Governance

Benny has been involved in theatre for as long as he can remember and has appeared on stage here in the theatre with St. Mel’s Musical Society, Backstage Theatre Group and Longford Variety Group.
He was nominated to the Backstahe Theatre Board by the Board of Longford Slashers in 2017. Benny has been involved with a lot of community organisations down through the years and is still actively involved with Longford Slashers at both senior and underage level. He is also involved with The Longford Marathon and the Longford Rose of Tralee centre. Benny has enjoyed a varied working career which saw him work in the financial services industry for almost 30 years and he also was a regular behind the microphone with the Shannonside FM sports team since the station opened in 1989 up until recently. Benny now works as a support worker for adults with special needs and is based in Longford. Benny was appointed Director of the Backstage Theatre CLG at the Annual General meeting on 28 June 2017.

A founding member of the Backstage Theatre for Longford project, Philip has been involved in performing Arts for over thirty years with Backstage Theatre Group. Some productions include Whistle in the Dark, Faith Healer, Our Town, The Chastitute and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for which he received an All-Ireland Drama Award.
Now retired, he formerly was a Principal Officer and Senior Manager with the Department of Social Protection. He holds a degree in Public Management, Higher
Certificate in Humanities in Advocacy Studies and Master Degree in Business Administration.

Tom Donlon is a director of Brickfield Estate Management company. He is a former Board chairman of the National Standards Authority of Ireland and former Board member of Bord Gais Eireann where he chaired the Audit Committee and was on the remuneration and Budget committees. Mr Donlon is retired from a Senior Sales and marketing position with Weetabix Ltd. Tom was appointed to the board of Backstage Theatre CLG in 2015, the year of incorporation of the newly structured Company Limited by Guarantee.

Paul Higgins runs a retail business in the town with his wife Geraldine and has been involved in amateur drama since the early 80’s. He is a member of Backstage Theatre Group (BTG) and served as chairperson from 2003 to 2005. He has directed, produced, stage-managed and acted in many BTG productions over the years. Paul has also been a leader with Backstage Youth Theatre (BYT) since it was formed in 1995. He is currently chairperson of BYT and has been since 2006 when it became affiliated to NAYD. BYT has in that period increased its membership to a capacity 60 young people. Over the past 5 years BYT have performed its own pantomimes and sold out the theatre for seven shows each time. He is responsible for the day to day running of BYT with a committee of voluntary leaders and directs and produces their pantomimes.

Paul is also a past member of the Aisling Children’s Arts Festival committee. He still assists them with their open day and workshops by involving BYT members as assistants. He was a founder member of Backstage Theatre and was appointed to the board of Backstage Theatre CLG in 2015, the year of incorporation of the newly structured Company Limited by Guarantee.

Declan Neville has been involved in amateur drama in Longford for over 30 years and has been a member of Backstage Theatre Group (BTG) since its formation. He has been involved in many of the group’s productions over the years.

In the past, Declan has a been a member of the boards of Longford Money Advice and Budgeting Service, Longford County Childcare Committee and Longford Community Resources Ltd. He is also currently a member of the committee of Longford & District Schoolboy League. He is a civil servant working and living in Longford town.

Declan was appointed to the board of Backstage Theatre CLG in 2015, the year of incorporation of the newly structured Company Limited by Guarantee.

Michael Nevin is head of Enterprise with Longford County Council. He runs the Local Enterprise Office which supports the needs of entrepreneurs and small business in County Longford and he plays a pivotal role in promoting County Longford as an attractive location for inward investment.
From Longford Town he is a strong community activist and sits on the board of several voluntary organisations including the Temperance Hall Committee, The Longford Town Suburbs Committee that looks after the Mall, Longford & District Schoolboy league and County Longford Tourism Committee.
Michael sat on an advisory board for the Fidget Feet Aerial Dance when they were based in Longford . He is a big supporter of Backstage Theatre, championing it as a key piece of the cultural and social fabric of Longford that helps sell the Town as a good place to live and work.
Michael was appointed Director of the Backstage Theatre CLG at the Annual General meeting on 28 June 2017.

Colm Murray was appointed to the Board of Backstage Theatre CLG in 2019. He has been a member of Longford County Council since 2013. He is Chair of Longford Local Community Development Committee, a group leader on the Eastern and Midlands Regional Authority and was a board member of the former County Enterprise Board. He is a current member and former Chair of Ballymahon Vocational School board of management.

Colm has been heavily involved in the community and voluntary sector over the years and served as Development Officer (2016-2019) and Vice Chair (2019-2021) of Longford GAA County Board as well as Chair of Kenagh GAA club(2018-2022) He has also been involved in amateur dramatics for a number of years in his local community and is a founder member and former Chair of Pillar Box Drama Club.

He is a former lecturer at Technical University of the Shannon (AIT) and currently works as a healthcare administrator.

Georgina is a teacher of languages and Drama in Mullingar. She is a big supporter of the Backstage Theatre having been involved in the St. Mel’s Musical Society and the Backstage Theatre group. Georgina is involved in preparing children in scor na bpáistí and in Scor na nÓg andhas been involved in fundraising in Longford in various local projects and charities.

Georgina has long been associated with the Arts Centre in Mullingar where her students of Coláiste Mhuire perform in Musical and Drama pieces and enter various Drama competitions around the country.

Georgina is living in Longford since 2003 and was the founding chairperson of the Attic House. She is also a director of the Temperance Hall and the Irish Cultural Officer on the Slashers Executive.