The Dunmore Amateur Dramatic Society is cleaning up at competitive theatre festivals around Ireland with performances of Brian Friel’s ‘Faith Healer’ to be showcased in Galway’s Townhall Theatre next week.
Fresh from claiming first prize medals at drama competitions in Portadown, Co Armagh, Rathangan, Co Kildare, Castleisland, Co Kerry, Strabane, Co Tyrone, and in Claregalway, the actors from north Co Galway will tour their production to Galway city next Wednesday, April 3 at 8pm.
Faith Healer tells the story of Frank Hardy, his wife Grace, and his manager Teddy, who traverse rural Wales and Scotland, offering Frank’s unique gift to people in need. A twentieth century masterpiece, the play explores themes of identity, exile and homecoming.
DADS previously ran a sold-out run of ‘Faith Healer’ at The Mick Lally Theatre in Galway city, but this time it is opting for a larger venue.
“Since last October the cast has been reworking this play not just paragraph by paragraph, but syllable by syllable,” says DADS spokeswoman Joan Macdonnell.
The production is directed by Philip Macdonnell, whose three DADS productions to date were all placed in the All-Ireland Drama Finals: ‘Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me’ by Frank McGuinness; ‘The Gigli Concert’ by Tom Murphy; ‘The Odd Couple’ by Neil Simon.
Philip has won several Best Director awards, and his production of Faith Healer has now qualified for this year’s All Ireland Drama Finals to be held in Mountmellick, County Laois, next month.
