moloney on costumes and Aoife Jordan and Brian O'Neil on photography and of course Gary McDonald returns to work his magic on the sound.

All in all, it's a very exciting year and who know what may come out of it, and that's the most exciting part.

Tickets are 8 euro and can be booked by phoning 085-7191898 for Abbey Hall.

Tickets are 10 euro for the Watergate theatre and can be booked via 056-7761674.

Note: Strong language and sexual references used throughout.

We've Got Stage Fever. Finnish Style.

That's right we have got ourselves some mighty stage fever brewing up, but let us explain why.

Last week Spark Productions along with Devious Theatre and a member of the Kilkenny Leader Partnership hit the blue skies for Finland. 

Here we are outside a lovely cottage in KaanKanpaa.(L to R) Alison Allan, John Morton & Meself(Adrian Kavanagh)

But why go to Finland is the big question and what did we leave with?

The main part of our journey was to arrive in Kaankanpaa a small town with a population of about 12,000. 

It is in this town that Finland has a Festival called Rammpikuume(Meaning Stage Fever). This festival brings youth from all over Finland together to perform Theatre, Music and workshops together in this one small town and from what we have seen, it's a lot of fun.

The Festivals Logo.

We were there to fly the flag for Irish theatre discuss there festival and find out how we can contribute to this. That's right we are going international.

On the Wednesday, we were brought sight seeing in the morning before our meetings with the Festival peeps , Krista our point of contact for this whole thing, first brought us out to Jami Javi, a place full of wooden cottages, reindeer and the worlds first underground ski slope. We didn't get to do any skiing but it was cool to see.

Meself & John Morton flew the plane. A great bunch of lads.

That morning getting to see very much a lot of rural Finland we were impressed by it's beauty. Getting to talk to Krista during lunch I couldn't help but see how much their nature meant to them and how proud they were of it.

After the sight seeing we made our way to Kaankanpaa and then had a small bite in the local cafe until it was then time to go for our main meeting. 

Krista drove us out to a local hotel where members of the festival had arranged to meet us for some lunch.

After this it was on to where the Rammpikuume festival was held.

So they brought us back to school. The festival which will hit 18 years in April 2014 all takes place in the local secondary school, it was here we would really get the idea of how this project will work, what will be involved and what the end goal of this will be.

As we got in to business, we started getting logistically in to how feasible and how not so feasible some of the goals they wanted to achieve were. We have to remember that this is a transnational project after all. With this we have to take in to account language barriers.

So what are we to do?

The goal for the festival is for us Spark Productions return to Finland next April with a gang and perform a piece of theatre. This piece will also be performed based on the same brief with other countries such as Italy, Malta, Czech Republic & Bulgaria.

After that we hope to bring Finland over to Graig next summer and visit our rural town.

Project YES is a lot more than theatre travelling internationally. For us as a group it it giving us opportunities to build ourselves in ways that would not have been possible with out it.

We feel this project will not alone benefit us but also Graiguenamanagh too. As much as we are a theatre company who's main goal is to entertain we are also there to help benefit Graiguenamangh whatever way we can.

This project will take less than a year. We are excited to have Devious Theatre on board to mentor and help develop us as a company. This is the city reaching out with it's hand and bringing us along, to show us skills, and give us training that without Project YES would never have been possible, and we are truly delighted.

After the meeting, that evening we were brought to an amazing wooden log cabin. It was here that they served us some amazing food. We must say that there hospitality was amazing. We met volunteers who had been working with the festival for years & years and they couldn't help but tell us how happy they were to have us here. 

After the meal and some fine moose for dinner. It was time to say our goodbyes. There was hugs and gifts. We told them how forward we looked to returning and they were too.

On the Thursday we went sightseeing in Tampere, a city which was about an hour away from where we were staying. And what was that like, great. But what happens in Tampere stays in Tampere.

Over the coming months you will be hearing a lot more about Project YES and what we will be doing in Graig as part of the project.

For now we are delighted with this, and we hope you share our enthusiasm.

We've got stage fever. Finnish style.

To Kankaanpaa & Back Again.

In a couple of weeks Spark Productions will be hitting it's second birthday. That's right on July 1st we will be two years old. Don't be scared to send us an ole postcard. We are going to be that little bit older and hopefully that little bit smarter and wiser.

The very first Spark play. One For The Road which performed in the Duiske Inn in August 2011.

Well as we get that little bit older and we start to spread our wings and venture outside of Graig and build up our fanbase, opportunities start to come our way. Opportunities that are too big and too valuable to turn away.

This year is going to be a hugely exciting one for us. With bringing Brownbread to the Watergate Theatre(June 20th) and then on to the final night in St Michaels New Ross(June 28th), yes this is just one of the many things that we will be doing this year.

So what is Kankaanpaa you ask? Kankaanpaa is a lovely town situated outside Tampere in Finland. What has that got to do with us? Well read on friends!

It's many a time we are asked what we are up to and what's the next show going to be. Anyone who has done work with us will tell you how much we love keeping things secret, then BOOM we hit you with it.

This is going to be the biggest news we may ever possible deliver so here's the scoop.

Spark Productions are going to Finland!!!! Why?

This Is KanKaanpaa.

Well over the past few months, since the end of 2012, we have been working with the KIlkenny Leadership Partnership on a transnational project(very fancy, we know). This transnational project began in Finland and the programme is all about developing theatre in rural areas.

With this we are also proud to say that Graiguenamanagh will be the town representing Ireland in this project, with countries from all over Europe including Italy, Malta and Bulgaria.

The programme is called Y.E.S, standing for Youngsters on The European Stage. The main goal of this is for us to develop a new play and along with the other countries, present this new work next summer, along with the rest of them.

But that's not all.

This project has lots and we mean lots of other developing projects that come with it. That we are proud to say will not alone benefit us but also the town we are so proud to be from, Graiguenamanagh. We won't go in to details but, like, as we say keep some mystery until another time.

One thing we can say is that we will be working with another theatre company. They are legends in the southeast and are truly inspirations to us. Tomorrow John Morton of Devious Theatre in Kilkenny will be coming on the flight along with Alison Allan of KLP and Adrian Kavanagh of, well, Spark Productions.

John Morton(Right) with Ken McGuire drinking tae. #countrystyle

Devious Theatre have been going since 2006, bringing work that has never been seen in Kilkenny before and also developing exciting new & original writing. Show's such as Night Of The Living Dead, Trainspotting, Shifting and Bash to name but a few. They have really done an amazing job bringing new life along with a new audience to theatre in Kilkenny and a company that we can honestly say, without them, we would not exist.

Spark & Devious will be working together to help develop Spark Productions further and help us with the workload that will be taken place over the coming year & beyond. We are proud & delighted to have them on board.

Tomorrow will see us jet off to Finland to discuss with the other member countries our plans for the project, an ole meet & greet if you will. We will be wearing our sharpest suits and fancy shoes, and we hope to bring back lots of pics.

We will have more news soon, but for now that's the big scoop of the week.

All we can say is, we are unbelievably excited and we hope to do ourselves and Graiguenamanagh proud.

Here Comes The Sun.

All this good weather we are having this week is having us reminisce about our youth. T'was a simpler time, when kids could play wrestling on stacks of hay & cartoons where definitely a lot more craic.

And who could forget, Ray Darcy on the Den with Zig & Zag.

There he is now, having the craic, with herself.

Any who, one thing summer means is ice-cream. Ice cream in all shapes and sizes. Today we are going to show you some of our very own favorite ice creams.

We'll start off with a nice simple one.

Money wasn't as ramp-id in the 90's, as it was in Celtic tiger times. But back in the day for a whole tence pence you could get one of these bad boys. Hell for a fifty pence coin you could grab five of them and suck away to your hearts delight. Leaving you with a rainbow of colour around your lips.

Next up we have the classic loop de loop.

We haven't seen one of these in years. The cover used to have some mad lad on an airplane going loop de loop as it were. If you didn't feel like a Mr Freeze then 25p would have you sorted, you'd also get a little bit of chocolate.

That yeti sure did know how to enjoy his ice cream. The iceberger was a bit more upper class, but not as fancy as the magnum, so it still gave you street cred. The only thing about the iceberger was that if it was one of those really hot days & we mean really hot, you'd be licking the sides of it as soon as you opened the thing. Ice cream should be something you can just sit back and enjoy, not worry about get sticky hands.

Of course then there was this beast.

The Magnum was the king of ice creams. Priced somewhere between 1 pound and a mortgage , if you were eating one of these as a kid, you were loaded. Most often than not you would only get this on a very special day, such as your birthday or for being exceptionally good at Mass.

The true kind though surely has to be the classic 99.

It's popularity is undeniable, if ice cream was music it would be Michael Jackson.

There was nothing like a day at tramore and a few 99's with the flakes, to make you feel that you had succeeded in life.

The 99 is full proof that the classic is best

You may ask way all this talk of ice cream?

Well you will find that answer out, very soon.

#countrystyle

Don't forget to follow us on twitter @sparkstheatre

And follow us on Facebook at Spark Productions.

brownbread For All, And All For Brownbread.

We are just two weeks off to the start of June and the summer madness is surely to heat up then. But speaking of heat, let's talk Brownbread. See what we did there? Brownbread, heat, oven? You get it.

Anywho, Brownbread first hit the stage in December 2012 in Graiguenamnagh Abbey Hall.

The show has been without doubt been our biggest success to date. Why? Well a number of reasons, we suppose. The promo, the name value of Roddy Doyle, the fan base we have built to date with our first two show's One For The Road & Bittersweet Graffiti. But we believe the biggest reason was the cast.

Edel Bolger as Mrs Murray.

Our first two show's dealt with people in their late teens and early adulthood years. It was just to right time to mix things up of instead of opting for another romantic teen comedy. The problem though was that we felt that whatever show we did it had to center on young people. Brownbread was perfect. It was three young lads with a host of other characters all of different ages. It was chance to get some of the Duiske Players back on stage and also bring in some new faces that had yet to be seen. One's which we are sure we will work with again in other productions.

David Behan as Lt. Bukowski

A few weeks ago an article was posted online about Steven Soderbergh and his retirement. In the article he talked of how art is supposed to be in the moment, and that's how we feel about Brownbread. It was fresh( No puns intended) and something not only the cast & crew got excited about but also the entire community of Graiguenamanagh. Now that is art, and that is why, like One For The Road, Brownbread will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Jim Kielty & Jackie Douglas as Mr & Mrs Farrell

The challenge for us here at Spark Productions is to broaden our audience, to enter a stage we have never been before and have people there to watch our show and be entertained.

How can you help you may ask? Simple. If you have seen the show in the Abbey Hall, then tell everyone you know about it. Share and like our page or even this blog.

Just like the people who bought tickets and all our fans out there who got behind us for all our show's to date, you can also get behind us by not just buying a tickets but also just spreading the word.

This should be Brownbread for all!

Now that is the business.

#countrystyle

Brownbread is set to hit the Watergate theatre stage on June 20th and then on to St Michaels in New Ross on June 28th. Tickets are 10 euro for each show.

The tickets are available to buy at Watergatetheatre.com or stmichaelsnewross.com.

Note: Strong language used throughout.

Back To Brownbread.

We announced yesterday morning that Brownbread was to return.

This time we are making tracks and hitting the road.

Spark Productions is nearly two years old and since we were founded it was always the plan to get outside of Graiguenamanagh and bring our work to wherever we would be let.

This June will see us attacking two great venues... First the Watergate Theatre on Thursday June 20th and then we will make our way the following week to St Micheals Theatre in New Ross for Friday June 28th.

Of course we would also like to sincerely thank Ger Cody at the Watergate theatre & Tomas Kavanagh at St Micheals for agreeing to take us on board and show their town's what Spark Productions have to offer.

One of the most important things for us to realize now is that since we have always said we have wanted to tour,  why now?

The realization is that we are ready to hit the road.

Brownbread without doubt has been our most successful production to date and one we will always hold very close to our hearts.

This great comedy by Roddy Doyle we feel is the perfect play to introduce ourselves to Kilkenny City and New Ross and with that we hope that all the locals come along  to say hello to the Sparks.

This time we mean business.

So that's what we are going to be up to in June, but you may just get to see us before that. We won't say anymore for now, but just leave you with this picture.

That's right...It is a Bunny.

And it's adorable.

One Week Till We Are Dea...Brownbread.

It's one week to showtime. This time next week we'll be getting ourselves ready for the first night(Wednesday 14th) of it's four night run for Brownbread.

Brownbread originally ran in the SFX centre in Dublin, Roddy Doyle is quoted as saying that the SFX centre was not what you would call a 'good theatre'. It was used for Bingo, Disco's and heavy metal concerts.

We can see a lot of resemblance between the Abbey Hall and the SFX centre. 

There's many a man around Graig who will never forget the famous 2fm disco's that Ray Darcy used to play for...or the time Boyzone came and played a gig.

Roddy Doyle said that the Passion Machine Theatre Company made the SFX Centre a theatre & we hope to do the same for the Abbey Hall.

Anyone who came to Bittersweet Graffiti in April may remember how the hall looked,what we can tell you now is that it is very different.

All in all it's seven days to kick off,we are excited and we can't wait to see you all there.

It's time for us to get to work,the next seven days will be hectic.

We either put the work in now..or we are Brownbread.

Brownbread By Roddy Doyle runs in The Abbey Hall Graiguenamanagh December 12th to 15th.

Door 7:30 Show 8:00.

Tickets 7 Euro. Ticket Bookings on 087-9439979

Tickets also available to buy in Nuala Barrons.

Note: Strong Language Used Throughout.

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

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.

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

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.

The Director Who's Making 'Brownbread'.

With rehearsals in full swing and we are now just about six weeks off from 'Brownbread' hitting the stage it's about time we talked about who is directing 'Brownbread'.

When it comes to directing a show,especially something as big as this, which we can say, will be our biggest production to date, we needed someone who would really grab the bull by the horns and hold nothing back...and by god we have that person.

Ladies and Gentlemen allow us to introduce to you Miss Kelly-Ann Whelan. Look at her there, all dickie bowed up and having the crack.

Kelly-Ann is someone in particular we have wanted to work with for a long time,since we started really. And we are absolutely delighted to have her on board.

She hasn't been seen on stage since Duiske College did there famous variety show back in 2008 where she played Sister Theresa in the schools version of Sister Act...she was amazing.

Although she won't be on stage,we hope to change all that next year, but that's for another day.

When it comes to putting a production together, it's important for each individual not to take too much on, otherwise your production can falter. Bringing a show together, is a team effort, with each person's role playing a vital part. 

This is one of the most important lessons Spark Productions has learned over the year. Never be afraid to trust someone with a role, no matter how big or small. Learning this has proved successful for us, seeing that with a team effort and everyone working to their best ability will give better results and also help ease the stress of trying to make it a success. We can see already from this production how much easier it has been to bring the whole thing together without one person taken on too much, and everyone has stepped up to the plate.

Saying that it also needs a leader. And Kelly-Ann is just that person.

From November things are really going to heat up in the office and as we have said before we are holding no prisoners with this show. 

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Or on The Twitter https://twitter.com/Sparkstheatre

Spark Productions Are 'BrownBread',

It was in the early hours of Friday the 19th that we announced our new show.

A comedy by Roddy Doyle called 'Brownbread'.

For the past few weeks we have been quietly working away like little elves on this production and we are delighted that it has been finally announced.

But what is 'Brownbread'? 

Other than a nutritional food, it is also Dublin Slang meaning Screwed.

As usual we are not going to say much. But we will say a few things. 

This production sees Spark Productions being shaken up a bit. With previous 'Sparks' who have worked on our past two show's gone in to there last year of college, there is a whole new ensemble team for this show.

We are delighted to have a new director on board. Someone that we have wanted to work with for a long time. But we will save her for another blog.

'Brownbread' was read around the time 'BitterSweet Graffiti' was coming to it's end and we knew instantly it was to be our next show.

Having sold out two show's with an unknown writer we are now keen to see what a writer with name value can do for us.

We are also delighted to say with all our hearts that this is no f****** love story.

With this one we are packing heat and we mean business.

Like the Van,The Commitments and the Snapper, 'Brownbread' is set in the fictional 'Barrytown' in Dublin. And we are delighted to have arrived there.

We also have a few surprises casting wise that you won't have expected but like the director we will save that for another blog.

We are fiercely excited about this production and we can promise you, you won't regret coming to this show.

But For now we will leave you with our teaser poster.

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Home Away From Home.

It's been quite some time since we've posted anything on the old blog and it's about time we changed that. It's been quite the busy past few months for all the 'Sparks'.

Some went away travelling and some came back.Some went off and worked in other shows and some spent their time driving around in cars howling at people.

But work is set to kick back in.

With this latest blog we would like to announce that we finally have a home to call our own.

The Tigeen.

Look at her there a great bunch of stone.

The tigeen as it is known in Graiguenmanagh is now our new home. We were giving the keys to the city as it were during the week and we are delighted,also handy enough it is right beside Abbey Hall, where we staged 'Bittersweet Graffiti' in April.

The Tigeen before us was used as a rehearsal area for the great Graiguenamanagh Brass Band and now it belongs to us. Their was even a kettle and some mugs left for us when we arrived.

It's great to finally have a place to rehearse, have meetings and generally somewhere we can go without having to worry about intruding on someone else's property.

We would like to especially thank Derry Gahan who helped us with this and at the same time Alison Allan who have been solid supporters since we started last year.

As for Spark Productions itself, the company is really looking forward to getting back in to action and this space is going to be used a lot over the coming months, but we will have more news on that later.

For now all we can say is watch this space,we may just have a few surprises to come.

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