Norma’s hilarious comedy show is coming to the Dunamaise

COMEDIAN Norma Sheahan’s new stand-up comedy show It’s Wine O’Clock is selling out in theatres around the country and her racy over-18s revue is coming to the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise on Friday 28 February.

Norma is a multi-disciplinary artist whose talents include theatre, television, film, stand-up, playwriting, podcasting, radio and voiceovers. She has performed in theatres across Ireland and Britain, including The Royal Court, The Abbey, The Traverse, The Gate, The Gaiety and Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

Norma had roles in The Problem with White Peoplewith Hollywood stars Colm Meaney and Paul Reiser, Michael Scott’s Shirley Valentine, The Vagina Monologues, The Matchmaker, The Gaiety’s Cripple of Inishmaan, Sive, and Enda Walsh’s Bed Bound (for which she won best actress), to name but a few.

The bubbly comedian travelled to the Dunamaise recently to chat to the Laois Nationalistabout her upcoming show.

The Cork native said the last time she was in Dunamaise Arts Centre she was performing Shirley Valentine, “which is comedy from start to finish”.

Norma said: Shirley Valentineis a one-woman show and it sold out around the country, including the Gaiety for three weeks. It’s Wine O’Clock is my own show and it’s what Shirley did next. It’s about a mid-life crisis, but I call it a mid-life climax. I’m recently divorced, I’m nearly 50 and I say that 50 is the new 30!

“I was advised to start dating again and to try Tinder by my three teenage daughters, friends, relatives and even my GP. The last time I dated there were no phones and I’m dystextic, as I like to call it. I barely know how to work an app, but my sister gave me a tutorial, got me onto Tinder and showed me the pros and cons and especially what to look out for.

“This show is about grabbing the girls for a good night out and having a laugh. The audience will hopefully be peeing themselves from start to finish. About 10% of the audience are men. I’d encourage them not to be shy and come along, because they might learn a thing or three!

“As women get older and the menopause kicks in, they can start to feel down or they can say ‘feck it’ and live a bit and go a little bit wild, whereas men around the age of 50 tend to get mad boring.

“The show is about my journey of meeting all of these 'Tinder madsters' in real life and in the app. To be fair, I’m off the app at the moment, I only went on it for a bit … you’d nearly need a hip-replacement!*** Michael Scott is producing the show with me. He also did Shirley Valentine and The Matchmaker which was a play that I did with the late Jon Kenny from D’Unbelievables.

“I did film work recently with small parts in Kneecap and The Dry. Back in the day, I had big parts in The Clinic, Bridget and Eamonn, and Damo and Ivor, where I played Victoria Itchdaddy, Ivor’s posh mammy from Foxrock.” Director of the Dunamaise Arts Centre Michelle de Forge said: “Our audience will remember Norma’s previous visits to the Dunamaise, including Shirley Valentine. We’re delighted to welcome her back with her own show It's Wine O’Clock. If comedy lovers can imagine a character moving on from where Shirley left off and having lots more fun in her middle-age, then there’ll be no doubt that the house will be in stitches with laughter.” The show takes place on Friday 28 February at 8pm. Tickets cost €28 and are selling fast. For bookings visit www.dunamaiseartscentre.ie or phone 057 8663355 Tuesday to Saturday 1-5pm.

Norma Sheahan can be found on Facebook and on Instagram.