It’s that time of year again when Claregalway Leisure Centre is transformed into a theatre for the 32nd Annual Claregalway Festival of Drama. This year the festival runs from tonight Thursday March 10th to Friday March 18 inclusive.
You really have to see the venue to believe the transformation. In the last number of years organisers have added tiered seating which has vastly improved the visual and acoustic experience for the audience. This year, they have added by lowering the stage level, which will hugely add to the experience for both actors and the audience.
This year’s adjudicator is Geoffrey O Keefe, who will give a public critique of the plays each night and who will announce the overall winners on closing night.
There is also the legendary on-site Festival Club where you can avail of a fully stocked bar and avail of complimentary sandwiches and delicious home baking, as well as free tea and coffee during the interval.
As with every year there are a number of very exciting new plays as well as some classics on show. Tonight (Thursday ) it opens with last year’s overall winners Corofin Drama Group with their production of the powerful play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg by Peter Nichols.
Friday 11- Lifford Players with the Tom Murphy play – A Crucial Week in the Life of a Grocer’s Assisstant.
Saturday 12 Dalkey Players with with Polly Teale’s adaption of the much-loved classic, Jane Eyre.
Sunday 13 Phoenix Players from Tubercurry with Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys.
Monday 14 DADS, from Dunmore with Tom Murphy’s The Gigli Concert.
Tuesday 15 Thurles Drama Group with Marina Carr’s Portia Coughlan.
Wednesday 16 Glenamaddy with Night Mother by Marsha Norman.
Thursday 17 — Compántas Lir present Proof by David Auburn.
Friday 18 - Shoestring Theatre from Cork with John B Keane classic, Sharon’s Grave.
The festival promises a feast of drama across a range of genres for theatre goers and drama enthusiasts.
Tickets are €10 per night or a season ticket is competitively priced at just €50 for all nine performances. Tickets are available by contacting the secretary on 086 8981731, or can be purchased at the door. Doors open at 7.30 with the performance beginning at 8pm sharp. This year Joe Steve O Neachtain of Ros na Rún fame, an avid theatre goer, will perform the official opening of the festival.
Go along and support a local event and enjoy a great night out.
