A new chapter opens next week for a New Ross theatre with a colourful history. St Michael's Theatre began life in 1806 as the parish church. When the new Church of St Mary and St Michael was consecrated in the early 1900s it was given over to the people and the theatre that exists today was born.
For a period in the 1930s, however, it became a cinema, reverting to a theatre when the Ritz cinema was opened in the town.
When a major refurbishment programme was undertaken in the 1950s, Monsignor "Doc" Brown, who was in charge at the time, travelled to London to look at lighting in the theatres of the West End. With a new lighting system, seats and suspended ceiling installed, the Abbey Theatre agreed to stage The Country Boy for the theatre's official reopening in February 1960.
It is appropriate then that on Monday, when the theatre has another official opening following its most recent renovation, the Abbey should again do the honours with its current hit production, Hugh Leonard's new play, Love in the Title. Leonard will be there for the opening ceremony, which is being performed by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera.
The latest restoration programme was embarked upon five years ago when, according to the theatre manager, Helen Lewis, the building was "in a sad state" and more money than was available in New Ross was needed to bring it up to modern standards.
A committee was formed, grants were obtained for the project and work finally began in May 1997. Two major "finds" were made during excavations; the original altar steps were discovered intact and a grave was also uncovered, believed to be that of a priest, for whom a reburial service was performed.
"Perhaps," says Ms Lewis, "he was the friendly ghost so many claimed to have seen over the years."
A new stage, two new dressing rooms, a green room, toilets, offices and a lounge were all provided. Then, with the builders' work done, volunteers took on the various tasks of refurbishing the seating, painting the walls and ceilings and fitting out the dressing rooms.
New carpets and curtains were bought and a modern lighting system installed. "Every effort was made to buy within New Ross or, failing that, within Ireland," says Ms Lewis. "The seats were upholstered professionally but all other work on the seats and in the theatre was carried out by a loyal band of people who worked day and night."
This even included Christmas night as volunteers worked to get the theatre ready for a "locals' night" on January 10th last year. Since then the theatre has been up and running, with both amateur and professional productions encompassing drama, opera, ballet, festivals, exhibitions, recitals, concerts, puppet theatre, symphony orchestral performances, youth theatre, drama and choral festivals and even international boxing.
It is only now, however, that the theatre is finally considered ready for its official reopening and Ms Lewis is naturally "delighted" that the Abbey is again prepared to be such a major part of the event. "It's only the second time that the Abbey will have played in New Ross and we felt it was too good an opportunity to miss."
The local TDs, Hugh Byrne, Ivan Yates and Brendan Howlin, will also be present on the night along with local and county councillors. The play will run for three nights, Monday, May 3rd, to Wednesday, May 5th.