The walls of the Market Place Theatre, Armagh, will reverberate to the rocking sounds of music on Thursday 30th July.

Not only will there be a concert featuring Paul Brady, some Horslips and Holy Ghosts, but there will be a one-person play about the life of one of Ireland’s best-known musicians!

This year’s John Hewitt International Summer School will host one of the first performances of Newbliss, a brand new play by Keith Donald, a renowned Irish saxophonist and clarinet player. It will be on stage in the Studio Theatre at 7pm.

Keith Donald has played with some of the biggest names in Irish music, including Van Morrison, Ronnie Drew, The Moving Hearts and Christy Moore, and now he has turned his talents towards theatre. Keith’s play NewBliss tells the story of his professional life from his first public performance on live radio at the age of ten to playing high profile gigs in North America, Africa, Europe and Ireland.
Through poetry, storytelling and music, Keith recounts the highs and lows of a career in the music industry spanning six decades, half of which was spent under the shadow of alcoholism. NewBliss is an insight into the life of a musician, from playing pit orchestra gigs in order to pay the bills all the way through to sold out stadium tours. It is also a deeply personal, heart-warming story of triumph over addiction.

Keith spent much of his childhood in Northern Ireland and it is a place close to his heart. He is delighted that NewBliss will have one of its first outings as part of the John Hewitt International Summer School before it plays in Dublin later this year.

So, why not make a booking at The Market Place Theatre for a play full of beautiful music, plenty of craic, and perhaps a wee bit of inspiration. For more information and to book tickets please visit www.marketplacearmagh.com or call 028 3752 1821. Tickets are priced £10 each.