Travelling between Kilcock and Portlaoise for rehearsals and performances of ‘Guys and Dolls’, Portlaoise Musical Society’s lead actor Andrew Docherty maximises every minute, listening to the script and stage directions.
Originally from Glasgow, the actor and musician lives in Kilcock with his wife, Mairead McKenna, a musical director for many years, where he runs a customs and international trade business.
He has four children, Emma 25, William 23, Kate 21, and Daniel 18, all of whom share a love of music.
Having grown up acting, singing and playing the piano, flute and guitar, he always had a passion for musicals and performed in several in Glasgow.
However, after leaving Glasgow he concentrated on work for 20 years. Then after starting his own business in Kilcock in 2004, he promised himself that after five years he would get back to the pastime that he loved, performing in musical theatre.
“The carrot was that after five years, I would get back into musicals and I joined Kilcock Musical Society,” he recalled.
He went on to perform with Naas, Maynooth, HXT and Portlaoise Musical Society.
This year is a hectic one, as he takes part in Portlaoise Musical Society’s ‘Guys and Dolls’; Entr’acte theatre group, Dublin’s performance of ‘Sweeney Todd’; ‘Young Frankenstein’, Naas; and ‘Shrek’ with the Avonmore Musical Society, Arklow.
When you thoroughly enjoy anything, it’s not a problem to dedicate your time to it, Andrew observed.
He revels in the whole world of musicals, relishing the camaraderie. “I have made so many friends through musical societies.
“When I moved to Ireland in 1997 and was concentrating on working until I got back into musicals, I had a lot of acquaintances.
“Through the musicals I have met a core group of very dear friends, as well as my wonderful wife, Mairead McKenna from Monaghan, a renowned musical director in her own right, who keeps me on my toes sharing in our passion for musical theatre.
“We even met at the Association of Irish Musical Societies awards event in Killarney in 2012, and the rest is history.”
This is Andrew’s third year in a row to take to the stage in Portlaoise and he is delighted with the choice of ‘Guys and Dolls’ for this year’s show.
“There is something for everyone in the show. It’s very inclusive, crossing a broad spectrum for anyone with a taste in performing or watching musical theatre,” he said.
Playing the lead role of Nathan Detroit, the award-winning performer said that everyone brings a part of themselves into their roles once they relax into them.
“The Portlaoise members are very welcoming and friendly, and I’d like to give a special shout-out to Aisling Rohan who is playing opposite me. She is an absolute star.”
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