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theatre · Sunday 16 August 2026 · 2:30pm 
The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals
At St. John's Theatre & Arts Centre · The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry
At St. John's Theatre & Arts Centre · The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry
If you think you don’t like musicals, this show was written for you. The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is a horror-comedy musical by StarKid Productions - the cult theatre company behind A Very Potter Musical - and it follows Paul, an ordinary office worker who absolutely cannot stand musicals, as his town is taken over by a mysterious alien force that makes everyone burst into song. It is funny, sharp, and knowingly self-aware, and it has developed a devoted following since it was first staged in 2017. Listowel’s own Checkpoint Players are bringing it to St. John’s Theatre & Arts Centre across four performances in August 2026, and it is exactly the kind of show that works well in a small, intimate venue where the energy of a community cast fills the room.
The show blends B-movie horror - think Invasion of the Body Snatchers - with original songs and a good deal of dark comedy. The story escalates quickly: a strange meteor, contaminated coffee, and suddenly the whole town is singing and dancing against their will. The writing is clever enough that it rewards musical theatre fans and those who would rather not be there in equal measure. The Checkpoint Players are an amateur community theatre group performing in one of Kerry’s best small venues. Community productions of this show have built strong reputations across Ireland and the UK in recent years - audiences tend to find it a proper night out rather than a polite local effort. Four performances run across 16 to 19 August, with matinees at 2:30pm and evening shows at 7:30pm on each day.
Listowel is in north Kerry, roughly 27km north of Tralee on the N69. By car from Tralee it takes around 25 minutes; from Limerick it is about an hour via the N21. Bus Eireann serves Listowel from Tralee (route 14), with connections from Limerick. St. John’s Theatre sits right on The Square in the centre of town, in a converted 19th-century Gothic church - it is easy to spot. Parking is available in the town centre, and Listowel is compact enough that everything is within a short walk.
Listowel is Kerry’s literary capital - home to the Writers’ Week festival and a town with a strong tradition of arts and culture. The Square itself is Georgian and well worth a look, and there are good places to eat and drink within a short walk of the theatre. There is more to see in Listowel and across Co. Kerry.
Heading to St. John's Theatre & Arts Centre in Listowel? Kerry has plenty more to see. Read the Listowel area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.