The iconic former Royal Cinema on Cecil Street in Limerick City is set to host the filming of a major new feature film production in November with the support of the building’s owner Limerick and Clare ETB. ‘One Night Only’ will complete principal photography in Limerick in December and is expected to premiere in late 2025.
Commenting on the news, Paul Patton, Director of Further Education and Training, Limerick and Clare ETB said: “Continuing our close partnership with Innovate Limerick / Film in Limerick, we are delighted to support this production and to see it film at one of the ETB’s properties, the historic Athenaeum Hall, so well known as the Royal Cinema in the city centre. We are especially pleased to see so many local crew on the production who began their careers on film training programmes supported by our ETB. We look forward to more opportunities like this one to work closely with stakeholders to further develop the screen industries in the region.”
‘One Night Only’ stars Colin Morgan (Dead and Buried, The Fall, The Boy That Never Was) as the manager of a small-town cinema who struggles to keep the peace on a chaotic Friday night at the pictures. Set in 1980s Ireland, this feel-good movie is a loving tribute to the cinema experience and is directed by Limerick writer/director David Gleeson. Gleeson also wrote and directed ‘Cowboys and Angels’, the first feature film to shoot entirely in the city, produced back in 2003. Now 20 years on, his latest movie is bringing life back to the once bustling Royal Cinema.
David Gleeson explains that he was shaped by his experiences growing up in the cinema business in Cappamore, County Limerick: “The cinema has profoundly shaped my life and this film reflects three generations of my family’s experiences. Anyone with fond memories of going to the pictures will find something to laugh or cry about in this film.”
‘One Night Only’ also stars Calam Lynch, Niamh Cusack, and India Mullen. The film is currently in pre-production, with the old Royal Cinema on Cecil Street in Limerick being readied for filming later in November.
Pictured outside the old Royal Cinema: Judy Tossell, Producer; Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, Producer; David Gleeson, Writer/Director; Mayor John Moran; and Paul C. Ryan, Film in Limerick.
Mayor of Limerick John Moran has also welcomed the production to Limerick: “The city is delighted to welcome the ‘One Night Only’ production to Limerick. In a few short years, film and TV production has rapidly developed in the region and we continue to think big to grow the size of the local sector. We look forward to welcoming many more productions like ‘One Night Only’ to show off all that we have to offer. I am especially looking forward to seeing this building which I used to visit decades ago come alive again, even if only temporarily. It is an aspiration of my mayoral programme to find a way for it to serve the people of Limerick again. David and Nathalie’s welcome spotlight and their work on the building will I am sure be a very helpful first step and I want to thank them for choosing Limerick and the Royal for this film.”
Regional Film Manager, Paul C. Ryan from Innovate Limerick / Film in Limerick commented: “We are beyond thrilled to have the ‘One Night Only’ team in Limerick, preparing for the cameras to roll at the Royal Cinema. The Royal holds so many special memories for the people of Limerick, it seems like everyone of a certain age has a story to tell about the venue, and we are excited to see it brought back to life for this production. We are so grateful for all the help we have received from the City to bring this opportunity to Limerick and especially all the support from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board who have helped us at every stage to make this production a reality. Let’s hope that soon, we will see a newly-renovated Royal Cinema for the people of Limerick and ‘One Night Only’, screened there.”
Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, Producer from Wide Eye Films is looking forward to the production: “We are delighted to be back in Limerick and to breathe life back into the Royal for our new feature film ‘One Night Only‘ – just a few metres away from David’s first bedsit! We have been working closely with Film in Limerick, the ETB, and the Council in Limerick to bring everything together for the film and have been able to hire a majority of our crew locally and engage local businesses to provide services for the production. We look forward to a successful shoot and to returning to Limerick to screen the film next year.”
‘One Night Only’ is produced by Nathalie Lichtenthaeler and Judy Tossell for Wide Eye Films, co-produced by Belgian film house uMedia, and co-financed by Screen Ireland and Myriad Pictures, Los Angeles who will also sell the film internationally.
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