Hit Edinburgh Fringe play to open in Downpatrick

Hit Edinburgh Fringe play to open in Downpatrick

21 September 2016

THE smash hit show Two Sore Legs is back.

Directed by Martin Lynch and starring Maria Connolly, Two Sore Legs was one of the hit shows at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, playing to enthusiastic audiences for a month and gaining regular standing ovations.

The Green Shoots Production written by Brenda Murphy is back in Down Arts Centre. on Saturday, October 1.

Set in Belfast, the play tells the true story of the playwright’s mother Bridget, a young Butlin’s Redcoat from West Belfast who had six children by a married man. The play explores the scandal, the pain, the joy and the fall-out from this extraordinary family arrangement and what it meant for Brenda, her siblings and, of course, her mother. 

From the rowdy, fractious relationship Bridget had with her own father to the hilarious attempts of the local parish priest to take her young children from her, this play is full of explicit family emotions and experiences. In a dynamic performance – described by The Edinburgh Evening News as a “tour de force” — Maria Connolly purrs, struts, weeps and explodes around the stage in equal measure. 

Celebrated Irish playwright, Martin Lynch, who directs the show, said of the show’s recent success: “We were overwhelmed by the audience response at Edinburgh. We got a raft of four and five star reviews, with both the by Brenda Murphy and the outstanding performance by Maria Connolly being singled out for special praise. 

“This play has it all. Drama, hilarious comedy and an amazing storyline that will knock your socks off.”

Writer Brenda Murphy, added: “It’s a very personal play to me, my most personal to date, I think that’s why it generates so many tears and so much laughter in audiences. And I’ve been amazed by its success. 

“First, we played to packed out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe, then we sold out at the Lyric Theatre, then we had a great week in New York and now we’re doing the Grand Opera House and a Northern Irish tour. Who knows, Broadway next stop.”

The performance starts at 8pm and tickets are £12 / £10 concession.  Contact Down Arts Centre on (028) 4461 0747 for further information or to purchase a ticket.

Check out the new season programme at www.downartscentre.com