Ballymena actress ‘Cooking with Elvis’

BALLYMENA born and bred actress Jo Donnelly is to star in a new show making its way to theatres throughout the country to heat up the cold autumn evenings.

Jo, most recently seen playing the character Thumper in The Chronicles of Long Kesh, is to star as ‘Mam’ in outrageous comic farce ‘Cooking With Elvis’.

The play is being brought to the stage by Belfast’s leading physical theatre company Bruiser and promises a compelling, frantic and funny night’s entertainment in true Bruiser style.

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The show, which is strictly over-18s only, opens in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast for three nights from September 22 before embarking on a 15-venue nationwide tour to theatres throughout Ireland including Antrim’s Old Courthouse.

Written by Lee Hall, who is best known for his international stage hit Billy Elliot, Cooking with Elvis is a hilarious and often tender dark comedy about domestic turmoil, love, loss, regret...and cooking!

Told from the perspective of 14-year-old domestic science enthusiast Jill, the show is set in the North East of England and tells the story of a family coming to terms with looking after their quadriplegic Dad, a former Elvis impersonator and surveyor who is now confined to a wheelchair.

Former Ballee High School pupil, Jo plays Mam whose voracious appetite for the bottle is only matched by her taste for younger men!

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The play has been delighting audiences since 1999 and has received rave reviews and theatregoer reactions. The Bruiser production sees the show being performed by a Northern Irish theatre company for the first time.

Bruiser’s company manager Stephen Beggs, who will be leaving his desk behind and taking to the road in the role of Dad, commented: “Cooking with Elvis is an explosively funny production and we are so excited about entertaining audiences with this unforgettable show throughout September and October. It’s definitely not for the prudish and packs quite a punch but we guarantee that those who come along to see us won’t be disappointed.”

Jo added: “Anyone who enjoys live comedy will love Cooking With Elvis. And, although this is by no means an Elvis tribute night some of his best-loved songs are featured throughout the performance”.

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