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Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Johnny Ward says brave mam will be in the audience for Little Shop of Horrors
Actor Johnny Ward has told how his brave mother plans to be in the audience for the Irish premiere of the Little Shop of Horrors. Johnny stars in the upcoming show at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, which opens to the public from Friday, July 25. The Dubliner takes on the role of Orin in the theatre's first ever all-star Irish cast. Next Tuesday will see the stars – which include David O'Reilly and Kenneth O'Regan - perform for a special opening night – and Johnny said he will have more than just his lines on his mind. He revealed his mother, Kathy, will receive results after doctors found a lump two and a half months ago. "Yeah, I suppose it's all on Tuesdays. Of all the days, Tuesday is our opening night and Tuesday is kind of where we'll know how things stand with my mother, and what they kind of do for the next six months." Dubliner Johnny said the last year "has been a nightmare". David O Reilly, Jaqueline Brunton and Johnny Ward from the cast of The Little Shop of Horrors on stage in rehearsals at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Picture Brian McEvoy "This time last year she was obviously diagnosed with cancer. Where do you start? Like she just kept collapsing then on top of that, she had a heart attack, and she had a stroke, and then she had something called takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). "I suppose I didn't really take it as seriously as what I should've over the lockdown. It was a no brainer for me to move back in. And then, you know, we've got a really, really amazing arrangement between myself and my wife and my mam. "The last year has been an absolute nightmare, particularly like August to January was very difficult. August to November in particular was so tough, the worst. "We were told the worst at one stage, and she has cancer, and it was stage four and it was in part of her pancreas. "So part of her pancreas had to come out. It was just one step forward and two steps back. On top of that, once he was in the hospital, there's slow, very, very slow and extensive recovery, and then she got Covid, then she had a bad fall, then she had to be put on a feeding tube. "It was very difficult. She went into convalescent care in November and then she got out in January, and since then, you know, it's been great." But he said that on Tuesday, doctors will give them a new indication about what lies ahead for the next six months. "We know that the light is kind of dimming, and we need to go back into the tunnel for a while and kind of see where we stand for the next couple of months. "She's a suitable advocate for immunotherapy. The most recent thing is that they found a lump almost two and a half months ago. "But the professor actually recommended that given everything that she's been through, let's see if it gets any bigger. That's kind of where we stand." Lights, ! It was feeding time on Skid Row as the Bord Gais Energy Theatre and TheatreworX unveiled the set for their dazzling new production of Little Shop of Horrors in Dublin, Pictured were the cast including David O Reilly Johnny Ward and Jaqueline Brunton ahead of the shows opening this Friday 25th, it will run until until 9th August. But he said his mam will be in the audience with Johnny's wife Brenda cheering him on. "Tuesday is going to be very eventful. My mum will be there on Tuesday. My wife will bring her in. "From what you learn is you just take so many things for granted, and you have to be grateful for the last six months. "She's out walking now. She's doing it on her own. "She's got an amazing sense of independence, and I honestly thought that door was closed a long time ago. She's doing really, really well. And she just, yeah, she can't wait to come on Tuesday, regardless of the results." Speaking about the Little Shop Of Horrors, Johnny said: "It's great to be a part of. Everything feels brand new and it feels really special. It is the first in-house production ever to be in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, which is really, really special to be a part of. "It's a lot of excitement, it's a lot of fun, it's a fantastic atmosphere and it doesn't feel like work. It's the most amazing bunch of people. "I suppose for a long time, to make it as a musical theatre performer it was a no brainer that you had to go over to the UK to make it in the West End so the fact that they have put on a production is hopefully a stepping stone for many more in house production from Bord Gais to come." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Ex-Love/Hate star Johnny Ward is relishing playing a new ‘psychotic' part
Johnny Ward is relishing his moment on state at the Bord Gais as an evil dentist 'I think this is the most psychotic part I'll ever play,' Johnny tells the Sunday World , referring to his upcoming performance as an evil dentist in the musical Little Shop Of Horrors at Dublin's Bord Gais Energy Theatre. 'Little Shop Of Horrors is a love story about a guy call Seymour who works in a flower shop that's not doing well,' Johnny explains of the 1980s movie and stage production. 'He discovers that one of the plants that he bought from a random man in a Chinese shop eats people. Actors David O Reilly, Johnny Ward and Jacqueline Brunton 'Seymour is attracted to Audrey who works in the shop and, here we go yet again, I'm Audrey's abusive boyfriend Orin, a biker dentist. 'He beats her up and takes great pleasure in getting pain out of a lot of people when doing dental surgery on them.' Johnny's character ultimately meets a grisly end involving the human-eating plant. 'It's a far-fetched story, but it's phenomenal and the music is amazing,' he says. 'The songs I get to perform are Dentist Song, and a duet song with Seymour, played by David O'Reilly, called It's Just The Gas. So I'm really looking forward to it. We start rehearsals on Monday.' The Little Shop Of Horrors role is the latest in Ward's hectic work life, which these days involves teaching young people in drama classes. 'Teaching is my bread and butter and I absolutely love it,' Johnny says. 'On a Monday I teach out in Dizzy Footwork Drama Academy opposite The Square in Tallaght… Tuesdays I'm in a primary school in Wicklow, Wednesday I'm in Cavan, Thursday in Leixlip, Friday I'm in Trim and I'm off Saturday and Sunday. The cast of the Little Shop of Horrors musical 'Thankfully the people that I work for are like brothers and sisters to me and when something acting-wise comes up they provide cover for me. They are very accommodating. 'Usually at this time of the year I do summer camps, but this year I can't because my hands are tied with the Little Shop Of Horrors' 'I love passing on what you've learned to young kids. I love it when they come in in September and they are all shy and nervous and by June they are like a different kid. You can't shut them up, they are full of confidence and they become the role models for the next year's kids. 'And I really love writing scripts for kids to perform. We had an amazing show just there on Monday. The popular entertainer says he would encourage parents to get their children involved in drama. 'It's great for kids, especially in this day and age because kids don't have the attention span that they used to. That's not their fault, it's just the modern world. 'Our attention span back in the day was going to watch a movie like Jurassic Park for two hours on a Saturday. Kids don't do that anymore because their attention span is just flicking through their TikToks and stuff… their attention span is a max of about 30 seconds. 'I do think that for an hour or two hours a week putting the phone down is good for the head. I go to a philosophy class every Monday with my mother and I love it. David O'Reilly and Jacqueline Brunton in the Little Shop of Horrors musical 'My mother started it in 2022 and she said, 'I've signed you up.' And it's the best thing I've ever done. It's just a reminder of the tools that are so simply accessed that we don't use. Little things when you are in a situation of anxiety, pause, take three seconds, breathe and ask yourself 'What would a wise man do in this situation?' It's very good and you meet some really great people.' Johnny credits his mother, Kathy, with fostering his love of acting. 'Without her I wouldn't have made a career in this,' he says. 'My mum was very much adamant that we all do drama growing up. Just before this interview we went over the script of Little Shop of Horrors together.' Johnny's mum, Kathy, has suffered a series of health issues since the passing of her husband in 2019. She was diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which is also referred to as a broken heart. Johnny as Ciaran in Fair City 'Last July Mum was diagnosed with cancer and we all feared the worst. Her pancreas, gallbladder and a large part of her bowel were taken out. 'Then she got Covid, she had a fall and it was one nightmare after another. But she's brilliant and she's doing well and she's back to her usual self now.' Johnny also paid tribute to his wife, Brenda, who, he says, is his 'biggest supporter.' The couple met while out walking in the Curragh when lockdown restrictions were relaxed and will be two years married next month. 'Brenda is an amazing person, there is never any arguing and if there is we just have a laugh about it,' Johnny reveals. 'And she has just been magnificent with my mother — she's just like another daughter to her.'
Irish Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish stars step out for opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Irish stars stepped out for the opening night of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. The reinvention of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece is currently showing at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin. The show premiered almost 30 years ago and has now become the most successful dance theatre production of all time, creating new audiences and inspiring generations of young dancers. Dubliner Stephen Murray also dances in the show. On Tuesday night, Dancing with the Stars judge Arthur Gourounlian, model Thalia Heffernan, who brought her mam Susan Ebrill, FM104's Zeinab Elguzouli, Andrea Gilligan and Paul Quinn of Virgin Media News; as well as Laura Nolan, David O'Reilly and Katja Mia all stepped out for the opening night. First staged at Sadler's Wells in London in 1995, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake took the dance theatre world by storm, becoming the longest running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway. It has since been performed across the globe, collecting over 30 international accolades including the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production and three Tony Awards for Best Director of a Musical, Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.
Dublin Live
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Michael McIntyre returning to Dublin this September
Michael McIntyre is returning to Dublin this September. The popular British comedian, 49, has announced two Dublin dates for his brand new show, MACNIFICENT. The Wheel host will take to the stage at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on September 4 and 5. McIntrye will also play three dates at The Marquee in Cork on July 25, 26, and 27. Tickets for the Dublin shows from €61.35 will go on sale this Friday on Ticketmaster. Much has happened in the five years since his last comedy tour, and McIntyre will be making "mirth from the madness" in the new show. His previous tours have sold over four million tickets and broken box-office records worldwide. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Dublin Live
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Jennifer Zamparelli to star in The Rocky Horror Show in Dublin
Jennifer Zamparelli is starring in The Rocky Horror Show when the popular musical comes back to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this summer. The Dancing with the Stars host will step into the role of the Narrator for the show's stint from 11 to 16 August 2025. She'll be sharing the stage with Jason Donovan, who's back as Frank N' Furter after a successful tour Down Under. Zamparelli and Donovan have previously teamed up in the 2013 Dublin production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. She said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be taking on the role of the Narrator in the iconic musical The Rocky Horror Show when it comes to Dublin in August. It's always been a favourite of mine!". "It's sexy, outrageously funny and it's going to be so much fun working with such a brilliant cast, including my old pal the legend that is Jason Donovan!". Zamparelli has made a name for herself through her work on RTE's Republic of Telly, The Fear, and the award-winning sitcom Bridget & Eamon, which she also co-created. She currently co-hosts Dancing with the Stars Ireland with Doireann Garrihy, and has previously had her own radio show on RTE 2FM. Tickets for The Rocky Horror Show are now available on Ticketmaster, with prices kicking off from €35. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
