Longford talent drives bold new theatre venture with The Metamorphosis in Carrigallen
Dromard director and Longford performers lead debut production for newly formed An Stoirm Chiúin
Longford theatrical talent is taking centre stage this month as newly established production company An Stoirm Chiúin (The Quiet Storm) makes its highly anticipated debut with Steven Berkoff’s electrifying adaptation of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis at the Corn Mill Theatre & Arts Centre, Carrigallen.
The new company is spearheaded by Dromard native Oisín Hourican, who directs the ambitious production, with fellow Longford creatives Conor P.J. Sheridan and Michèle Ciba playing key roles in a cast packed with award-winning talent from across the region.
Running for two nights only, on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd May at 8pm, the production marks the launch of an exciting new theatre company with strong Longford roots.
Steven Berkoff’s visceral 1969 adaptation transforms Kafka’s unsettling novella into a striking physical theatre experience, telling the story of travelling salesman Gregor Samsa, who awakens one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. As his family recoils in horror, the play peels back layers of domestic life to expose alienation, rejection and emotional fracture.
The formation of An Stoirm Chiúin signals an exciting new addition to the Midlands and Border region’s theatre landscape, with the company aiming to produce bold, physically driven work while showcasing local creative talent.
At the centre of the production is Dromard actor Conor P.J. Sheridan, who takes on the physically demanding lead role of Gregor Samsa. Sheridan’s performance anchors a cast that blends emerging and established performers from across the northwest.
Joining him is Longford Town’s Michèle Ciba, a rising actor and playwright associated with Backstage Theatre Group, who plays Gregor’s sister Greta — one of the production’s most emotionally complex roles as she shifts from caregiver to reluctant betrayer.
The wider cast includes some of the strongest dramatic talent in the region. Veteran Bailieborough actor Paddy Sheanon plays the domineering Mr Samsa, bringing decades of award-winning experience including the 2024 All-Ireland One-Act title with Dying Minutes.
Also appearing is Ballyconnell’s Taragh Donohoe as Mrs Samsa. A multiple award-winning actor and director, Donohoe has long been a cornerstone of the Corn Mill stage, with acclaimed performances in productions including Philadelphia Here I Come!, Waiting for Godot and On Broken Wings.
Bailieborough’s Conor P. Sheridan appears in the dual roles of the Chief Clerk and First Lodger. A highly respected actor and director, his extensive honours include Best Director at the Cavan Drama Festival and acclaimed performances at the All-Ireland Drama Finals.
Cavan Town performer Sarah McGearty plays the Third Lodger. A graduate of ATU Sligo who later trained at the prestigious École Jacques Lecoq in Paris, she brings international physical theatre expertise to the production.
The cast is completed by Sinead Conefrey of Fenagh Drama Group.
The intimate 170-seat Corn Mill Theatre provides the perfect setting for Berkoff’s claustrophobic adaptation, allowing audiences to experience the raw intensity of the work at close quarters.
“We’ve assembled a tremendous group of performers who have thrown themselves into this challenging material,” Hourican said. “The energy in the rehearsal room has been electric. For a new company, it’s an incredibly exciting way to begin.”
Tickets, priced at €15, are available from the Corn Mill Theatre website, and early booking is advised.
With Longford artists leading the charge, The Metamorphosis promises not only a compelling theatrical event, but the first bold statement from a promising new company set to make its mark on the Irish theatre scene.