Three Rings – the North East Galway Fit-Up Theatre Festival – is back for its fourth year, running from September 24th to October 13th. Over three weeks, six rural villages will host three high-quality theatre productions every Tuesday to Saturday at 8 pm.
The Fit-Up Festival is based on the old ‘Fit-Ups’ which were at their height of popularity in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, when theatre companies travelled around Ireland performing in make-shift venues.
The resurrection of the Fit-Up model began in West Cork in 2009, expanding to north-east Galway in 2021 with the Three Rings festival. The goal is to build new audiences for contemporary theatre in remote rural communities while offering touring opportunities for Ireland’s best theatre makers, writers and performers.
This year, Three Rings, in collaboration with Galway County Council Arts Office and the Arts Council, will present three plays across six venues.
Opening this year’s three-week festival is a performance called ‘Nettle Horse’ by Little John Nee – award-winning writer, performer, storyteller, and musician. Written, directed, and performed by Little John, ‘Nettle Horse’ is an enchanting piece that combines storytelling, music played by the performer on twenty instruments with loop pedals, and a point of view that is enticing, engaging and entertaining.
In the second week of the festival, enjoy the hilarious and heart-warming play ‘Seven Ages of MAM’, starring Pauline O’Driscoll (Smalltown, The Young Offenders). This poignant performance explores themes of motherhood, sexuality, grief, and more.
For the festival’s final week, the Three Rings present Colin Hamell’s play Bumbled, directed by Carmel O’Reilly. Touring from October 8th to 13th, this hilarious and poignant one-person show follows Pascal, an Irish honey bee, on his quest to highlight the importance of bees, save the planet, and find love with his French girlfriend, Marion.
This year’s North East Galway Fit Up Festival tour will include performances in venues at Skehana Community Hall (Tuesdays: September 24th, and October 1st and 8th), Newbridge Community Centre (Wednesdays: September 25th, and October 2nd and 9th), Kilbegnet Hall in Creggs (Thursdays: September 26th, and October 3rd and 10th), Fohenagh Hall (Fridays: September 27th, and October 4th and 11th), Dunmore Town Hall (Saturdays: September 28th, and October 5th and 12th), and Barnadearg Community Centre (Sundays: September 29th, and October 6th and 13th), with all performances taking place at 8 pm each night.
For bookings and further information, call 087 9677732 or 087 2372820. Tickets are priced at €15/€12.50 and season tickets (all three plays) are €40.
More information at fit-uptheatrefestival.com and the Three Rings Facebook page.
