Cavan man has debut show in the Galway Arts Festival

The Quare Land, (described as 'an ogeous comedy') a new play by Ballyconnell native John McManus, will be performed in Galway this July as part of the Galway Arts Festival. McManus's wit and humour are sure to be a big draw for theatre goers this summer. His work featured as a new play reading in the Galway Theatre Festival October 2009 and impressed by McManus's raw talent and energy, Decadent endeavoured to bring the show to life in the spot light of a widely acclaimed summer time festival. McManus has had previous success with two radio plays - No Hate Going to Loss, and Will you Swap Knees With Me? - which were broadcast on RTE. His stage play A Lock of Fierce Roars received a rehearsed reading by Druid Theatre Company in July 2008. The Quare Land will be the first of his plays to receive a professional production and tour. Set in a house in Cavan, The Quare Land centres on the character Hugh Pugh played by Des Keogh, who is about to take his first bath in four years. His bathing is disturbed by Rob McNulty, played by Frank O'Sullivan, a developer wanting to buy a field. Hugh conducts negotiations from his bathtub and is reluctant to sell while McNulty pulls out all the stops to complete the sale. The quick fire banter between the two characters escalates into an epic finale as both try to reason each other into submission. The show opens Monday, July 12 and runs until Saturday, July 24 nightly at 8pm in Nuns Island Theatre, Galway. Matinees Saturday 17 and Saturday 24 at 3.30pm. Tickets available from Galway Arts Festival Box Office at €22/€20 concession. Preview tickets are half price at €10; call 091-566577 or book online at galwayartsfestival.com.