The 2015 RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival will see the most extensive fringe festival in Athlone in the 63 years since the national event began.
With the nine nights of the festival plays in the Dean Crowe Theatre completely sold out, the 40 fringe events will provide the public with a wide variety of entertainment, activities, culture, and fun. Tickets for all fringe events will be available at the festival hub from Monday April 27 in the Radisson Blu Hotel between 12-3pm daily. Tickets will also be available at all fringe events and as usual will be subject to availability.
The festival app is now available free of charge for download on all android phones and contains details of all festival plays and fringe events. The iPhone app will be available in the coming days.
The curtain-raiser to this year’s festival will see the winners of the All Ireland confined festival Kilrush Drama Group stage Poor Beast in the Rain by Billy Roche in the Dean Crowe Theatre on Wednesday April 29 at 8pm. Tickets can still be purchased from the theatre box office by calling (090 ) 6492129.
A new addition to the fringe festival this year is an artisan food and crafts fair in John Count McCormack Square on Saturday May 2 at 5pm. The event will include a full day’s family entertainment with Tonnta Street Theatre, the Ravens Marching Band, face painting, and balloon making. This event will be subject to weather conditions.
The final awards ceremony will take place on Saturday May 9 in the Radisson Blu, Athlone starting at 7pm, admission by ticket only, available at the Dean Crowe Theatre during the festival.
Westmeath County Council and Athlone Tidy Towns have been at the forefront in preparing Athlone for this year’s festival. A strong and lasting partnership has developed between the festival committee with many local organisations providing essential support in building a strong festival. Local businesses also offer their support by way of sponsorship and this too is a vital component in ensuring that Athlone remains the location of choice in Ireland for one of the most well-reputed drama festivals in Europe.
For more information log on to www.dramafestival.ie
