Newpoint Youth Players set to bring 'Little Women' to the stage

"We're getting to the final stages; just putting bits and pieces together," director Denise Sloan told the Newry Reporter when we spoke as rehearsals wrapped up in the Quays Shopping Centre last week.

"We're just about to start our tech runs now, so this is the culmination of all the hard work over the summer from July 16, every weekday. And they've been basically working intensively on their craft. They've been fantastic. I have to say, a really, really strong bunch."

Some of those 14 teenagers taking part have been here before and for others it's their first time, but it's clear that all are having a blast amid all the hard work.

Two returnees are Abbey (Marmee) and Clodagh (Jo), while Lucy (Beth) is a first time Newpointer, who said: "I'm really enjoying it. It's giving me a schedule as well."

And for Abbey and Clodagh, it's been the highlight of their summer for the past three years.

"I'm always waiting all summer for it," said Clodagh.

"It's such a good way to get out of the house," added Abbey.

All three love this year's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, 'Little Women', which was chosen by Denise for a number of reasons.

"I had originally thought of a different play, but I didn't have a big enough cast for it," she explained.

"And I didn't have enough boys. By the time I found out that I was in this role, term time was over, so I couldn't even recruit through the schools.

"Because I had few boys and the girls were very strong, and I had directed ‘Little Women’ about 17 years ago, I just thought, 'you know what? I think that's the perfect one for showcasing the strength of the females’. And everybody got a part as well because there were only 14 in the cast, so it was perfect all round"

Newpoint Players says it is "all about giving back” from alumni and Denise, who joined their youth drama group when she was 14 years old, has done just that, having directed seven previous: 'Fame', 'Back to the 80s', 'Twelfth Night’, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Little Women', 'Great Expectations' and 'The importance of Being Earnest'.

And starting there as part of the group, under Sean Hollywood, certainly helped her in her career choice.

"That's where I learned my craft and when I was older, Sean had me as a leader and then directing tiny wee bits of it, just to build up on my knowledge."

That led to her university degree in Glasgow studying Theatre, English and Philosophy.

"In in the years after that, I facilitated drama workshops and worked in schools around the country," she said.

That tradition of giving back is what has helped Newpoint Youth Group to survive uninterrupted for the past 45 years.

"I think a lot of people don't realise that this is a free summer scheme. I would never have got involved with drama if I had to pay for it," said Denise.

It's also the only all-out drama group, as opposed to musical theatre, in Newry.

"Myself and Donal [O'Hanlon, Chairman] were talking about this. If kids want to go on to do drama or perform in arts, they need to build up some kind of portfolio or CV of the stuff that they've done. If it's all musical theatre, then they haven't got all of the bare bones of their craft, really. So it's the only opportunity there is for a straight play."

It's not just for actors either, as the programme has had workshops from those in the industry, most notably during Covid when producing a full play was curtailed, and last year when the director had to pull out at the last minute.

Among the ex-Newpoint Players who came in to contribute last year was actor Ryan McParland, who stars alongside Johnny Depp in the film 'Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness', and David Pearse, who is also a film star and a well-known stage actor.

Another great actor who helped the young cast produce their own monologues and co-directed a show a few years ago is Caolan Byrne. The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) graduate, has worked consistently on stage and screen including in television series 'Sherlock and Daughter' (2025) and video game 'Star Wars Outlaws' (2024). Byrne also acted alongside movie star Florence Pugh in 'The Wonder' (2022). Playwright Oisin Kearney was also on board last year, and opera singer Ben McAteer taught the group to breathe and use their voices. Aimee Yates, who is the stage manager at the Lyric Theatre. gave them industry and career advice, as did casting director. Mary Ellen McCartan.

"That all builds on their skills and their knowledge,” said Denise.

"There have been kids who weren't interested that much in acting and went up into the lighting box or the sound box. One of the guys who would have been around in my era now does the sound for shows in Wembley. John Gallagher was doing the lights for the Eurovision. There are so many different fields people have gone off to."

That includes Emily Foran who directed 'Little Women' a couple of years ago in the Lyric Theatre, Belfast.

"Even if they don't go on to do it professionally, there's always the opportunity for them to be a Newpoint senior and to keep that going. It just builds up their whole confidence and being able to speak publicly and to be able to express themselves. I was painfully shy when I was 14. It was one of my friends in my class who coaxed me into coming along and it did wonders for me."

Not only has Denise thrown herself into this production, but she is also recovering from hip surgery.

"I'm doing well, but I'm still hobbling a bit. But I have loved this summer. I've loved it because when Donal asked me to do it, I thought, I don't know if I can do this again. I don't know if I still have it in me. But it just does wonders for your confidence yourself when you're working and they keep you young as well.

"Because I just had that surgery, I could easily kind of just say I'm just taking a step back with everything, but it gets you back out there and it was the best decision I made I think."

‘Little Women’ is on in Warrenpoint Town Hall from Wednesday, August 26 to Friday, August 28.

Tickets are available at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/newpointplayers/2365914