Be Our Guest

Be Our Guest

World Premiere 18th April – 6th May 2019 | Hillsborough Castle and Grounds

A site-specific series of performances throughout Hillsborough Castle Gardens that illuminate characters and stories from the Castle’s history. In a series of theatrical encounters audiences meet fascinating characters from the Castle’s past, including an encounter between Wills Hill and America’s founding father Benjamin Franklin (who visited Hillsborough Castle during the 1770s), the 3rd Marquess of Downshire who regaled audiences with folk tales in the enchanting gardens, Lady Rose and the gardener William who reminisce over the state of the country post WWII, Lady Annie showing off her pinery, Lady Alice on her wedding day, and a pair of top secret MI5 and CIA security officers who reveal what happened behind the scenes during the 2003 Presidential visit.

The premiere run reached in excess of 7,500 audience members.

Cast & Crew

Playwrights:Julie Dutktiewiz, Sarah Gordon, Rosemary Jenkinson, Fionnuala Kennedy, Dominic Montague, Myra Zepf

Director:Paula McFetridge

Cast

Wills Hill: Stephen Beggs

M15 Agent: Michael Condron

Lady Annie: Maria Connolly

Benjamin Franklin: James Doran

William: Gerard Jordan

Lady Rose: Julie Kinsella

CIA Agent: Rhodri Lewis

Lady Alice Hill: Louise Parker

Arthur Hill: Noel McGee

Crew

Costume designer: Liz Cullinane

Production Manager: Stephen Quinn

Stage Manager: Seána Green and Caitlín Hunter

Producers: Zoe Fox and Dominic Montague

“Writer Dominic Montague and director Paula McFetridge break a lot of theatrical rules and in the process create a piece of drama which illuminates a moment of history and deftly challenges strongly held beliefs and worldviews… the combination of pathos and laughter creates moments of remarkably raw and electric theatre” – Alan in Belfast (full article http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-queer-ceili-at-marty-forsythe.html)

The opening run of “A Queer Céilí” is a barnstorming performance bringing back to life those heady days when change and revolution were in the air” – Irish Central (full article https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/a-queer-ceili-northern-ireland)

“A heartfelt, well-researched play… Montague offers a glimpse of gay life amid sectarianism, violence and bigotry” – The Irish Times (full article https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/a-queer-c%C3%A9il%C3%AD-at-the-marty-forsythe-review-a-heartfelt-well-researched-play-1.3841953)