2026 DEC 3-5th Armagh Christmas Carol Abbey Lane Theatre (ALT) An original play written & directed by Tim Hanna July 31st John Hewitt ISS Open Mic Night (ALT) Special guests 'Meisceal' trad group MC Malachi Kelly **10/11 Abbey Lane Courtyard levelled and stoned. All G Hart work complete** June 27th 60TH Anniversary Quiz (ALT) MC Adam Trotter. April 24th FOLK CLUB @ Abbey Lane MC Matthew Toner March27th FOLK CLUB@ Abbey Lane MC Eoin Kelly March 6th Enniskillen Festival, Ardowen Theatre -'Toxic Relationships' by Byddi Lee; Directed by Margery Quinn. March 2nd Castleblayney Festival Iontas Arts &Community Centre - 'Toxic Relationships' Feb 28th Lislea Festival Community Hall 'Toxic Relationships Feb 27th N'townstewart festival Community Hall 'Toxic Relationships' Confined Festival results: for Armagh Theatre Group's performances of Byddi Lee's 'Toxic Relationships' 2026 *NEWTOWNSTEWART* NOMINEE Best Supporting female actor Bridie Heaney . *WINNER* Malcolm Dawson...Best supporting male actor *CASTLEBLAYNEY* *NOMINEES* : Brian Devlin ... Best male actor Laura McCool ...Best female actor Sinéad Hughes ...Best supporting female actor Malcolm Dawson ...Best supporting male actor *WINNERS* Rosemary Mc Cool ...Best Costume award Allan Lee and Seannie Perry ... Best lighting /visuals *Overall position in festival** *2nd PLACE* *LISLEA, SOUTH ARMAGH* **NOMINEES* : Laura Rose McCool... Best Newcomer female actor Brian Devlin... Best Supporting actor Rosemary McCool Adjudicator's award Costumes *Enniskillen Ardowen Theatre* *JOINT WINNERS* : Megan King, Sean Toner Most promising young actors. Rehearsals throughout January/February St Catherines College/ Abbey Lane Theatre Feb.27th FOLK CLUB @ Abbey Lane MC Pauline McDonald. Jan 30th FOLK CLUB @ Abbey Lane MC Malachi. 2025 Dec 6th Band night 'Blues Night' Saran Mackle Band Nov 11th Play Readings. Nov 6th Book Launch 'The Unknown Poet' Abbey Lane Nov 1st Market Place Studio Theatre 'Toxic Relationships' by Byddi Lee Directed by Margery Quinn. Oct Various dates Rehearsals Market Place Theatre and AL Theatre August 1st Abbey Lane; JHISS /Open Mic Night Sp Guest Colin Hassard MC Malachi (last OMN in a ten year stint started 2016) June 27h Open Mic Night Sp Guests Hughes Family Keady. MC Malachi. 26th Full read through of revised T'oxic Relationships' AL 20th 'Last Quiz on Earth' by Alison Carr Abbey Lane Directed by Adam Trotter 6/7th Armagh Youth Theatre Group 'Treading the Boards' AL Directed by Adam Trotter/ Sophia Kelly May 30th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Lynda Tavakoli Poet MC Malachi *May Completion of extension work on Abbey Lane. Courtyard to be cleared, levelled and stoned.* April 25th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Daniel Corrigan MC Malachi March 28th Open Mic Night Sp Guests Woodbees folk group MC Malachi 24th Trip to Sligo's Drumcliff Church as extra's in film 'You'll never believe who's dead' February 28th Open Mic Night Sp Guests M Rafferty School of Music MC Malachi. 2024 Dec 4/5/6th 'Christmas Lights' play by In house writers Hanna/Lee/Kelly AL Nov 29th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Sean Donnelly MC Malachi 9th Band Night Colm Gavin and Guests AL October 31st Halloween Party / Flash Fiction Armagh and Play 'Lost Family Links' one act play by Malachi Kelly. 26th Saturday morning AYTG drama classes 25th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Owen McCreesh MC Malachi 21st Rehearsals 'Lost Family Links' started 30Sept 1st Rehearsals for 'Christmas Lights' start. Sept 27th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Harpist Sarah McStay/ Liam Hughes. David Braziel Poetry Competition presentation. 17th First read 'Christmas Lights' by in house writers Hanna/Lee/Kelly. August 30th Open Mic Night Sp Guests Raquel McKee poet and 'The Garage' Band. 28th All Ireland Final Armagh v Galway July 26th JHISS/Open Mic Night Sp Guest Gaynor Kane POET 4th Dementia Awareness Talk AL Organiser Rachel Toner. June 28th Open Mic Night Ukrainian Folk singer and film MC Malachi June 2024 – Waiting For You by Mark O’Leary. Produced by Felim Rafferty. 20th Two one-acts. Laundry and Bourbon by James McLure. Produced by Rosemary McCool. Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh. 12th 'Impact' book launch by ATG writers Byddi Lee, Tim Hanna and Malachi Kelly at The Palace Demesne Armagh. 12th Commencement of work by Gerry Hart on extension at Abbey Lane to provide accessible toilets, kitchenette, dressing room/toilet/greenroom and ancillary works. May 31st Open Mic Night Guest artist Seonaid Murray(Sax player/singer) Poetry competition.MC Malachi. 5th Dingle Goat St School hall.One performance of 'ToxicRelationships' Feile na Bealtaine Festival, Dingle Co Kerry. 2nd Abbey Lane Theatre 'Toxic Relationships' (full house prior to trip to Dingle) April 26th Open Mic Night Guest Artist Danny Doran (well known singer/performer) Poetry competition. MC Malachi 23rd Abbey Lane Booked performance of 'Toxic Relationships' Westenders. 18/19th Abbey Lane 'Toxic Relationships' (full houses) April/May 2024 – Toxic Relationships by Byddi Lee. Produced by Margery Quinn. Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh and Feile na Bealtaine Festival, Dingle. March 29th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Steve Lally (Storyteller) Poetry Comp. MC Malachi . February 23rd Open Mic Night Sp Guests Adrian Kissane,Eoin Kelly, Aidan McGillion. Poetry comp.MC Malachi. Rehearsals for 'Toxic' throughout Feb/March January 26th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Conchur White (Swirling Violets album launch) 30-3-30poetry competition MC Malachi. 19th Reading section of 'Toxic' Earth and Moon (Bridie Heaney/ Malachi Kelly) U3A City Hotel. January 12th – 10 Mini Plays. Writer’s Block by Tim Hanna, Space & Distance by Siobhan Hegarty, Leav’z Your Butts by Malachi Kelly, Choices by Byddi Lee, Moskito by Brian Lamb, Satan’s Public Relations Service by Mark Brownlee, The Mayday Gate by Byddi Lee, Ashes to Ashes by Tim Hanna, A Night on The Town by Ellen McKenna and Shear by Patrick McKenna. Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh. Rehearsals for Mini Plays various dates from Nov/Dec 23'-Jan 24' Dec 2023 6th Aviva Stadium ,Scientific conference reading excerpt from 'Toxic Relationships' Bridie Heaney/Malachi Kelly. 7th Teacher's Centre Rehearsed reading of 'Toxic' by all cast. Vegetarian meal then bus home to Armagh. November 28th Mark Brownlee's book launch.November 2023 – 24th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Willie Nugent ( Armagh charity fund raiser) Colm Gavin (Dublin singer). 16-18th Market Place Theatre 'Impact' , Armagh Train disaster play. Full houses. Writers Lee,Kelly and Hanna Director Margery Quinn. October 27th. Open Mic Night Sp Guest Poet Glenn Wilson (Portadown) MC Malachi. Rehearsals throughout October og Impact and Toxic for readings and performances September 29th Open Mic Night / Blues Fest start ; Sp Guest Conchur White l(ocal songwriter/singer with big future) MC Malachi. August 25th Open Mic Night Sp Guests 'Woodbee's ' Local ukes folk group. MC Rachel Toner. 17th Pearse St Library Dublin. 'Writing the Earth' rehearsed reading of 'Toxic' Members of ATG. July 28th Open Mic /John Hewitt ISS Full house MC Malachi./ 4th Abbey Lane Viewing of Zoomeo and Juliet one of 3 live Zoom productions written by Lee/Hanna/Kelly during Covid lockdown. June 30th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Theo Sinton (blues singer) people from Australia, Canada, Co Down and Tyrone MC Malachi. 24th Armagh Youth Theatre Group, Abbey Lane 'Treading the Boards' production June 7/8/9th/15/16th Abbey Lane Theatre 'Bleak Expectations' by Mark Evans. Produced by Adam Trotter. Full houses. May 26th Open Mic Night Sp Guest Sinead McKenna ( All Ireland fiddler from Tyrone) Poetry comp. MC Malachi 3rd/ 16th Abbey Lane Creative Lives Workshop with Poet Colin Hassard and Seonaid Murray. Rehearsals during April/May for Bleak Expectations. April 28h Open Mic Night 19th ATG trip to Inniskeen home of Patrick Kavannagh poet. March 31st Open Mic Night Sp Guest Cathy Carson (Spoken word poet) and Colin Hassard .MC Malachi February 24th Open Mic Night Poetry competition 30-3-30 start . Full house MC Malachi. Abbey Lane 9th/10th Rehearsals / Show for U3A My Brilliant Divorce January 27th Open Mic Night. Sp guest Poet and folklorist Doreen McBride. Full house MC Malachi. 2022 Dec Nov 25th Open Mic Night (Georgian W/end fest) Sp Guest poet David Braziel. Full house MC Rachel Toner. 18th ATG to Garage Theatre Monaghan. MBD Last performance. Jan – Nov 2022 – My Brilliant Divorce by Geraldine Aron. Produced by Kevin McEneaney. 13/14/15th April ;Studio Market Place Theatre Armagh, 3rd/10th April; Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh, 28th May ;South Bank Studios Belfast, 17th Sept; Craic Theatre Coalisland, Cast Margery Quinn, Bridie Heaney & David O'Toole Oct 26/27/28/29th 'Impact' by Byddi Lee, Malachi Kelly & Tim Hanna. Produced by Margery Quinn. Studio Market Place Theatre Armagh. PRODUCTIONS BEFORE THIS DATE ON PREVIOUS POSTS.

Master of cermonies performed by members of the Adams Family Byddi and Rachel to a full house.

L to R Matthew Toner (Caller)|; Rosemary McCool stage manager; LauraRose McCool (Bean an Ti) Chloe Steenson (Daughter); Malcolm

Dawson (Narrator); and Malachi Kelly (Writer/director).

 

1) Cast take their bow 2) 'The house ob the hill?' 3) Mother and Daughter.

Nov 2022 - Impact
by Byddi Lee, Malachi Kelly & Tim Hanna. Produced by Margery Quinn. Studio Market Place Theatre Armagh.

Jan – Nov 2022 – My Brilliant Divorce
by Geraldine Aron. Produced by Kevin McEneaney. Studio Market Place Theatre Armagh, Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh, South Bank Studios Belfast, Craic Theatre Coalisland, Garage Theatre Monaghan.

May 2021 – 6 Angry Women
by Malachi Kelly. Produced by Margery Quinn. Live Internet Production.

Nov 2020 – Social Bubble Toil & Trouble
by Byddi Lee, Malachi Kelly & Tim Hanna. Produced by Margery Quinn. Live Internet Production.

June 2020 – Zoomeo & Juliet by Byddi Lee, Malachi Kelly & Tim Hanna. Produced by Margery Quinn. Live Internet Production.

June 2019 – Impact
by Byddi Lee, Malachi Kelly & Tim Hanna. Produced by Margery Quinn. Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh

Apr 2019 – Shining City
by Conor McPherson. Produced by Margaret Marjoram. Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh.

Nov 2018 – May 2019 – What’s My Scam
by Malachi Kelly & Tim Hanna for Policing & Community Safety Partnership. Armagh City Hotel, Belmont Hotel Banbridge & Craigavon Civic Centre.

Nov 2018 – Someone To Talk To
by Michael Judge & The Happy Journey by Thornton Wilder. Produced by Felim Rafferty. Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh.

Apr 2018 – Good Things
by Liz Lochhead. Produced by Hilary Good. Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh.

Nov 2017 – Gas Light
by Patrick Hamilton. Produced by Felim Rafferty. Studio Theatre, Market Place, Armagh

May 2017 – Slices of Life.
Produced by Kevin McEneaney. Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh

Nov 2016 – Our Town
by Thornton Wilder. Produced by Margery Quinn. Market Place Theatre Armagh

Apr 2016 – Ladies Day
by Amanda Whittington. Produced by Hilary Good. Abbey Lane Theatre Armagh

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD ALL OF OUR PRODUCTIONS FROM 1966 to 2002

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD ALL OF OUR PRODUCTIONS FROM 1966 to 2002

Market Place Theatre Armagh 23-25 Jan 2014 'LOOT' by Joe Orton

Described as a "tour de force of bad taste” and widely considered both “amoral and bizarre”, this masterpiece of black farce follows the fortunes of two young lads, Dennis and Hal, who hijack Hal's mother's coffin to stash the loot from a recent heist.

Today's nugget of Wisdom;

'An actor is never to tired to tell you how hard they have 'worked'.

Unrelated to today's nugget....this scene is from a performance in Abbey Lane. Can you name it or the Barristers?

 

 

Cast of 'The Happy Journey' by Thornton Wilder;  Emily-Jane Conway as 'Caroline' and debutant Liam Loughran as 'Arthur' and Lily-Rose Conway as 'Beulah. Parents Bridie Heaney as 'Ma Kate' and Malachi Kelly as 'Da Elmer' and Tim Hanna as 'Stage Manager.' Producer Felim Rafferty, Lights/sounds  John Perry

ar

 

Many thanks to Felim Rafferty Jnr for putting together these clips of rehearsals and performances of 'The Happy Journey'...Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU5PBNgPMuo 

 

The musical 'Millie Elliot' performed by Spotlight  Dance Studio  got its premier showing in the Marketplace Theatre  last Friday night and was enthusiastically received by the big audience by giving a standing ovation to the young dance/drama school.

This production spotlighted the many trials and pressures that our young people face in modern life. It was hard hitting at times with the depiction of overdosing on drugs, pier pressure, family relationships and unemployment all touched on through the eyes of young Millie as she danced her way through these problems. An outlet that saved her and her friends from going down the wrong path.

   Wonderfully choreographed by their tutor Joanne Mullen and within a hectic rehearsal period of 3 weeks these young actors, dancers and singers put on a first class show. All those 'Millie and Micky Elliot's' who performed with such vitality ...take another bow. Armagh Theatre Group are proud to have been associated with them.

Armagh Theatre Group’s Spring production is a modern comedy, Good Things by Liz Lochhead, one of Scotland’s foremost playwrights, and is brought to its own Abbey Lane Theatre in Armagh, over 2 weekends, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th & Friday 13th and Saturday 14th April 2018 at 8pm.

You never see a fairy tale heroine older than her teens, but in Good Things, playwright Liz Lochhead has fashioned a Cinderella for fortysomethings. The woman destined for the swanky red shoes is 48-year-old Susan Love (Marie Claire Guy), dumped by her husband for a girl half her age and left doing voluntary work in a charity shop, hoping speed-dating will sort her out. A midlife crisis, accentuated by the twin horrors of Christmas and Valentine’s Day, our heroine rides an emotional roller coaster supported by her work colleagues, Frazer (Adam Trotter) and Marjorie (Claire Brady) and unsettled by the enigmatic David (Andrew Rennie). A host of characters pass through the shop played by a fine mix of experienced and new to the Armagh stage – Aisling Kelly, Charlie Guy, Aideen Conway, Conor Egan, Wilma Campbell, Thomas Healy, Madeleine Kelly and Tim Hanna.

Produced and Directed by Hilary Good and Sandra Armstrong this bittersweet romantic comedy twists and turns with minor interruptions, major tragedies and farcical interludes but…. Will our Cinderella go to the Ball?

This is a touching, warm-hearted and very funny expression of the lives of a lost generation. Don’t miss this great night’s entertainment in Armagh’s little gem of a theatre.

Tickets are £12 (including glass of wine) and are only available from Music World, Abbey Lane, Armagh. Shop Hours. Mon-Sat. (closed Easter 30 March-2 April) Tel 028 3752 7882