1. Art and Diseño

All-Ireland One Act
Drama Finals
Abbey Centre,
Ballyshannon.
Dec. 5th to 7th
2014
Souvenir
Programme
15.00
Hosted by Ballyshannon Drama Society
Under the auspices of Amateur Drama Council of Ireland and Drama League of Ireland
Chairman of Drama League of Ireland address
by Ollie Kenny, chairman, Drama League of Ireland
The One Act Circuit and the All Ireland One Act Finals
is one of the highlights in the amateur drama calendar.
The One Act Finals always have a sense of Festival as
opposed to mere competition. It’s a wonderful social
occasion, compacted in to a long weekend in early
December and presented in a different location every
year. During the festival circuit and at the finals many
old friendships are renewed, and many new friendships
formed, adding to that warm family feel that is unique
to amateur theatre participants.
As with all art forms, the excellent standards we now
have on the one act festival circuit is a result of many
years of hard work put in by the two organising bodies,
the Drama League of Ireland and the Amateur Drama
Council of Ireland, both working in co-operation
together for a long number of years now. The main
factors that have contributed to the steady raising of the
standards of production include the DLI development
programme in the form of the DLI Summer School and
workshops delivered by the DLI through top professional
practitioners; then the participation by Groups in the
festival circuit in which Groups get the advice of top
professional adjudicators. We have a joint committee
between DLI and ADCI which oversees the festival circuit
and Finals, and this Committee has worked tirelessly to
ensure these events all run as smoothly and professionally
as possible.
So this year we head North West to Ballyshannon, and
if the organisation of the Finals so far is any indicator,
then we are surely guaranteed a great weekend of amateur
theatre. I congratulate the organising committee and the
community of Ballyshannon on their excellent work to date
in preparation for these Finals. They have been working
very hard since last year, and we wish them well for a very
successful weekend. We extend our congratulations to the
Groups that qualified for these finals, and also thank and
congratulate the qualifying festivals for their hard work
during this year’s campaign. The line up is very exciting in
both sections, and I’m sure you are all looking forward to
an exciting weekend of Theatre.
And finally, thank you for your continued support in
making this feast of drama possible. I hope you all enjoy
what should be a fantastic All Ireland Drama Festival
2014.
Ollie Kenny
Chairman Drama League of Ireland.
Officers and members of Ballyshannon Drama Society displaying the many cups and awards to be presented this
weekend at the One Act All Ireland Finals which the Society is proud to host for a second time in its history.
Chairman’s Welcome from Betty McIntyre
A warm welcome to all to the winding banks of Erne
On behalf of Ballyshannon
Drama Society I’d like to take this
opportunity to extend a warm
welcome to the eleven competing
to Ballyshannon and congratulate
all involved on reaching this year’s
One Act All Ireland drama finals.
Obviously all groups, having made
it to Ballyshannon, will want to go
one step further and return home
as winners, but in truth, getting
to this stage, bearing in mind the
huge numbers of groups who
didn’t make it, is in itself, a major
achievement for all eleven groups.
We extend a special Ballyshannon
welcome to Martin Maguire, our
adjudicator. He no doubt, will
have an enjoyable if busy few days
and we look forward to his deliberations.
Ballyshannon Drama Society is privileged to host the
62nd One Act All Ireland Finals here in Ballyshannon at
the Abbey Arts Centre, a venue we trust you will agree is
worthy of such a prestigious event.
We have fond memories of our last finals hosted here - in
1997.
Ballyshannon has long been associated with drama; we
can trace formal involvement in various groups back to
the early days of the 19th Century. Historically drama
and music were intrinsically linked in the town and both
musical and drama continue to enjoy a healthy symbiosis,
with many of our members also involved in musical and
panto groups.
In 1952, among others from the town, Patsy Croal, was
involved in the foundation of the ADCI and served as
chairman of that body.
This link with the ADCI continues to this day through our
Festival Director, John Travers, who is incoming chairman
of the ADCI. John continues a proud family tradition when
he takes over that role in 2015 as his late father, Henry
John, also served as a former chairman of the ADCI.
Ballyshannon hosts its annual drama festival every March
and has done so, unbroken, since 1952 with groups
who have gone on to win All Ireland titles in Open and
Confined sections, regularly featuring here on the Abbey
Centre stage.
Ballyshannon Drama Society has competed very successfully
over the years at All Ireland level,
the Premier Players winning the
Open section of the One Act finals
in 1956 with ‘Spreading the News’.
Five years later Ballyshannon won
the three act All Ireland finals with
their production of ‘Old Road’.
With
‘The
Extraordinary
Revelations of Orca the Goldfish’,
Ballyshannon won a second one
act All Ireland title in 2000 and
more recently won the confined
section of the three act finals in
Wexford with their production of
‘Steel Magnolias’.
We are honoured to have an old
friend, Sean McCormack with us
as our special guest. As you will
read elsewhere in this programme,
Sean has over 60 years’ experience on the stage and we
recall his involvement in so many great productions here
in Ballyshannon, among them the aforementioned 1961
All Ireland victory with Old Road of which he was a cast
member.
Welcome also to the representatives of the ADCI, DLI,
AUDF, to our patrons, sponsors and in particular to the
audiences whose general support has made this festival
possible. I thank them for their continued support.
I would like to formally acknowledge the support we have
received from the management and staff of the Abbey
Arts Centre, the committee of Backing Ballyshannon,
Donegal County Council and the wider community of
Ballyshannon.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the festival committee
who have worked tirelessly organising this festival and the
fringe events (again detailed elsewhere in this programme).
A special word of thanks to John Travers, Festival Director,
for all his hard work and commitment.
I sincerely hope you enjoy what promises to be a wonderful
festival, I encourage you to get involved in the many fringe
events and indeed to sample what the town of Ballyshannon
has to offer.
We are enormously proud to host this fantastic event and
extend good wishes to all who will compete here over the
next three days.
Betty McIntyre,
Chairman, Ballyshannon Drama Society.
A welcome from ADCI chairman, Brendan McGowan
As chairman of the joint ADCI /
DLI committee and chairman of the
Amateur Drama Council of Ireland
I would like to wish every success to
the committee and community here
in Ballyshannon in their hosting of
this year’s All Ireland One Act Finals.
This is a very significant event in the
amateur drama and arts world on
this Island and I have no doubt but
that we are in for a special weekend
of top class theatre and fringe
events. Here over the three days
and nights we have the opportunity
to renew old friendships and gain
new friends.
This one act circuit is overseen jointly
by the Amateur Drama Council of
Ireland and The Drama League of
Ireland. The organising committee
is made up of six members of each
organisation, known as the 6 & 6.
I have privileged to serve as chair
of this committee since February
of this year. Both organisations
work extremely well together in
this forum. Knowledge from all
perspectives, festivals and groups,
are shared and discussed to the
betterment of the circuit. I firmly
believe that the close association
and cooperation of ADCI and
DLI is the key to the continuance
and advancement of the future of
amateur drama on this Island.
I would like to extend my thanks
to all of the 26 nominating festivals
for their time and effort put into
running successful events. To all
of the groups who took part, 58
in total, you have done yourselves
proud and entertained many
thousands of people in the process.
You the audience will witness here
over the weekend plays of a very
diverse nature, you will laugh
and I’ve no doubt cry, but most
importantly of all you will appreciate
the enormous commitment given
by the groups you will see on stage.
It never ceases to amaze me the
sacrifice and personal commitment
of time that groups and festivals
invest in providing the facilities and
producing the shows that continue
to delight and entertain us all.
Go n-éirí go geal leis an gcoiste, leis
an moltóir, Mairtín, agus go háirithe
leis na grúpaí drámaíochta thar an
deireadh seachtaine. Guím gach
rath oraibh go leir. Faoi dheriidh,
sna seachtaine atá romhainn, go
mbeidh Nollaig suaimhneach agus
faoi mhaise agaibh go léir.
Brendan McGowan
Chairman of A.D.C.I..
Programme thanks
Raffle thanks
Special thanks to all who assisted in the compilation of
this programme, to the sponsors and advertisers and to
the groups who forwarded material.
Special thanks to photographer Brian Drummond for his
assistance.
In years to come this programme will become an historical
record in its own right, a point underlined by our festival
director, John Travers.
Ballyshannon has a proud drama tradition and audiences
here are seriously well informed and over the years have
come to this great venue anticipating excellence on
stage - and indeed off it from their hosts. They won’t be
disappointed this weekend.
Michael Daly, chairman Abbey Arts Centre, PRO
Ballyshannon Drama Society.
Over the weekend committee
members will sell 15 raffle tickets.
Our raffle will take place on Sunday
night. We have many prizes, but wish
to acknowledge the very valuable top
prizes, all of them worth in excess of
1250 each:
• Cara Pharmacy
• Harvey’s Point Hotel
• Skylon Hotel, Dublin
• Sandhouse Hotel, Rossnowlagh
Ballyshannon
Drama Society
GOD
of CARNAGE
By Yasmina Reza
Abbey Centre, Ballyshannon - Februay 10th, 11th, 12th & 14th - 2015
Directed by: Anne McHugh
Cast: Patricia Keane, Rachel O’Connor, Richard Hurst & Tony Liston
All Ireland Confined Finals 2015 Hosted By Kilmuckridge Drama Festival
Kilmuckridge, Gorey,Co. Wexford.
For the duration of the Drama Festival (10-18th April)
Sean Ogs has the following accommodation to offer:
Hotel B&B & 4* Self Catering Accommodation Available
Just a 2 Minute walk from Drama Venue.
For more information Please visit our website on www.seanogs.ie.
It is not possible to book online for this period so please contact our
reservations department on: 053 91 30128 or email [email protected]
The Drama Festival Club will take place at Sean Ogs.
Breakfast Served Daily from 9.00am - 12.00pm
Delicious Bar Food menu Served from 12.30pm - 8.30pm.
B&B from only 142pps.
3 Bedroom Holiday Homes available sleeping up to 7 people.
JOHN TRAVERS
The ‘front man’ for Ballyshannon Drama Society since 1976
Drama and culture are firmly etched deep in the DNA
of one John Travers who has been the highly efficient
front man for the Abbey Centre for over 40 years.
John has been the Drama Festival Director in
Ballyshannon since 1976 that must be something of a
record.
Next year he will be the Chairman of the Amateur
Dramatic Council of Ireland a post his late father Henry
John Travers held in 1968.
The young John Travers grew up on stellar local
performances of Many Young Men of Twenty and the
award winning Ballyshannon production of “Old Road”
that brought a rare All-Ireland title to the Erne town
back in 1961.
Since then John Travers has been a guiding light for
drama in the town due to his passion, reliability and
flair for organization as drama and the arts flourish in
the teeth of one of the worst ever recessions.
This weekend it is all systems for an All-Ireland One Act
Drama Festival and John is highly optimistic about the
success of the weekend.
“We are fortunate that we have 140 season ticket holders
for the festival every year so the hall is half full already.
“We are actually sold out for this weekend.
“We originally hosted in 1996 and there is an awful lot
of work involved.
“But we are lucky that we have a lot of retired public
servants and they are making a major contribution to
the Festivals”.
And he references Carl Duggan, Mary Duggan, Aidan
McGuinness, Betty McIntyre, make a huge contribution
to the success of weekend’s like these.
“I could not run this if I was working, “ he added.
“There has been a year’s work put into this and since
we went back into performing plays in festivals we have
added greatly to our numbers”.
Meanwhile John is hoping for more funding from Arts
bodies when he takes over as Chairman of the Amateur
Drama Council of Ireland next October.
He stresses that a small amount to each drama
group would mean quite a lot to drama groups like
Ballyshannon.
Increased publicity in the national press will also be a
priority for the ex De La Salle geography teacher.
John feels strongly that if a group is taking part in an
All-Ireland competition that is by definition a national
competition, and then it should be recognized in the
national print media.
And this very busy man stressed that the wives,
husbands, parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters
deserve enormous credit for their patience in putting up
with the long hours of preparing for the Play.
This weekend he will be leading from the front as
usual…ever since 1976.the keeper of a sacred flame and
a true man of the Abbey.
Ballyshannon Drama Society would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the
support of Donegal County Council and Donegal Diaspora
Special Guest
Welcome back to a master of the stage - Sean McCormack
Sean McCormack, who opens this
year’s festival as our special guest, is no
stranger to the Abbey Arts Centre stage.
Here we look back at some of the key
points in his remarkable stage career
and his introduction to drama in
Ballyshannon and the Premier Players.
For more than 60 years Sean has
performed to audiences here and across
the country
The hugely affable Milford man - far
from a native as his never relinquished
Tubbercurry accent will testify estimates he has made around 1,000
stage appearances since taking a part in
a production of ‘The Upper Room’, a
play about the passion of Christ.
He points to his mother, Mary
McCarron, a native of Raphoe, as
an early influence when it came to
introduction to the world of theatre. She
brought the young Sean along to Anew
McMaster’s touring group in the 1940’s
and from there a spirit was ignited. His
father, Hugh, also from Raphoe, was
a Garda Sergeant who was based in
Tubbercurry at the time. It was there
that Sean joined up with the Pheonix
Players, a first taste of involvement with
a drama group. The stage was set.
Sean took up a post with the E.S.B. in
Ballyshannon in 1954 and was invited
to join the local Premier Players drama
group. “It was under the tuition of
that great man of theatre, Patsy Croal,
I learned so much from him.” There
followed an All Ireland drama success in
1956 with Lady Gregory’s one-act play
‘Spreading the News’ and additional
success in the national arena with M.J.
Molloy’s ‘Old Road’. Croal’s reputation
indeed provided the group with the
chance to premier John B. Keane’s
play ‘Sharon’s Grave’ for which Sean
won Best Actor for his performance as
Dinzee Conlee.
In 1962, McCormack moved to
Crossmolina where he founded
the Nephin Players. Other notable
achievements ensued and there were
awards for his role as Bat in T.C.
Murray’s ‘Birthright’ and Thomasheen
Sean Rua in Sive at All-Ireland drama
finals.
He returned to Donegal in 1967,
taking up an appointment as financial
controller with the Milford Bakery and
Flour Mills. That put the bread on the
table but acting continued to occupy a
large slice of his life and he subsequently
joined the Lifford Players. “Great people
there too, Terry O’Doherty and Aussie
Bryson, to name but two.” The awards
were never far behind and J.B. Keane’s
‘The Field’ brought him the first of
many under the Lifford Players mantle.
His roles were varied and rewarding,
including parts in such acclaimed
dramas as ‘The Faith Healer’, ‘Twelve
Angry Men’, and ‘Waiting for Godot’
among many more.
The Ballyshannon Drama Festival
inducted him into its Hall of Fame
seven years ago - yet another singular
honour for an over laden mantelpiece
in Milford.
Acting has not been his sole contribution
to the genre. Since 1999 he has served
as chairman of the An Grianan Theatre
(Letterkenny) Board of Management, a
role of which he says he is “immensely
proud.”
“The theatre continues to be a wonderful
facility. Up to one million people have
attended performances since it opened
in 2000. Much of its success is due
to Patricia McBride who has been a
fantastic manager. Together with the
staff there, they have brought it up to
the level of reputation it enjoys today,”
Sean maintains.
Two years ago he was involved in an
Iarla McGowan production of Brian
Friel’s Aristocrats and that brought him
back ‘on stage’ which he describes as a
“delight”.
“I’ve been retired from acting since
2007 but was honoured to be asked
to take a role in Aristocrats and to be
given the opportunity to share a stage
with the great Gerard McSorley. He’s a
true master and it has been a privilege
to work with him and indeed with
everybody involved in the production.”
Like every single play in which he has
taken part, Sean took to the stage on
that opening night with some degree of
trepidation. “Absolutely, I get nervous.
Let no actor tell you that they don’t
experience nerves when they’re waiting
for that first cue. Sometimes you wonder
why you put yourself in that position.”
The answer is in an abiding passion
for acting - something that even in the
shortest of times in the company of
Sean McCormack comes across with
powerful presence.
Not the only passion in a life of
performance. A former inter-county
player with Donegal and Sligo, Sean
also represented Connacht in an Inter
Provincial Railway Cup Final and
recalls in his footballing days playing
alongside the likes of Sean O’Donnell,
Hughie Tim Boyle, Joe Carroll, Peadar
McGeehan, John Hannigan and Sean
Ferriter.
There was to be no All-Ireland titles for
him in that particular role but enough
to make up for it in the other arena in
which he excelled.
Married to Maureen (McGranaghan),
the couple have four offspring,
Gabrielle, who resides in Letterkenny,
Aodh, Milford, Moira, Newbridge, and
Emer, London.
None of them have followed their father
into amateur dramatics - perhaps one
aristocrat in the family is enough.
On opening night in Ballyshannon he
will no doubt trip down memory lane,
for all in Ballyshannon the truth is we’re
saying “welcome back” to a master of
the stage.
Our adjudicator - Martin Maguire
Originally
from
Dublin,
Martin left teaching and an
amateur career with groups
such as The Dublin
Shakespeare Society, Club
Players and Strand, in 1990
and since then has been a
freelance worker in
theatre.
As an actor his credits cover
film,TV, stage and radio. He
has performed most recently
in The Playboy of The Western
World with Blue Raincoat
Theatre in Sligo and previously
in The Abbey, Gate, Project
and Olympia theatres as well
as many venues around the
country. On TV he has taken
roles in shows such as The Clinic, The Tudors, Fair City
and Glenroe, but is best known for appearing for many
years as Bran in RTE’s children’s show “The Morbegs”.
He featured in TG4’s Ros Na Run as Barry until the
character’s recent unfortunate demise and will soon
feature in TG4’s Corp Agus Anam.
As a writer he has written a dozen or more stage plays
and has also written for TV and
radio. Achievements include
the production of his play the
Long March at the Greenwich
Theatre, New York in 2006 and
RTE’s broadcast of his radio
play Spring and Autumn in
2005. His play “A Clamour of
Rooks” premiered in Smock
Alley in Dublin on February 1st
last year and opened in Carthage
in Wisconsin two weeks later
before being invited to perform
in Saginaw early this year.
He directed “Melting Doves”
by Max Hafler which was
nominated for a Stewart Parker
award in 1997 and the hugely
successful “Costa Lads” by Paul
Walker in 1998/9. He has also directed productions in
Scotland, France and Belgium.
Martin is a member and former chair of Castaway Actors
Agency and has been associated with the Gaiety School
of Acting for almost twenty years. He is a member of
the Guild of Irish Drama Adjudicators and lives in the
Ecovillage in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary.
Ballyshannon Drama Society Committee
President Gordon Walsh
Secretary/Festival Director John Travers
Chairman
Betty Mc Intyre
Vice Chairman
Trisha Keane
Asst.Secretary
Ailis Mc Intyre
Treasurers
Jim Mc Intyre & Maeve Fenton
Pro Michael Daly
Website Design And Operation
Conor Beattie
Timekeepers
Karl Duggan & Kevin Lilly
Stage Manager Mary Daly
Stage Crew
Aiden Mc Guinness, Paul Mc Gonigle, Mark Langan,
Paddy Campbell
Lighting /Sound
Mark Fearon & Martin Ferris
Raffle
Moya Ferguson, Rachel O Connor, Jackie Lilly
Programmes
Bill Greaves & Mark Picken
Hosts For Groups:
Moya Ferguson, Rachel O Connor, Trisha Keane, Betty
Mc Intyre, Anne Mc Hugh, Aiden Mc Guinness, Ailis
Mc Intyre, Linda Ritchie, Michael Daly, Mary Duggan,
Maeve Fenton
Box Office
Jim Mc Intyre, Maeve Fenton, Maureen Travers, Freda
Lawn, Sharon Mc Guinness, Emma Gaughan
ADCI / DLI ALL IRELAND
ONE ACT FINALS 2014
Ballyshannon Drama Society
All Ireland One Act Drama Weekend
Ballyshannon - Day by Day
A key component of any festival is the fringe and in Ballyshannon we have put together a comprehensive programme of events
which we hope will involve and include the people of the town and surrounding areas and of course all who attend the festival.
Needless to say we felt we had to start with something festive - here’s a list of events planned for the weekend,
we strongly recommend you get to as many of them as possible.
Friday 5th December
Sunday 7th December
(4 – 6pm) Switch on of Christmas lights
12 noon
5.30pm
followed by Santa’s arrival by Fire Engine
Diamond, Ballyshannon
7pm
Mulled wine and Carol singing in Abbey
Centre Foyer
12 noon-5pm See your eyes sparkle at our Christmas Fayre
in Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel with lots of gifts and
crafts
8pm
All Ireland One Act Plays in Abbey
Arts Centre
1. Model Box “Stay Carl Stay” (C)
2. Athlone “The Commission” (O)
3. Rush “Nancy Friday” (C)
10.30pm Festival Club in Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel
Saturday 6th December
11am
Demonstration of local crafters in Local
Hands, Main Street ‘Meet the Makers’
11am
Children’s Storytelling in Ballyshannon
Library suitable for 4 to 7 year olds
1pm Sive by TY Students, Colaiste Cholmcille –
Theatre 1 Abbey Arts Centre
2pm Tour of Donegal Brewing Company (Dicey
Reilly’s) Craft Beers and tastings
3pm
40 Shades of Ballyshannon in Dicey Reilly’s
5pm
Traditional and Bluegrass Session in Market
House Pub
7pm
Screenings: “A Quick Fortune” by James
Gavigan & Poetry in Motion Shorts from
Allingham Festival, Theatre 2, The Abbey Centre
8pm
All Ireland One Act Plays in Abbey
Arts Centre
1. Bradán “The Unveiling” (O)
2. Compántas Lir “Nine” (C)
3. Kinnerton “Seduction of Chaos” (O)
10.30pm Festival Club in Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel
1.30pm
Jazz in Thatch Pub - Filming by Irish TV
All Ireland One Act Plays in Abbey
Arts Centre
1. Grean “I’m Not ADHD I’m BOLD” (C)
2. Prosperous “The Judge’s House” (O)
3. Coolgreaney “Stay Carl Stay” (C)
7pm
Screenings: “A Quick Fortune” by James
Gavigan & Poetry in Motion Shorts from
Allingham Festival, Theatre 2, The Abbey Centre
8pm
All Ireland One Act Plays and
Prizegiving in Abbey Arts Centre
1. Kilmeen “The Valiant” (O)
2. Rasper “Vera, Vera, Vera” (O)
3. The Awards Ceremony
10.30pm Festival Club in Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel
• Why not come and visit Ballyshannon & District
Museum in Ireland’s Oldest Town – see our
Military History, Railways, Fishing Industry,
Famine Workhouse, learn about our links to
Dracula & Frankenstein, our Fairies & Goblins
and our social history (Free admission)
3rd Floor, Slevin’s Department Store.
• Check out the many special offers and
promotions all weekend in our local shops
and don’t forget to tell them you are visiting
for the All-Ireland Drama Weekend!
Abbey Centre,
Ballyshannon
Sunday 14th December
5pm show - All tickets 17
Monday 15th to Thursday 18th
December - 8pm nightly
Saturday 20th - 3pm and 8pm
Tickets Adults 112, Children 18
Family ticket 135
(2 adults and 2 children)
Booking: 071 98 51375
Raising the curtain on Ireland’s incredible
amateur dramatic movement
How long have you been
going to amateur plays? Are
you involved in an amateur
drama group?
Have you ever been involved
in a group?
Do you keep programmes,
photos and other memorabilia
from the days of amateur
drama gone by?
If you answered yes to any or
all of these questions, you could be just the person that
I would love to talk to!
It is my ambition to compile a full length critical study
of the amateur drama movement in Ireland and in
particular the festival circuit, from the 1940s onwards.
But in order to do so I am relying on your help, dear
reader and drama enthusiast! I want to hear from
those of you who: have stories to tell; know people
who have stories to tell; have
memorabilia stored away and
would be willing to share it
with me.
Your stories, old programmes,
photographs and scripts,
committee meeting minutes:
all these items can help you
group’s story and its incredible
contribution to Irish theatre.
This story is a special one:
please help me to tell it!
Dr. Fiona Brennan is originally from Co Kerry. A theatre
historian, she is author of George Fitzmaurice “Wild
in His Own Way”: Biography of an Abbey Playwright
(Carysfort Press 2005). She has already completed work
on the Kerry Drama Festival. Fiona is also involved in
amateur drama as a director. Fiona can be contacted at:
00353 87 6494409 or [email protected]
Sandhouse
Hotel & Marine Spa
The Daly Family
are Fourth Generation Basketmakers
100% Irish Handmade Product.
Visit the Pottery & Visitor centre
Cloghore, Ballyshsannon
Tel: 071-9851844
[email protected]
• Good Rates on Accommodation
• An Exclusive Venue for Weddings & Civil Ceremonies
• Wine & Dine in The Seashell Restaurant
• The Marine Spa at The Sandhouse Hotel offers clients
the very best in Marine Body and Skin care.
Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal
Tel: 071 98 51777
Email: [email protected]
Welcome to all Drama Groups participating in
the All Ireland One Act Drama Finals from
in conjunction with
The One Act Drama Finals
Saturday 6th Dec:
2pm: Tour Of Donegal Brewing Company
Microbrewery
Follwed by
3pm: 40 shades of Ballyshannon “History &
Poetry in Dicey’s
Dicey Reilly’s Bar,
Off Licence & Microbrewery
National Winner Off Licence 2013 & 2014
The Kindly Spot, The Friendly Town
Catering for individual Businesses, Coach Tours,
Conferences, Trade Shows and Weddings
Main Street, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Tel: 071 98 51147 Fax: 071 98 51001
[email protected]
Model Box Productions, Wicklow, presenting:
“Stay Carl Stay”
by Peter Tolan (Confined)
On stage: Friday, December 5th
About the play
Set in 1980’s New York, Caroline a meek woman dominated and taken for granted by her boyfriend, adapts a dog
on the advice of a rather eccentric therapist. Life gets very interesting when Carl the dog learns to talk and wins
Caroline’s heart
About the group
Model Box productions were formed in 2013 in county Wicklow with the aim of being a group that is open to all.
Our aim is to provide new and innovative drama in the county and to be an outlet for anyone sharing our ideals.
Our first production was in May 2014 with a new play by Kevin Duignan “Twist of Hate” based on “Electra”. This
is our first year on the one act circuit.
Cast and Crew
Caroline: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cathy Gallagher
Brian: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Fanthom
Mary Sue: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pauline Greer
Dr Weiss: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caitriona Whiston
Carl: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vincent Morley
Director: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Duignan
Sound: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Curran
Lighting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Padraig Reid
Backstage: . . . . . Audrey Fanthom, Grainne Whiston
Athlone Little Theatre presenting
The Commission
by Steven Dick (Open).
On stage: Friday, December 5th
About the group
Since its foundation in 1936, Athlone Little Theatre has performed multiple productions a year. In 1969, it secured
a lease on a former national school building in St Mary’s Place and converted it into its current 100 seater theatre.
Upon acquiring full title to the building in 2012, the Committee completed a major extension and refurbishment.
Prior to this year, the group reached the national One Act final in 2011, finishing third in the Open Section.
About the play
Setting: Shoreditch Art Gallery, London Period: Present
Set in a London gallery, the play takes a farcical look at art and politics. The British Defence Ministry commissioned
Glasgow artist, Peter Harris to make art whilst embedded with the British troops for 3 months in Afghanistan. His
dealer/agent, Will Chapman is confident that preparations for tonight’s official opening are fully under control
before the imminent arrival of Claire Wood, the newly appointed Defence Minister, to preview the work. Peter
arrives before her, swigging a can of beer, intent on his work being remembered as the greatest piece of war art ever
made. Will the other two share Peter’s sentiments when he finally unveils the fruits of his creative juices?
Cast and Crew
Will Chapman (Art Dealer):
Peter Harris (War Artist):
Claire Wood(DefenceMinister):
Declan Finn
Martin Kelleher
Martina Ryan
Director: Oliver Hegarty
Stage Manager/Make-Up: Lisa-Ann Roche
Lighting/Sound Design: Anthony Quinn
Set Design: Pat Finneran
Costume Design:
Laura Townsend
Stage Crew:
Paddy Martin/Clive Darling
William and Helen Allingham
William Allingham (1824-1889) the bard of
Ballyshannon and Helen Allingham his
artist wife are still commemorated in
Ballyshannontoday. William’s life as a poet
is recalled in Allingham Park just across
the road from the Abbey Centre, where the
All-Ireland DramaFestival is being held,
and his birthplace is marked on the Mall.
Helen Allingham his wife is remembered
in the Helen Allingham Gallery which is
situated in the foyer of the Abbey Centre.
A plaque on Allingham Bridge also recalls
the poet’s love of his home place. A successful
literary festival, The Allingham Arts Festival, is
held in the town every November.
The Allinghams were an old Ballyshannon family
resident in the area since the 17th century when
they had come from England as part of the Ulster
Plantation. The young William developed an
interest in poetry from his Aunt Maryanne
and his father William. He corresponded
with the leading poets of the day in England,
such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Leigh Hunt
and Robert Browning. However the isolation
of a poet, on the west coast of Ireland, led to
William forsaking careers in banking and the
customs to try his literary talents in London. There
he became editor of Fraser’s Magazine and became
Rush Amateur Dramatic Society presenting
Nancy Friday
by Mark Yeates (Confined)
On stage: Friday, December 5th
About the group
Rush Dramatic Society was founded in 1927, having its roots in the Gaelic League. It has been in continuous
activity ever since. RDS finished second in the confined section of the 2012 One Act Festival held in Ballyduff, with
their production of ‘The Problem’ by A.R Guerney.
About the Play
A burglar gets more than he bargained for during his latest job. It quickly becomes apparent to him that this place
is very different to any other he has burgled. Handcuffs, whips and chains are displayed like ornaments in a world
foreign to him. Just when he thought this break in couldn’t get any weirder, the eclectic lady of the house enters to
search for an invitation to a BDSM club which she has misplaced.
She soon realizes that she is not alone and tries unsuccessfully to flee. As a struggle ensues, the burglar takes control
of the situation until he feels unwell. He soon realizes that breaking in is a lot easier than breaking out. The lady
of the house is now faced with two choices. Which one will she choose? There are many questions posed in Nancy
Friday. Do we ever escape our past? Does punishing the bad make us as they bad as they are? How do we conquer
our fears? Excerpts of songs are used throughout the
play to represent emotion and comedy. The thin lines
between reality and fantasy are blurred in this classic
game of cat and mouse.
Cast and Crew
Man
Woman
Director
Set Design
Stage Assistant
Lights
Sound
Mark Yeates
Grainne Finn
Alan White
Petrona Devine,
Clare Duffy
Pat Mcdyer
Pat Mcdyer
part of the literary circle working with people like
Charles Dickens. William’s publications of his
poetry had commenced in 1850 and his first
book included one of the most popular
poems of the era entitled “The Fairies”.
By 1863 he had published further books
of poetry and he was awarded a pension
by the English Prime Minister William
Gladstone, in recognition of his 5,000
line poem on the land troubles called
“Laurence Bloomfield in Ireland.”
In 1874 he married the watercolour painter
Helen Patterson who had made an early
name for herself creating the illustrations for
Thomas Hardy’s novel “Far from the Madding
Crowd”. She was later to carve out a lucrative
career as an artist who painted and thus preserved
the cottages of old England in Surrey. They
had three children Gerard, Evey and Henry
and finally lived in Hampstead in London.
William wrote much of his lyric poetry
about the local area around Ballyshannon
and poems like “The Goblin Child”,
“Four Ducks on a Pond”, “Abbey
Assaroe” and his famous emigrant ballad
“Adieu to Ballyshanny” (also called “The
Winding Banks of Erne”) are still recalled
today.
Helen Allingham and the three children are
buried in England but William wished to be
buried at St. Anne’s Church on Mullaghnashee
in his native Ballyshannon.
Bradán Players, Leixlip presenting:
The Unveiling
by Václav Havel (Open)
On stage: Saturday, December 6th
About the group
Bradán Players are Leixlip based but draw their participants and audience from the general North Kildare and West
Dublin area. The group formed in 2005, but many of the Bradán players have a long association with amateur
theatre in the area. They have appeared in the All-Ireland One Act finals six times with some success, winning
three times with “Small Box Psychosis” in 2005,“The Quality of Boiled Water” in 2009 and “A Number” in 2010.
They have also appeared in the All Ireland Full-length Drama finals in Athlone, with “Extremities” in 2008 , “Faith
Healer“ 2009 ,”Mauritius“ 2010, “Tom & Viv” 2011, and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?” in 2014.
About the play
Unveiling dramatizes an evening when Vanek visits his old friends, Michael & Vera, in their recently re-decorated
apartment, which they are about to “unveil”. The evening is one of discovery and their conversational exchanges,
through Havel’s absurdist comedic drama, bring us on a revealing, entertaining and thought provoking journey.
Cast and Crew
Vera: Michael:
Vanek:
Michelle Reade
Shaun Nugent
Vincent Casey
Director:
Jenny Ní Lúcáis
Lights:
Barry Donaldson
Sound:
Emmet Stout/Joe Bergin
Stage Manager:
Alannah Reade
Crew/Puppetry:
George Hogan & Helena Stout
Set Design Concept:
Jenny Ní Lúcáis
Set Painting & Design:
Connie Broderick
Did you Know?
The late Patsy Croal who died on October 22nd, 2007 was a
founder member of the re-formed Premier Players in the late
1940’s. The Premier Players were originally founded in 1931.
Patsy went on to act in and produce many plays throughout a
very successful career. In 1949 he won an All-Ireland title with
the ‘New Gosoon’, his very first festival acting award.
In 1959 he produced Lady Gregory’s ‘Spreading The News’,
which won the One-Act All Ireland.
Two years later, 1961, he won the Esso Award for best producer
at the All-Irelands, with a superb presentation of ‘The Old Road’.
A former president of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland
(ADCI), he was a co-founder of ADA, the Association of Drama
Adjudicators.
Compantas Lir presenting
Nine
by Jane Shepard (Confined)
On stage: Saturday December 6th
About the play
This play portrays two women held in a life threatening situation and the mind games they play to keep one another
alive.
About the group
There is a long history of drama in Claregalway going back to the thirties and forties and again in the sixties.
It died down then for a number of year until the group was reformed in 1983. The group has been involved three
act circuit since 1986-their first play being The country Boy by John Murphy. We have done a three act play every
year since then and have had quite a degree of success . We have been lucky enough to qualify for the all Ireland
on many occasions. Every October we run a very successful and popular autumn Theatre in the local community
centre. This involves performing two one act comedies , serving refreshments -even a glass of wine - with the raffle
is one of the highlights of the night! Over four nights we would usually have about seven hundred people. A lot
of work but great fun! We returned to the One Act Circuit five years ago and really enjoy it. It is good to meet
other groups and also to see a variety of one act plays -most of them very new. We are delighted to be visiting lovely
Ballyshannon for the first time.
Cast and Crew
Prisoner one:
Prisoner two:
Director:
Lighting:
Sound:
Set:
Make up:
Stage Crew:
Mary Killackey
Ruth o’Driscoll
Caoimhe McLaughlin
Stella Fleming
Dermot Hession
Peter Talbot
Ann Moran/Stella Fleming
Carmel Kenny
Did you Know?
Ballyshannon was created a borough by Royal Charter in 1613, but its history stretches back much further – to some of the earliest settlements
in Ireland on Inis Saimer. Viking invaders followed and, in 1597, Red Hugh O’Donnell defeated English forces in the Battle of Ballyshannon.
This is a town with several layers of heritage and an architectural fabric that reflects its rich history as a political, ecclesiastical and maritime
centre. Always a strategic crossing on the River Erne.
The Mall Quay was formerly a thriving port where wool, leather and salted fish were loaded for export overseas. From here, you can also see
Inis Saimer island, said to be the spot where Parthalon, a chieftain from Scythia (near modern Macedonia), landed around 2,700 B.C.
Ballyshannon was once the frontier base of the O’Donnell Clan and the site of the O’Donnell Castle can be seen by the river off Castle Street.
Check out the town’s old 18th-century barracks too – legend says they are haunted by the Green Lady, a British officer’s wife who was killed
in the building.
Other notable stops include a workhouse that housed 900 souls at the height of the famine (there is a famine graveyard on Bishop Street and
a ‘departure point’ on Assaroe Road).
Also on Assaroe Road is the Port of the Dead, named for a spot where the recently deceased were transported before bridges were built across
the Erne. The journey was made in silence until the boats crossed the water and the dead were brought to rest at nearby Assaroe Abbey.
Ballyshannon boasts an idyllic setting in Donegal, with stunning views over mountains, lakes, forests and the Erne estuary. But its heroes come
from recent history too. Rock and blues guitarist, Rory Gallagher, was born here in 1948 - at the aptly titled Rock Hospital and the main
theatre which houses this weekend’s action is named after him.
Kinnerton Players presenting:
The Seduction of Chaos
by Kent R. Brown (Open)
On stage: Saturday, December 6th
About the group
Kinnerton Players is based In Harold’s Cross on Dublin’s southside and was formed in 2013 by Maria Blaney. Maria
is no stranger to the All Ireland Drama Circuit. As an active member of Estuary Players, she has competed in both
the One Act and Three Act Festivals regularly over the last 15 years. This is Kinnerton’s second time competing on
the All Ireland One Act Circuit.
About the play
Arthur Franklin is dangerously depressed. His boss has just fired him, his wife is filing for divorce. Emotionally
disoriented, he wanders into an art gallery only to be overwhelmed by The Seduction of Chaos, a gigantic modern
artwork of hypnotic intensity. He is joined by “Jackie”, a good-hearted female gallery guard eager for someone to
talk with and the seductive and alluring “Woman” who plays upon Arthur’s vulnerability and Jackie’s conscience.
All Jackie needs to do is remain a silent witness. Does everyone have a price?
Cast and Crew
Arthur Franklin: Jackie White:
The Woman:
Time:
Setting:
Director:
Lighting:
Sound:
Stage Managers:
Gerry Herbert
Liza Deegan
Ellen Corcoran
The present
A gallery in a small art museum
Maria Blaney
Barry Donaldson
Jim Walsh
Geraldine McComish
Mick Frizelle
Catherine Breslin - how she would have loved this weekend . . .
An All Ireland One Act finals
weekend
in
Ballyshannon
would the stuff of dreams for
someone we miss so much here
at Ballyshannon Drama Society
- Catherine Breslin - who left us
for that great theatre in the sky on
September 27th last year.
Catherine was an amazing
person and she was
particularly fond of the
One Act genre, having produced and directed
plays for so many years for Ballyshannon and
indeed Bundoran which has a proud tradition
also of hosting one act finals and being
involved in the One Act festival scene.
Catherine was involved at an organisational
level in Ballyshannon Drama Society from
an early age, records show that at 16 years of
age she was acting as Society secretary and her
ability to organise and coordinate was a key
strength.
Grean Drama Group presenting:
‘I’m not A.D.H.D., I’m B.O.L.D.’
by Georgina McKevitt and Jacinta Sheerin (Confined)
On stage: Sunday, December 7th
About the group
Grean Drama Group was established in 1985 in the village of Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick. In the past few years the
group has undertaken a number of different projects, the most recent and successful of which was ‘Passion 2014’.
This took place last Easter and was televised on RTE in early September.
The group is very fortunate to have many new and dedicated members who are passionate about drama. While the
group has not taken part in the One Act Festival since 1992, its’ members are delighted to be back on the circuit
once again. Grean Drama Group would like to wish all the groups who are taking part in the festival this year the
very best of luck. Go n’éirí an t’ádh libh!
About the play
‘I’m not A.D.H.D, I’m B.O.L.D’ is the story of a primary school teacher who is sent to see a therapist after she
bullies and intimidates a child with A.D.H.D in her
class. The play deals with the complexities surrounding
mental health diagnoses and treatments. It explores how
we can push each other towards doubt, fear and even
madness, simply by pressing the right buttons.
Cast and Crew
Dana: Elaine O’ Dwyer
Ingrid: Johanna O’ Brien
Eamonn Harty
Director:
Sound/Lighting: Stage crew: Matthew Moran
James Deegan/Conor McCoy
John Travers, a life long friend, recalls:
“She was a brilliant director/producer
and she was vastly experienced. She
knew everybody on the One and
Three act scene and I’d say there were
few theatres or festivals she hadn’t
attended over the years. Producers
and actors with any sense or ambition
to do better would seek her view and
advice and she gave them gold.”
From all of us Catherine, a word
in memory and this One Act finals
festival programme couldn’t go to
print without remembering you.
Prosperous Dramatic Society presenting
The Judge’s House
by Bram Stoker adapted by Stewart Roche (Open)
On stage: Sunday
About the group
The group first won the 1 Act Open All Ireland finals in 1995 with their production of John MacKenna’s “Faint Voices” and
since re-joining the circuit in 2009, have participated regularly in 1 Act and 3 Act All Ireland finals. Most recently Prosperous has won
the 1 Act All Ireland finals – in 2012 with David Mamet’s “Bobby Gould in Hell” and again in 2013 with Neil LaBute’s “Lovely Head”.
The group are consistent qualifiers for the 3 act All Ireland finals in Athlone, they were runners up in 2011 and placed third in 2013. They
are also the current Ulster champions – having won the finals with their production of Edward Albee’s “The Goat or who is Sylvia?” and
again this year with Marc Camoletti’s classic farce “Boeing Boeing” which came 3rd in the RTE All-Ireland Amateur Drama Festival
in Athlone recently.
The play’s Director T.J. Duggan has been a member of the group since the early 1990s. He was part of the last all Ireland winning one act
play, Faint Voices by John McKenna, in 1995. He was also part of The Low Terrace and Macbeth.
He started directing two years ago with a play that came second in the One Act all-Ireland finals - Horton Foote’s The Man Who Climbed
Pecan Trees. In 2012, he directed the all-Ireland winning One Act play: David Mamet’s Bobby Gould in Hell. This production was selected
to represent Ireland in the World Theatre Festival in Monaco. In 2013, he directed the all-Ireland winning One Act play: Neil LaBute’s
Lovely Head. T.J is delighted to have co-directed Juno and the Paycock with Tom Crehan in 2013 and Big Maggie in 2014.
We hope you enjoy our production of The Judge’s House!
About the play
In a modern and slightly controversial adaptation by Stewart Roche. A lonely walk late at night. A creaking floorboard. A howling gale.
An ill-advised short cut through an unfamiliar field. The expression “going forward. ”All of these things fill us with dread, and rightly
so.....”
Forced against his better judgement to adapt “Dorian Grey” into a movie set in Celtic Tiger Dublin, troubled screenwriter Malcolm
is sent to a quiet village in West Cork to meet the deadline. Does he stay in the local Blue Book recommended guesthouse, where the
cook knocks up a splendid full Irish and a late check-out is free of charge? Of course he doesn’t. He stays in the infamous Judge’s House,
where he encounters an infestation of rats, several books by Fintan O’Toole and a portrait seemingly with a mind of it’s own....
And even more rats.
“He was a notorious hanging Judge. At one stage he was the most feared in all of England. Dozens made the drop because of him, some
for the most trivial of crimes and others on the most flimsy of evidence.”
There is some industrial language and Kenneth Brannagh comes in for some pretty unnecessary stick.
Cast and Crew
Malcolm: Richard: Mrs Wickham: Dempsey: Thornhill: Fergal Crehan
James Murphy
Ashleigh O’Neil
James Murphy
James Murphy
Director:
T.J. Duggan
Stage Manager Siobhan Keogh
Construction Brendan Dunne
Lights Ciaran Healy
Sound Maria Costello
Backstage Crew Karl Keogh
Costumes/Props Irene Dunne
Make-up Claire O’Neill
Crew Oisin Short, Johnny Flynn, Cian Moore
Malcolm Taylor, Colm Staines, Jimmy Grace
Coolgreaney Amateur Dramatic Society presenting:
Stay Carl Stay
by Peter Tolan (Confined)
On stage: Sunday, December 7th
About the group
Coolgreany Amateur Dramatic Society is five years old this year. This is their tenth play and third year on the one
act circuit.
In 2012 they toured a play called The Trial by Anthony Booth. They compete in the Confined section. They had
considerable success and finished in seventh place on the national leader board. Last year, in 2013, they were
thrilled to get third place at the All Ireland Finals in Roscommon with the Donohue Sisters by Geraldine Aron.
Sally Stevens who played Dunya in The Donohue Sisters is making her debut this year as director of Stay Carl Stay.
The group is not all about putting on the play; they organise several group outings each year to both professional
and amateur productions, host workshops and encourage members to take courses and next year they hope to play
host to touring professional and amateur productions at St Mogue’s Hall.
In October they hosted their first ever three day one act play festival and loved every minute of it. Three of the
groups from the Coolgreany festival can be seen here in Ballyshannon; They are Coolgreany, Rasper Players and
Athlone Little Theatre.
About the play
Stay Carl Stay is a shaggy dog story about a ‘pain in the ass’ upper east side New Yorker and her unusual love
life. Caroline lives in a classy condo on Central Park with her waspish and controlling partner, Brian. Her kooky
park friend, Mary Sue, offers sound advice and humourous anecdotes to make life bearable. She suggests that
Caroline should visit her shrink Dr Weiss (Yes, pronounced, VICE). Weiss typifies the money grabbing, clock
watching psychotherapists of Manhattan’s ‘everyone needs a shrink’ culture. She recommends that Caroline get a
dog. Caroline chooses Carl and so the adventure begins....Carl is an attractive and clever dog but copes well with
the unwanted attention of Mary Sue’s queer hound ‘Bingo’. Brian is not quite so enamoured with Carl and so Carl
finds it necessary to quickly upskill in order to maintain his position as ‘TOP DOG’. The play offers a humourous
look at the life cycle of relationships and offers the audience a glimpse of how things might be in a world where the
grass only appears to be greener.
Cast and Crew
Brian: Caroline: Mary Sue: Dr Weiss: Carl: Bingo: Paul Ivory
Sally Stevens
Denise Moules
Éadaoin Ní Lionáin
Carl Nuzum
Richard Lister.
Director: Sally Stevens
Lighting: Philip Redmond
Sound: Paul Delany
Set and Costume design: Sally Stevens
Set piece construction: Philip Redmond and
Andy Kinsella
Stage Manager: Norah Finn
Crew: Samantha Cullen, Andy Kinsella.
Kilmeen Drama Group presenting
Valiant
by Holworthy Hall, Robert Midlemas and Christopher Morley (Open).
On stage: Sunday, December 7th
About the Group
Kilmeen Drama group is situated in West Cork, one of the longest established groups in th country founded in
1954. The group regularly competes in both the three act and the one act circuit. Winning the All Ireland title in
Athlone on 4 occasions. In 2011 Kilmeen became the first group in history to win both the One act and Three Act
All Ireland’s in the same year. This year the group got the opportunity to perform in New York and Pennsylvania.
About the play
James Dyke is on death row convicted of murder. With just hours to go to his execution he remains calm admitted
that he did the murder and accepting his fate. Despite several attempts from the Warden and Father Daly he does
not disclose his true identity, claiming instead to be James Dyke. however at the last minute a girl arrives claiming
she is his sister.
Cast and Crew
Warden Holt: Fr. Daly: James Dyke: Josephine Paris: Jailor: Attendant: Paul di Rollo
Christy O Sullivan
Donal McSweeney
Ruth Hurley
Ronan O’Reilly
Brian McCarth
Director: Nora Scannell
Lighting: Kirk Girdwood & Denis O Donovan
Sound: Aidan O’Shea & Ian Flavin
Costumes: Mary O’ Shea & Phyllis Calnan
Stage Management: Miriam Daly & John Hayes
Rasper Players presenting:
Vera Vera Vera
by Haley Squires (open)
On stage: Sunday, December 7th
About the group
Rasper Players is a North Wexford based drama group formed in 2011. The group has prided itself on exploring
and producing challenging theatre, not only for its audiences, but for the actors and crew themselves. Since Rasper
Players was formed their productions have ranged from the surrealisitic: Animal Farm, by Peter Hall (2014), Home
Free, by Lanford Wilson (2013 One Act Finalist) and 4.48 Psychosis, by Sarah Kane (2012 One Act Finalist), to the
cutting depictions of society gone wrong in Sucking Dublin, by Enda Walsh (2011), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s
Nest, by Dale Wiserman (2014) and Carthaginians, by Frank McGuinness (2013 Three Act Runner-Up). The
group is ever expanding to welcome new members and to look at new areas of theatre that will challenge and excite,
and as such look forward to their upcoming production of Woman and Scarecrow, by Marina Carr.
About the play
Bobby comes home from war in a wooden box. Through his death and his family’s grieving, we are given an insight
into what it means to be heroic, and how others can struggle with such lofty ideals in today’s world.
Vera Vera Vera is a fine example of the ‘In your face theatre’, that the Royal Court is famous for producing. Hayley
Squires’ first foray into writing is a masterclass in the reality of dysfunctionality, domestic violence, drug addiction
and many other malignants which effect our society today. Vera Vera Vera howls as the realities of modernity clash
with the memories and patriotic glories of wars now past.
This play does not turn from the difficult questions, but rather meets them head on. What does it mean to be a
patriot? Is there really a country left to be patriotic for? Is there any hope at all?
Cast & Crew
Charlie:
Katie-May Byrne
Sammy:
Oisín Walsh
Emily:
Danny:
Reidín O’Connor
Evan May
Lee:
Stephen Acton
Director:
Réidín Dunne
Lighting:
Eddie O’Brien
Sound:
John Redmond
Set Design:
John Redmond
Stage Manager:
Crew:
Carmel Byrne
Fauve Byrne, Kathy Ann Murphy
& Thelma Rath
Down through the years . . . . the records
1953
1 Act Open- Ballina D.S., The Paddy Pedlar (M.J. Molly)
1 Act Rural-Charlestown D.S., Dark Brown (Philip Johnson)
1954
1 Act Open- Listowel D.S., The Magic Glasses (George
Fitzmaurice)
1 Act Rural- Vocational School, Scariff, Interlude (P.V.
Carroll)
1955
1 Act Open- Compantas Ide, Limerick, The Pot of Broth
(W.B. Yeats), The Dark Lady of the Sonnets (G.B. Shaw)
1 Act Rural- Vocational School , Scariff, The Shadow of
the Glen (J.M. Synge)
1956
1 Act Open- Premier Players, Ballyshannon, Spreading
the News (Lady Gregory)
1 Act Rural- Vocational School, Scariff, The Travelling
Man (Lady Gregory)
1957
1 Act Open- Ballina D.S., The Briery Gap (T.C. Murray)
1 Act Rural- Ballymore D.S., Dark Brown (Phillip Johnson)
1958
1964
1 Act- Sundrive Players, Dublin, The Rose and Crown
1 Act Open- British Railways D.G., The Briery Gap (T.C. (Sean O’Casey)
Murray)
1965
1 Act Rural- Inchovea Players, Spring (T.C. Murray)
1 Act- Journeyman Theatre Group, Limerick, The Chairs
1959
(Eugene Inoesco)
1 Act Open- Limerick Studio Group, The Proposal (Anton
1966
Chekhoff)
1 Act Rural- Ballymote Dramatic Society, Master Dudely 1 Act-The Strand Players, Dublin, Deirdre (W.B. Yeats)
(Philip Johnson)
1967
1 Act- The Plain Players, Moyvane, Kerry, Spreading the
1960
News (Lady Gregory)
1 Act Open- Dalta Theatre Group, Dublin, Spring (T.C.
Murray)
1968
1 Act Rural- Asdee Players, Kerry, The Later Days Are 1 Act- The Athena Group, Cork, La Musica (Marguerite
Cold (Colman O’Shannon)
Dumas)
1961
1 Act Open- Old Christians’ Theatre, Cork, The Browning
Version (Terence Rattigan)
1 Act Rural- Tullow Macra na Feirme D.S., Spring (T.C.
Murray)
1962
1969
Open – Sacred Heart College Cork – Children in Uniform
by Christa Winsloe
Rural – Kilmeen Macra na Feirme – They Also Serve by
Sandy Taylor
1970
1 Act- Brosna Players, Kerry, The Pot of Broth (W.B. Yeats) Open – Armagh Theatre Group – Adam’s Children by
Seamus Mallon
1963
1 Act- Sligo Drama Circle, The Passing (Kenneth Reddin) Rural – TBC
1971
Open-Bangor Drama Club-Bedtime Story by Sean O’Casey
Rural – Camross Drama Group – Spring by T. C. Murray
1972
Open – Sligo Drama Circle – Pot of Broth by William
Butler Yeats
Rural – Scariff Drama Group – Dreaming of the Bones by
William Butler Yeats
1973
Open – Bangor Drama Club – Rainbows is the Boys by
Pauline McGonigle
Rural – Wayside Players, Wexford – The Bishop’s
Candlesticks by Victor Hugo
1974
Open – Scariff Drama Group – The Resurrection by
George Watson
Rural – Kilcullen Drama Group – The Workhouse Ward
by Lady Gregory
1975
Open – Olivian Players – The Dandy Dolls by George
Fitzmaurice
Rural – Neal Players, County Mayo – Riders to the Sea
by J. M. Synge
1976
Open – Strand Players, Dublin – Fando and Liz by
Fernando Arrabal
Rural-Kilcullen Drama Group-Bedtime Story by Sean
O’Casey
1977
Open – Companions Drama Group – The Later Days are
Cold by Colman O’Shannon
Rural-Kilcullen Drama Group-MeMcKenna by Don Shaw
1978
Open – Sligo Drama Circle – The Cat and the Moon by
William Butler Years
Rural – Kilcullen Drama Group – The Toothache by
George Fitzmaurice
1979
Open – Drumlin Players Cavan Riders To The Sea by John
Millington Synge
1980 – One Act Finals Not Held
1981
Open – Olivian Players – TBC
Confined – Headford Drama Group – TBC
1982
Open – Carlow Theatre Group – Croker/The Young Piper
by William Butler Yeats
Confined - Mullingar Theatre Group – The Lady Aoi by
Yukio Mishima
1983
Open – Moat Club, Naas – A Phoenix Too Frequent by
Christopher Fry
Confined – Cloonclare Players – Spreading The News
by Lady Gregory
1984
Open – New Theatre Group Kilkenny – A Galway Girl by
Geraldine Aron
Confined – Prosperous Drama Group – The Later Days
Are Cold by Colman O’Shannon
1985
Carrick On Shannon – Scott Marshall Adjudicating
Open – Granary Players Limerick – Gum and Goo by
Howard Brenton
Confined – Ballymahon Drama Group, Conscience
Stricken by Neil Fitton
1986
Open – New Theatre Group Kilkenny – The Interview by
Octave Mirbeau
Confined – North West AIB Drama Group – The Late
Arrival of the Incoming Aircraft by Hugh Leonard
1987
Open – New Theatre Group, Kilkenny – Ritual for Dolls
by George MacEwan Green
Confined – Mountmellick Pioneer Group – Professional
Help
1988
Open – Pegasus Drama Group, Headford – Death of
Pilate
Confined – Ballyhaunis Drama Society – The Time of the
Whitehorn
1989
Open – Moat Club, Naas – Stygian Cherubim by Pat
Kinnevane
Confined – Kilmeen Drama Group – Bar and Ger by
Geraldine Aron
1990
Open – Bangor Drama Club – The Donahue Sisters by
Geraldine Aron
Confined – Donegal Drama Circle, Rosencrantz and
Guilderstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
1991
Open – Strand Players, Dublin – 27 Wagons Full of
Cotton by Tennessee Williams
Confined – Camross Drama Group – Birthright by T. C.
Murray
1992
Open – TBC
Confined – Insight Theatre – A Cut In The Rates by Alan Ayckbourn
1993
Open – Terenure Players – Small Box Psychosis by
Barry McKinley
Confined – Corofin Dramatic Society – Three’s A Crowd
by Earl Derr Biggers andChristopher Morley
1994
Open – Olivian Players – To by Jim Cartwright
Confined – Drumshanbo Community Players – Bedtime
Story by Sean O’Casey
1995
Open – Prosperous Dramatic Society – Faint Voices by
John MacKenna
Confined – Trim Dramatic Society – The Donahue
Sisters by Geraldine Aron
2001
Open – Estuary Players – Five Kinds of Silence by
Sheelagh Stephenson
Confined – Ennis Players – Lone Star by James McClure
2002
Open – St. Patrick’s Dramatic Society, Dalkey – The
Pushcart Peddlars by Murray Schisgall
Confined – Timeless Players - Virtual Reality by Alan
Ayckbourn
2003
Open – Crois Dearg Drama Group – After Magritte by
Tom Stoppard
Confined – Baileborough Drama Group – The Henhouse
by Tara Maria Lovett
2004
Cornmill Theatre Carrigallen – Scott Marshall
Adjudicating
Open – Ennis Players – The Dandy Dolls by George
Fitzmaurice
Confined – Tullamore AD Society – Three More Sleepless
Nights by Caryl Churchill
1996
2005
1997
2006
Open – Donegal Drama Circle – Donalbain by Soinbhe
Lally
Confined – St. Patrick’s Dramatic Society, Dalkey – Say
Something Happened by Alan Bennett
Open-Bradan Players-Small Box Pyschosis by Barry
McKinley
Confined – Barrymore Drama Group – A Family Affair by
Derek O’Gorman
Open – Carlow Little Theatre – Tadhg O’Cathain and the
Corpse by Douglas Hyde
Confined – Malthouse Players – What’s for Pudding by
David Tristram
Open – Balally Players – Melody by Deirdre Kinahan
Confined – Malthouse Players – The Extraordinary
Revelations of Orca the Goldfish by David Tristam
1998
Open – Estuary Players – Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit
Confined – Carrig Players – PVT Wars by James McClure
Open-Balally Players-Riders to the Sea by J. M. Synge
Confined – Cookstown Drama Group – Ruby of Elsinore
by Bruce Kane
1999
2008
2000
Open – Causeway Productions – Address Unknown by
Taylor Kressman
Confined – Camross Drama Group – A Family Affair by
Derek O’Gorman
Open – Moat Club, Naas – A Bench at the Edge by Luigi Jannuszi
Confined – City Limits – The Lords of Love by Eoin Colfer
Open – Olivian Players – Never Swim Alone by Daniel Mc Ivor
Confined – Ballyshannon Drama Society – The
Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish by David
Tristam
2007
2009
Open – Bradan Players – The Quality of Boiled Water by
Jason Milligan
Confined – Backstage Theatre Company – Small Box
Pyschosis by Barry McKinley
2010
Open – Bradán Players – A Number by Caryl Churchill
Confined – Shannonside Drama Group – Landscape by
Harold Pinter
2011
Open – Kilmeen Drama Group – Disco Pigs by Enda
Walsh.
Confined - Corofin Dramatic Society – What’s For
Pudding? by David Tristram.
2012
Open - Prosperous Dramatic Society - Bobby Gould In
Hell by David Mamet
Confined - Breffni Players - Scarecrow by Don Nigro.
2013
Open - Prosperous Dramatic Society - Lovely Head by
Neil Labute
Confined - D.A.D.S. Dunmore - A Galway Girl by
Geraldine Aron
All Ireland One Act Drama Finals Awards 2015
1. DLI Scholarship
_____________________________
2. Adjudicator’s Award
_____________________________
3. Adjudicator’s Award
_____________________________
4. Best Acting Performance Confined _____________________________
5. Best Acting Performance Open
_____________________________
6. Confined Winner
_____________________________
7. Open Winner
_____________________________
Thanks
• Donegal County Council
• Bel Canto Choir
• Donegal Diaspora
• Harveys Point Hotel
• Cllr. Barry O’neill
• Skylon Hotel
• Dorrians Hotel
• Sand House Hotel
• Dicey Reilly’s Bar & Donegal Brewing Co.
• Market House Bar
• Local Hands Craft Shop
• Cara Pharmacy
• Abbey Centre Staff And Management
• Irish TV Channel 191
• Ballyshannon Museum
• Amateur Drama Council Of Ireland
• Slevins Department Store
• Drama League Of Ireland
• Erne Print
• Colaiste Cholmcille
• Ulster ADCI
• Backing Ballyshannon
• Celtic Weave China
ALL IRELAND
CONFINED FINALS 2015
Hosted by Kilmuckridge Drama Festival
www.kilmuckridgedramafestival.com
Friday 10th – Saturday 18th April 2015
RTÉ ALL IRELAND
OPEN FINALS 2015
Dean Crowe Theatre ATHLONE
Thursday 30th April – Friday 8th May 2015
Results will be announced on Saturday 9th May
ONE ACT FINALS 2015
Town Hall Theatre - Galway City
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th December 2015
Under the Auspices of Joint ADCI/DLI Committee
AMATEUR DRAMA COUNCIL of IRELAND
www.adci.ie for all results
Sat.14th. St. Dympna’s Dromore
Fri.20th. Glenamaddy Players
BY GERALDINE ARON
by BAIRBRE NI CAOIMH & YVONNE QUINN
“SAME OLD MOON” “STOLEN CHILD”
Sun.15th. Letterkenny Music & Drama Group
“THE 39 STEPS” “DANCING AT LUGHNASA”
by PATRICK BARLOW
Sat.21st. Yellow Moon Theatre Group
by BRIAN FRIEL
Mon.16th. Lifford Players
“ABSENCE OF WOMEN” “THE DEAD SCHOOL”
“PLAY ON”
Nightly at 8.15pm
Sun.22nd. Corn Mill Theatre Company
by OWEN McCAFFERTY
Tues.17th. Phoenix Players, Tubbercurry
by PAT McCABE
by RICK ABBOT
Wed.18th. Butt Drama Circle
“THE GLASS MENAGERIE”
by TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
Thurs.19th. Newtonsteward Theatre Company
“TEA IN A CHINA CUP”
by CHRISTINA REID
7.30pm on Final Night
Adjudicator:
John Carty
Festival Director: John Travers
Booking: 087 3420301
www.ballyshannondrama.com