This week, Thursday 8 December at Tallow Community Centre, Brideview Drama pushes on to stage their great hospital comedy for Christmas, ‘Nil by Mouth’, directed by John Roche (great to see him back in the director’s chair!).

Written by John Chapman, the play is a fun 4 nights’ entertainment. All about a bunch of useless patients trying desperately to survive what must be the worst run medical facility in Ireland, Nil by Mouth is a family-friendly evening of mistakes, farce, pratfalls and confusion.

As so often with Brideview Drama, there are many new faces on stage, and the show welcomes Louise O’Connor of Tallow (channelling her inner Ian Paisley as a grumpy Northern matron), Fiona Keane of Fermoy (as a fresh-faced and very fetching American nurse), Liam Roche of Kilwatermoy (bumbling about in the throes of a drug-induced confusion), and Gary Gill (as a totally zonked out patient).

Anne Tobin, Paddy Smith, Martin Sheehan, Donal Howard, Brian Livingston, Helen Aherne, Veronica Henley and Sarah Curley return to the company, driving the show forward through all the mayhem. Anne is a scary government inspector, Helen is the clueless main patient, Paddy is the tall handsome doctor, Donal plays a concussed patient sure he’s about to do a Roy Keane for Brideview United, Sarah is easily the nation’s best looking nurse, Martin rushes manically about as Joe the Porter, Brian keeps tripping over him as another Porter, while Veronica beautifully bosses everyone about as Matron Dowling.

Also new to Brideview Drama, up in the lighting box we welcome Shane Roche of Kilwatermoy, who’ll be spinning the sound while pushing the buttons, alongside the ever-capable Matthew Kavanagh. There are lots of really interesting props on stage, so the club would especially like to thank St Patrick’s Community Hospital of Fermoy and Goalpost Ireland Engineering of Tallow.

Suitable for all ages, Nil By Mouth starts at 8.15PM each night, with doors opening at 7.30pm. Tallow Community Centre is a very comfortable theatre, so all are welcome on Thursday and Friday, December 8 and 9; then Thursday and Saturday nights, 15 and 17 December.

As ever with Brideview Drama, the refreshments are free and include wine, nibbles and soft-drinks. There’s lots of seating, so come along and enjoy the show.