New manager in place at Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone

It is nearly 30 years since John McGlynn caught the theatre bug, and since then his love of the stage has resulted in appearances in countless Athlone Musical Society and Athlone Little Theatre productions.

His passion for plays and musicals has now contributed to his appointment as the new manager of Athlone's Dean Crowe Theatre.

John took up the position at the beginning of the year. He spoke to the Westmeath Independent last Friday, after a busy first week getting ready for the start of the Dean Crowe's Aladdin panto - a show in which he also has an on-stage role as The Dame!

"I have started right in at the deep end, but that's the best way to start in any situation," he said.

Cork man Killian Collins had managed the Dean Crowe Theatre for four and a half years, before moving to a role with Cork Opera House last year.

John said that, when the managerial vacancy arose, the position was mentioned to him and he began considering it.

"After speaking with my wife and family, we all agreed it would be a great role," he said. "I formally applied for the job, went through the process, did an interview, and was very happy to be appointed.

"Theatre has been my passion for almost 30 years. To now immerse myself fully in it, to combine the personal and professional, is fantastic. I get to continue doing what I love, but I also get to be involved with it on pretty much a daily basis.

"My daughter, Sorcha, who is mad into musical theatre, said I'm getting the best job in the world!"

A former solicitor who is originally from Monaghan, John has been living in Athlone since 1992. He is married to Adrienne, a teacher in Tubberclair NS, and they have a son, Eoin, and three daughters, Sorcha, Áine and Éabha.

John said that, when he first came to Athlone, theatre "wasn't on my radar" but that began to change after he took part in Tops of the Town, with 'Athlone Shops and Offices' in 1995.

He subsequently joined Athlone Musical Society, and "never looked back".

John said his two most memorable theatrical roles over the years were playing The Bull McCabe in a production of The Field, directed by Ray Collins, and appearing with Anne Hoey in a one-act play, Two, which came third at the All Ireland One Act finals.

He has held roles on the committees of Athlone Musical Society and Athlone Little Theatre, and said these gave good insight into the work required behind the scenes to get productions up and running.

John described the Dean Crowe as "an absolutely fabulous resource for Athlone and the surrounding areas," and said that, as manager, he would like to help grow its audience.

"I want to get as many bums on seats as possible, and to do that I want to get as many good acts, and as much good use of the space, as possible," he said.

"I have lots of ideas in my head. Lots of people have approached me with ideas also, and I'm always open to ideas from people.

"I would love to think that we could get some class of a comedy club going. I love comedy, and people love a good laugh. There's a fantastic resource in the bar area, where we can set it up with a little stage in the corner.

"Last year, a couple of comedians performed there to great acclaim so I'd like to think it could be a space for new and emerging local talent from across the country - a place where people can come and cut their teeth, so to speak."

He said setting up 'open mic' nights in the Dean Crowe bar area was another idea he was interested in exploring.

"Like with anything, it's about getting the word out there, letting people know what we're doing, and generating a bit of a buzz about it. I see that as one of the biggest tasks I face - just making sure people know what's on and when it's on.

"Once you have that, and once people get used to coming into the theatre, it generates its own success."

The main auditorium in the venue has a capacity of 442 seats, while the bar area can be set up as a smaller venue for about 70 people.

In addition to its annual fixtures, such as the All Ireland Drama Festival and the Athlone Musical Society show, there are several other shows lined up at Dean Crowe in the coming months.

"We have some nationally-recognised acts coming, such as Deirdre O'Kane, Niall 'Bressie' Breslin, and David McSavage. I would like to think we can build on that and get as many more of the big acts as we can into the theatre.

"It's a matter of just utilising the space and the fantastic resources that we have as best as possible."

The manager's role is currently for 25 hours per week, but John said there's a possibility it could eventually develop into a full-time position.

"There is a very supportive board of directors here, and it has been said to me that if the role can be grown to a full-time position they are more than happy for that to happen. I would love to see it going in that direction, but we will have to learn to walk before we can run!

"There are fantastic people working here already and, thankfully, because of my association with the theatre for so many years, I know the people here and get on well with them.

"I know a lot of the interested parties in the town, who deal with the theatre, so I'm starting on a good footing in that regard," he concluded.