Contemporary folk musical ‘In the Midst of Plenty’ set for Longford's Backstage Theatre

Beginning in May drama company Enchanted Croí Theatre will take to the road with ‘In the Midst of Plenty’.

This is a contemporary folk musical set in Roscommon in the time of the Great Hunger.

The 14-venue tour commences in the Mullingar Arts Centre on May 25 before travelling to Cavan, then reaching Backstage Theatre, Longford, on May 31.

The show features Longford actor and director Niall Brewster. ‘In the Midst of Plenty’ was developed with funding from the Roscommon County Council in 2022, debuting to sold-out audiences and rave reviews in the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park and the Roscommon Arts Centre.

Written by Amy Day and directed by Anne-Marie O’Sullivan, the play is set against the backdrop of the plot to assassinate Denis Mahon, the Strokestown landlord. It traces the story of the so-called “missing 1,490” who left Strokestown along the Royal Canal and sailed for Canada as part of Mahon’s forced emigration scheme.

Walkers on The Royal Canal in Longford will be familiar with the commemorative sculptures on the route honouring the missing 1,490.

‘In the Midst of Plenty’ is described as an empowering story of strength, loss, resilience, and family connection that has resonated deeply with audiences.

The show features a large cast of professional actors and a live four-piece folk band. In addition to Niall the company includes Martin Gilligan (Ros na Rún) and Mary Claire Ryan (Banshees of Inisherin).

Niall portrays the Bishop of Elphin, George Browne, an important and controversial figure in the time of the Famine whose family were strong farmers. The Longford actor studied at the Gaiety School of Acting, Bow Street, and has an MA in Theatre Practice and Production from NUI Galway.

He has been involved with local theatre, appearing in productions with the Backstage theatre Group and the Mostrim Players. He has also performed and directed with his own theatre company, Furthur.

“I was born in Mount Carmel Hospital which stands beside the site of the old Workhouse which is now St Joseph's Care Centre,” says Niall, “My mother, Maureen Hegarty, was a nurse and midwife.

“I was one of the few babies that she didn't deliver in Mount Carmel where she worked. As I often say to people, she delivered half of Longford into the world in Mount Carmel and nursed half of them out of it when she worked in St Joseph's care centre!”
As a Longford native, Niall feels connected to the region’s harrowing Famine history: “Growing up in Longford, I was always aware of what was known as the Bullies Acre beside the hospital where over 16,000 men, women and children were buried in mass graves during the Famine.”

As a cast member of ‘In the Midst of Plenty,’ Niall is beloved by his fellow performers. “Niall is one of the hardest-working actors I’ve met,” said the show’s writer and music director, Amy Day. “He has saved the day on stage with quick-thinking when he needed to create a new character on the fly when another actor lost his voice the morning of a performance. He is always there for his castmates and brings the highest level of commitment and professionalism to all of his work. We are so lucky that he is part of the show.”

Enchanted Croí Theatre was founded in 2019 by Anne-Marie O’Sullivan, and in the last year has produced 11 theatrical events that have reached more than 4,000 ticketed audience members.

“We are honoured to be able to take this show to communities across Ireland in 2023,” said Anne-Marie O’Sullivan, the show’s Artistic Director.

“It's particularly meaningful to us that many performances will take place along the National Famine Way, the route that so many emigrants walked in search of survival during the time of an Gorta Mór.”

Niall concluded by speaking of the historic significance of the work, “I'm looking forward to bringing this fantastic production to Longford's Backstage Theatre in May.

“I think this is a story that needs to be kept in the public eye and I hope this production will encourage people to continue to have conversations regarding famine, genocide and emigration.”

The 2023 tour is made possible by support from the National Famine Way and the Irish Heritage Trust. Tickets are available now by visiting www.inthemidstofplenty.com.