A significant blow to the arts scene in Athlone, it has been confirmed in recent times that both the RTE All Ireland Drama Festival and the annual Athlone Musical Society production, have been cancelled due to the persistent presence of Covid-19.
The two major arts occasions will be noticeably absent from the Athlone social calendar for 2021 and their cancellations will also detrimentally affect the local economy with the hospitality industry certain to be negatively impacted.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser, Ms Regina Bushell, Director, All-Ireland Drama Festival, noted the "tough decision" taken by the Amateur Drama Council Of Ireland (ADCI ) to cancel the week long event in 2021.
"As Covid-19 continues to persist across the nation, the Amateur Drama Council Of Ireland (ADCI ) had to make the tough decision to cancel the festival circuit for 2021 resulting in the cancellation of the RTE All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone next year.
"The All Ireland Drama Festival has taken place for 67 years and it is a blow to many drama groups, their legion of followers and to the economy of Athlone to lose the festival for two consecutive years. It is also a big loss to the social life and economy of the 36 locations where festivals take place all around the country," Ms Bushell remarked.
Noting the unique sense of stage spirit which envelops drama groups nationwide, the Festival Director spoke of the work and expense which is afforded to all productions whose ultimate aim is to appear at the All-Ireland Drama Festival in the Dean Crowe Theatre each year.
"Little did the drama groups all around the country know, as they rehearsed and started to put the final tweaks to their plays in January and February 2020 and commence their touring schedule, that the national festival circuits would come to such an abrupt end and the RTE All Ireland Drama Festival would be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"So much work and expense had gone in to getting the plays produced for touring purposes and organising festivals and it was certainly heartbreaking for all involved.
"In some ways what has happened since then has been like a screenplay unfolding before our eyes as we watch the rehearsed monologues of our health advisors and politicians on our television screens every evening. Apprehension kept growing as we were hoping they were going to tell us something different, but as the suspense grew we guessed that there would be drama of a different kind at play.
"Usually as the evenings darken and the leaves are falling from the trees, drama groups preparing to go on the festival circuit gather together in homes and theatres to choose their plays, arrange readings and assign parts to the actors, design and start to build sets all of which involves individuals collaborating in a unique spirit of cohesiveness," Ms Bushell commented.
Ms Bushell detailed her hopes for an improvement pertaining to the current Covid-19 situation to enable a drama experience take place in Athlone during the summer months of 2021.
"I am living in hope that the Covid-19 situation will improve in the weeks ahead and that a festival of drama, although of a different format, may take place in Athlone during the summer months. I am working closely with the ADCI and we will continue to assess all possibilities taking the health guidelines into account at all stages.
"I have also suggested the possibility of an outdoor performance area in Athlone and I hope to have further discussion with Council members and Athlone Chamber Of Commerce to investigate what might be possible, not only for the Drama Festival, but for the arts in general in Athlone.
"The local drama festival committee would feel that part of the fringe festival would still be possible and we will be calling on all local organisations and businesses to support us when the time is right.
"We are keeping an open mind of what might be possible in order to keep Athlone at the centre of drama in the country in the year ahead. However, we all remain in this together, it is up to all of us to play our part to win the award of a Covid free island," Ms Bushell concluded.
In tandem with the decision taking by the Amateur Drama Council Of Ireland, the Athlone Musical Society committee has opted to cancel their production of 'The Wedding Singer' which was to grace the Dean Crowe Theatre stage in early March 2021.
Announcing their decision, the Society said that it was with "heavy hearts" that the committee confirmed the cancellation of its 2021 production, 'The Wedding Singer'.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser, Athlone Musical Society Chairperson, Joan Larkin, referenced the uncertainty currently caused by the presence of Covid-19 as being the determining factor in the show's cancellation.
"We were disappointed to announce the cancellation of our 2021 production, 'The Wedding Singer', but as there is so much uncertainty surrounding our ability to rehearse and indeed, take to the stage in March of next year, it is no real surprise to our audience that this decision has now been formally taken.
"However, we are already looking for new shows which may become available for our 2022 production," Ms Larkin stated.
