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)



