Kildare group, Silken Thomas Players, were crowned All Ireland Champions last Saturday May 8 as the 2010 RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival drew to a close. Adjudicator Tom Doherty awarded the top prize to the group whose energetic production of Alan Bennett’s school drama The History Boys swept audiences away with their masterful performances and slick scene changes. Producer Sean Judge picked up the award for Best Director, while the group also collected the awards for Best Set, Best Lighting, and Best Stage Management.
The group had previously won the competition in 2007 with The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer and they were runners up last year. Since arriving on the Open circuit in 2005, the group have earned a reputation for taking on challenging works such as Trainspotting and Equus and have never failed to seize the attentions of even the mildly curious.
Organisers can look back at what was a phenomenally successful festival with full houses reported every night, something which has not been witnessed in decades. None of the groups disappointed as a rich and varied display of drama was offered, many plays not previously seen in Athlone.
In addition to the superior standard of acting on stage at the Dean Crowe Theatre, the entertainment offered at the festival club after the play each night was of the highest order with group members and locals taking part. Festival club master of ceremonies Ray Collins said that the Groups Talent Competition was a tremendous success. “The Festival Club talent competition is an informal event which the groups look forward to and willingly participate in as a way to wind down from the high drama on the bigger stage,” said Ray. “With music supplied by Eamon O’Dhalaigh and with Mick Conroy and his team looking after our every need, we were in the best hands possible for great après drama celebrations.”
The full list of results is as follows:
RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Perpetual Trophy
Silken Thomas Players
The History Boys by Alan Bennett
Directed by Sean Judge
Best Director
Sean Judge
Silken Thomas Players
The History Boys
Best Actor
Seamus O’Rourke
Corn Mill Theatre Company
(John ) Shining City
Best Actress
Anne Shiels
Lifford Players
(Madge ) Philadelphia Here I Come!
Best Supporting Actor
Jackie Scanlan
Ennis Players
(Shawn Keogh ) The Playboy of the Western World
Best Supporting Actress
Mary O’Sullivan
Shoestring Theatre Company
(Rita Shanahan ) The Salvage Shop
Best Stage Setting
Silken Thomas Players
The History Boys
Best Stage Lighting
Silken Thomas Players
The History Boys
Best Stage Management
Silken Thomas Players
The History Boys
The John Butler Scholarship to DLI Summer School Scholarship
Michelle Lehane
Shoestring Theatre Company
(Katie Tansey ) The Salvage Shop
Drama League of Ireland Summer School Scholarship
Lauren Gallagher
Lifford Players
(Kate Doogan ) Philadelphia Here I Come!
Gormanstown Summer School Scholarship
Brid Verling
Ballyduff Drama Group
(Curley’s Wife ) Of Mice and Men
