Toupees and Snaredrums

It’s a cracking success on a number of levels

In the first ever co-production between the Abbey Theatre and a dance company, CoisCéim fused its unique movement style with dialogue, bringing to life thirteen characters in a hopeless search for love and lust after Lent. Set in 1966, TOUPEES AND SNARE DRUMS charts a disastrous night at Dizzy Duffy’s dance hall, during the heyday of the show-band era.

Length: 75 mins

One of the most original, provocative and entertaining pieces of theatrical work in a long while

Toupees and Snare Drums is a rewarding piece of theatre not least of all in its strong ensemble performances, its exuberant choreography, and its brash theatricality


Performed at

Irish tour

Town Hall Theatre

Galway

20 October 1998

Irish tour

Backstage Theatre

Longford

16 - 17 October 1998

Irish tour

Siamsa Tire

Tralee

13 - 14 October 1998

Irish tour

Firkin Crane

Cork

9 - 10 October 1998

Irish tour

Belltable Arts Centre

Limerick

6 - 7 October 1998

Irish tour

Peacock Stage, Abbey Theatre

Dublin

11 September - 3 October 1998


Credits

Original Cast 
dizzy 
Sean Kearns
Julia 
Christina Nelson
vince 
Donal Beecher
frankie 
Dave O’Meara
neilie
 Paul McEneaney
brendan 
James Hosty
philomena 
Aideen Gohery
suzanne 
Anne Byrne
carmel 
Cindy Cummings
dermie
Raymond Keane
shovels 
Charlie Bonner
girlie 
Muirne Bloomer
stranger
 Tony Flynn

concieved by David Bolger & gina moxley
written by gina moxley
directed & choreographed By david bolger
composition, music direction, & sound by Bell Helicopter
Set design Francis O’Connor
Lighting design Ian Sommerville
Costume design Joan O’Clery
Hair & Make-up Val Sherlock
Photography Kip Carroll
graphic design public communications centre
producer bridget webster

for the abbey theatre
artistic director
patrick mason
general manager
martin fahy
executive pa
marie kelly
literary manager
judy friel
public relations & marketing
madeline boughton
outreach director
kathy mcardle
production manager
trevor dawson
production co-ordinator
karen weavers
voice coach
andrea ainsworth
stage director
catherine nealon
assistant stage manager
tara furlong
set construction
abbey theatre workshop
costume construction
abbey theatre wardrobe dept.

for coiscÉim
artistic director
david bolger
general manager
bridget webster
publicist
mary folan
audience development officer
caroline dennehy
production management
paolo foley (for theatre production services)
stage manager
catherine nealon

acknowledgements: john kickham at bubble up, leo cummins at wilton candy, gallaghers ltd, christy byrne, maguire & patterson, david at lime street print works, guinness ireland ltd, eamon ryan, rock steady music, the fire brigade club, parnell square, mad flowers, de valois house, jacquie o'driscoll, fred burke, john coogan, sharon mcgrattan, dave o'meara, ann dennehy, ann phelan, charlie o'neill, agnes le guelvouit, jack gilligan, siobhÁn bourke, marie elaine, grant, and all the staff of the abbey theatre, the belltable arts centre, the firkin crane, siamsa tire, backstage theatre, and the town hall theatre, galway.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM