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An island theatre production which brought audiences to laughter and tears has ended its run at the Gaiety Theatre, with Three Legs Productions now looking to build on the success of its staging of John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’.
The production, directed by David Dawson, explored Steinbeck’s story of friendship, hardship and the pursuit of a better life during the Great Depression.
The cast featured Dan Gray as George Milton and Sean Reaney as Lennie Small, alongside many others.
David Dawson was also responsible for the set design, with construction by James Barclay, while live music was provided by island musicians Dave Kilgallon, Johnny G and Jeff Jepson.
Among the highlights for the company was a special educational matinee performance, supported by funding from the Isle of Man Arts Council, which enabled hundreds of island school students to attend.
The performance was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with members of the cast and production team.
Three Legs Productions said the event was particularly meaningful because, for some of the students, it was their first experience of live theatre.
The spokesperson from the company said: ‘Being able to bring this classic text to life for hundreds of local school students - and host an interactive Q&A session immediately after the final curtain - was incredibly profound.
‘For some of these young people, it was their very first time experiencing live theatre. Watching them sit completely spellbound, and then engage so deeply with the cast and crew during the question-and-answer session, was a moment our entire company is immensely proud of.’
The company said the positive response from audiences had provided encouragement for its future work.
‘This incredible feedback acts as a vital validation for us,’ the spokesperson added.
‘It proves that the Manx public has a deep appetite for raw, emotionally challenging, and thought-provoking drama.’
