Carlow Little Theatre Society have announced a busy autumn drama schedule to close out the year, including a One-Act Season in early October, taking a play to the All-Ireland One-Act festival circuit, performing the renowned play Gaslight in the Visual on Oct 16th to 19th, an 80th anniversary, and the launch of a long awaited book to commemorate the society’s rich and varied history.
The season kicks off with the society’s Autumn One-Act series at the George Bernard Shaw theatre in Visual, Carlow, on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd October. Both evenings promise lots of drama and comedy, with two plays on offer.
Taking to the stage will be The Lithium Waltz by Carlow writer Barry McKinley, which will also be Carlow Little Theatre’s entry to the 2025 All-Ireland One Act festival circuit, performing at six festivals around the country. This comedy farce, set in an American psychiatric hospital, and featuring hilarious lines and antics from its cast of colourful characters, was a crowd favourite when previously performed by the society in 2010, when it reached the All-Ireland Finals.
Also featured is Family Grief Counselling by Brandon Hicks, which was awarded third place in the society’s 2025 International One-Act Playwriting Competition. In this tragic-comedy, a family of four are caught in purgatory and must resolve their collective and individuation issues before being allowed to ‘pass on’.
Performances start at 8pm, with seats priced at €20 and €18 (including booking fee). Tickets are available from the box office (059 917 2400 | boxoffice@visualcarlow.ie) or via www.visualcarlow.ie
The society returns to George Bernard Shaw theatre just over two weeks later with Patrick Hamilton’s acclaimed psychological thriller Gaslight, our season’s headline full-length production, which runs from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th October.
Gaslight is set in fog-bound London in 1880, at the upper middle-class home of Jack Manningham and his wife Bella. Hamilton’s play is a twisting tale of a marriage based on deceit and trickery. Another dark evening in a house with a secret history is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Detective Rough and with it, the Manninghams’ lives are forever changed. The play was the origin of the term ‘gaslighting’ which is the psychological manipulation of someone into questioning their perception of reality, memory or sanity.
Carlow Little Theatre will be having a Benefit Night on the opening night of the play, Thursday October 16th, for Amber Women’s Refuge, the specialist domestic abuse organisation, who provide support and refuge services to women in Kilkenny and Carlow.
Gaslight will be directed by Mark Cradock and is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd.
Booking details can be found via www.visualcarlow.ie
