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Actor and theatre director Ronan Lardner realised a dream this week with the launch of his new company Lily Pad Productions.

The group will stage its debut show, Run for Your Wife  in Turloughmore Community Centre on March 8, 9 and 10.  Details of this were announced on Monday at Lily Pad’s launch in the Claregalway Hotel.

“This is something I always wanted to do, says Ronan.  “I’ve been steeped in theatre since I was a child – musicals and plays and I’ve been directing for the past 10 years.”

The former student of  St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam also does Djing for social events … and he holds down a day job as a barber in Headford.

“I’m never at home,” he laughs.  Fortunately, he has an understanding wife.  Ronan met Karen Monaghan through a mutual love of musicals and she understands his passion, although her only ambition is to take part in the productions and have fun, not to direct.

Lily Pad productions came about because Ronan “wanted to be able to put all the people I wanted to work with on stage together and have a well rehearsed, well produced play.”

He picked Run for Your Wife for its comedy value.

“We are in the middle of a recession, so it’s good to do something that will get people laughing.”

It’s a play he previously directed for Pegasus Theatre.

For this production he has assembled a fine cast, including  Karen, himself, Eric Healy and Ger Farragher who teach in Headford, Adrian Mooney from Lackagh, and Norrie Keane and Denis O’Connor from Abbeyknockmoy.

The set, which he describes as having “a practical design”, is being built by Tom Waldron from Caherlistrane and the props are being sourced from Eugene Finnegan from Tuam.

“They are all people I know and can trust,” he says simply.

Run for Your Wife will run at the Turloughmore Community Centre from  from Friday, March 8 to Sunday, March 10 at 8pm.