The Mariettas Hit the Road Again!

There are five actresses, 20 characters, a whole lot of 1960s Ireland and not a single costume change that involves leaving the stage!

The Mariettas, a new comedy by Cavan playwright Niamh Gleeson, is back on the road this autumn with Pothole Productions, following a hugely successful summer run which saw packed houses and standing ovations.

The show is a celebration of rural Ireland, strong women, community, music and the colourful world of the Irish showband era, with plenty of laughs along the way.

At the heart of the production are five actresses: Niamh Hanley, Louise Callan, Vanessa Galligan, Eimear Heaslip and Louise Ballesty who between them take on an astonishing 20 different characters, with each actress playing four parts.

And they don't disappear backstage to do it.

Instead, the five remain on stage throughout, moving seamlessly from one character to another as the story unfolds. With no traditional set, the audience is invited to use a little imagination, while sound, lighting, music and the performers themselves create the world of the play.

It's a format that makes The Mariettas a little different from your average night at the theatre.

There is music and dancing, plenty of comedy, but also some wonderfully human stories at the centre of the show. The characters come from different walks of life and, as their stories unfold, the audience gets a glimpse of the Ireland they knew – and the Ireland that was beginning to change.

For writer Niamh Gleeson, the show is very much about people.

“It's about ordinary women with extraordinary stories,” is the feeling at the heart of the production, with the comedy allowing audiences to laugh with the characters while also recognising something familiar in them.

The autumn tour comes at a particularly appropriate time, as 2026 marks 175 years of Jacob's, with the Marietta biscuit itself having become such a familiar part of Irish life. The production has embraced that little slice of nostalgia as part of its 2026 journey.

Following its summer performances, the response has been hugely encouraging, with audiences praising the cast, the comedy and the unusual format of the production.

Now the Mariettas are packing up their several hats and quite possibly several pairs of shoes and heading back out on the road.

The autumn tour begins at Ramor Arts Centre, Virginia, on September 10 and 11, before travelling to The Garage Theatre, Monaghan on September 26; Sean O'Casey Theatre, Dublin on October 2; Bog Lane Theatre, Ballymahon on October 3; Backstage Theatre, Longford on October 9; and Cornmill Theatre, Carrigallen on October 10.

So if you're looking for a night of laughs, music, strong women, showband nostalgia and a fair bit of theatrical madness, The Mariettas might just be the ticket.

And with some dates already selling quickly, audiences are being encouraged not to leave it until the last minute.