Derry stars set to shine as 'Come From Away' makes its North West debut

Audiences in the North West are set for a treat next week when the Tony Winning Musical ‘Come from Away’ is brought to life on stage in An Grianan Theatre by Letterkenny Musical Society – and there is plenty of Derry talent on stage for a spectacular show that is smarter, funnier and far more moving than audiences ever expect.

The show tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada, that welcomed them when 38 planes were diverted there in the wake of the September 11 attacks in 2001. 

Opening on Tuesday night March 10 and running until Saturday 14, Letterkenny Musical Society (LMS) will be the first amateur society to perform the much-loved musical in Donegal, Derry or Strabane – but with the talent Letterkenny Musical Society has at its disposal, there is never any doubt that their production will be anything other than superb.

Famed for welcoming the very best talent from Donegal, Derry and Strabane into their shows year after year, it is precisely this that has allowed the LMS shows to earn huge popularity following masterful productions of West End and Broadway smash hits including Nine to 5, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Addams Family, Kinky Boots and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Indeed, that talent this time around includes a return for the outstanding Patrick Moore who played the lead role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last year.

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Another LMS veteran from Derry is Deigh Reid, who returns to play the character of Nick,  while 24- year-old Daniel Paul McCafferty whose previous theatre credits include the Derry Playhouse productions of ‘Chicago,' ‘The White Handkerchief,' ‘The Producers’ and ‘Hume: Beyond Belief, will make his LMS debut in the role of Kevin Jung.

A newcomer this year is Abby Hagan who joins the ensemble while another newcomer for the LMS is Laura Keogh who is no stranger to the stage having graced the most amazing performance platforms, as a singer and presenter following her Pop Idol fame in 2001. 

Laura’s portrayal of Hannah O’Rourke, a mother searching for news of her firefighter son, is one that will leave audiences truly amazed that this is an amateur production.

Then again, that high standard has been the hallmark of every production Letterkenny Musical Society has put on stage over the years and they welcome back a host of show veterans such as Sarah Terry, Nicola Shields, Giles Murray, Trish Carlin, Amy McClintock, Aoife Farmer, Donal Kavanagh, Declan Nee and Jenny Yourell, alongside newcomers Maria Carlin, Mark James Bradley, Billy Banda and Gui Marques for a show that is a masterclass in the best of humanity and is certain to prove a smash hit with audiences.

Come from Away, directed by Maria Rushe and produced by Noel O’Donnell with Mark Bradley as Musical Director and Emmett Stewart as choreographer, starts in An Grianan Theatre on Tuesday night March 10 - and there are a few tickets still available – but if you haven’t booked yours yet, then do so quickly – because LMS shows sell out quickly and tickets won’t be around for long.