Longford Drama group to take on 'The Year of the Hiker'

Legan Bea Masterson drama group are all set for their 2025 Spring production, The Year of the Hiker. Directed by Jimmy Connell this production will feature a stellar cast of local talent.

Written in 1964, The Year of the Hiker is a tale of yearning and regret for lost love, the play contains some of Keane’s most lyrical and tender writing.

“Rehearsals are going absolutely brilliant,” Jimmy told the Leader as the group went into the final few weeks before production,

“We're down to the last few weeks of rehearsals now, so it's going very well.

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This is Jimmy's second time in the director chair for the Bea Masterson drama group: “My first time with Legan was last year. We did the Second Honeymoon. I've done a directing course in Maynooth University, and directed two pantomimes back about 10 years ago.”

John B Keane is a perennial favourite with local drama groups. Audiences love the mixture of humour and drama: “He's always popular. It can be hard to get a play that suits the group you're dealing with. You can't go wrong with John B, all of his plays have great scripts.”

The Year of the Hiker marked a significant departure for Keane. It's the story of a patriarch who, having walked out on his family 20 years ago, reappears on the day of his daughter's wedding, seeking forgiveness.

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“The Hiker is just such a brilliant, brilliant script,” Jimmy says, “I'm delighted with the choice, as are the group. We have been reading the play since November, and we continue to find new things in it. Every time we come into rehearsal, we see different elements in the script.

“The audience will really enjoy this play because different people will see it in a different light.”

The director says the process has been very enjoyable: “The Bea Masterson group is such a brilliant group. They're so committed, brilliant actors who give it everything.

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“We had 16 people audition for the seven parts. There are loads of quality actors we had to disappoint this year, unfortunately.”
Jimmy says audiences are sure to be entertained: “You've got a storyline that you're just going to be engrossed in. From the minute this goes on stage to the end, the story just tells itself. It's such a brilliant piece; there's sadness, there's happiness, there's comedy, it has everything.

“It's two hours of pure entertainment and any audience, young or old, will enjoy it and take something different from it.”

The Year of the Hiker will be performed by Legan's Bea Masterson drama group at the Aurora Hall, Legan from Thursday, March 27 to Sunday, March 30, 2025.