RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival’s reigning champions are out of this year’s competition and hopes of being the first group to win three in a row are dashed. The festival, which takes place at the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone from Friday April 30 to Saturday May 8, will be an open contest comprising nine groups.
The contenders for this year’s final are as follows:
Ballyduff Drama Group, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck;
Bradán Players, Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck;
Cornmill Theatre Group, Shining City by Conor McPherson;
Dundalk Theatre Workshop, Copenhagen by Michael Frayne ;
Ennis Players, The Playboy of the Western World by JM Synge;
Lifford Players, Philadelphia Here I Come! By Brian Friel;
Nenagh Players, Agnes of God by John Pielmeier;
Shoestring Theatre Co, The Salvage Shop by Jim Nolan;
Silken Thomas Players, The History Boys by Alan Bennett;
Estuary Players from Baldoyle in Co Dublin won the event in 2008 with The Price by Arthur Miller and again last year with Guirgis’ The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. However, after a keenly fought preliminary circuit which concluded last week, they were pipped for the final place by Bradán Players from Leixlip, Co Kildare with their production of Mauritius, an engaging play of mystery, intrigue, and dangerous connivance.
Adjudicator Tom Doherty from Derry is looking forward to an entertaining programme with a good blend of celebrated classics and some contemporary pieces which will enthuse and inspire in equal measure.
Booking for individual nights will commence the following Wednesday April 7.
Admission is €18, and €15 for concessions. Bookings can be made at the theatre box office (090 ) 6492129 or through the bookings page on the festival’s official website at www.dramafestival.ie
