KINKY BOOTS' Killian Donnelly to Lead New Frank McGuinness's New Play DONEGAL This Autumn

KINKY BOOTS' Killian Donnelly will return to Ireland to star in Frank McGuinness's new play DONEGAL at the Abbey Theatre this autumn. According to the Daily Mail, the production begins performances October 6 for a run through November 19, 2016. Conall Morrison directs.

The dark dramedy with music centers on Jackie Day, a cowboy who heads home from America to southern Ireland to help his struggling family.

"He goes away from Ireland to the States and becomes a big singer-songwriter," Donnelly told the Mail. "I think of him as having the kind of success that someone like Gary Barlow has. His mother used to sell out stadiums, but now she's reduced to playing smaller venues that hold 50, 60 people, if she's lucky. The family want Jackie to get them out of debt."

Playwright McGuinness has written songs for the show with Kevin Doherty from the band Four Men And A Dog. Donnelly, who plays both guitar and piano, will be bringing the country tunes to life onstage in Ireland, where country music is supposedly popular. "John Denver and Garth Brooks go down a treat there," Donnelly said.

Donnelly will play his final performance as 'Charlie Price' in the West End's KINKY BOOTS on August 13. Among his past London stage credits are THE COMMITMENTS, MEMPHIS, LES MISERABLES, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and Billy Elliot.

Pictured: Killian Donnelly in the West End's MEMPHIS. Photo by Johan Persson.