It’s ‘drama time’ in Scariff for the 73rd time when the Clare Drama Festival begins on Friday 25th March in Scariff Community College Hall.
Groups from Clare, Mayo, Cork, Waterford, and Wexford will compete for the honour of winning at this prestigious festival.
Executive Director of the Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick, Louise Donlon will officially open the festival. The Ogonnelloe woman has been working in the arts for over 30 years, including the role of General Manager at Druid Theatre Company, Galway at a time when the company was finding international acclaim. She was recently appointed to the Export Advisory Committee of Culture Ireland by Minister Catherine Martin.
The first play ‘Sive’ by John B Keane will be presented by Clann Machua Drama Group from Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo. In 1959 ‘Sive’ created theatrical history and its performance and win in Scariff is credited by John B as launching his playwrighting career.
Saturday night sees Skibbereen Theatre Society perform ‘Brighton’ by Waterford playwright Jim Nolan. On Sunday March 27th Brideview Drama Group will bring ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ by Martin McDonagh. There will be no show on Monday 28th March.
Corofin Dramatic Society present ‘Betrayal’ by Harold Pinter on Tuesday 29th. Pinter who won a Nobel Prize for literature is regarded as one of the most influential dramatists with a writing career that spanned five decades.
Wednesday sees Tulla Drama Group perform ‘Big Maggie’ by John B. Keane. The organising committee are delighted to see their near neighbours treading the boards on the Scariff stage after a lengthy absence.
On Thursday the Ray Leonard Players, Claremorris also present ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’. Friday night sees Camross Drama Group from Wexford deliver ‘The Kings of the Kilburn High Road’ by Jimmy Murphy. On final night Kilmeen Drama Group from West Cork bring ‘Conversations on a Homecoming’ by Tom Murphy. The results of the festival will also be announced on the Saturday (April 2nd).
Clare Drama Festival Chairman, Eamon Moroney said it is great to have drama back after a gap of three years. He said the committee are looking forward to meeting old and new patrons in Scariff.
The festival adjudicator, Mr. Walker Ewart A.D.A. will give a public adjudication each night after the performance. He will also have a private adjudication with each group where he will discuss the finer points of each play. Walker is an internationally recognised adjudicator who is making his third appearance at the Clare Drama Festival. Regular patrons are all adjudicators and can enter a competition to predict the festival winners.
Curtain up is at 8.00pm each night and there is no need to prebook your seat. Come early to enjoy what promises to be a feast of theatre.
Clare Drama Festival is one of 37 preliminary festivals all over Ireland which form the Amateur Drama circuit. The All-Ireland Confined Finals rotate around the provinces and will take place in Ballyshannon Abbey Arts Centre this year. The All-Ireland Open Finals are held in the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone in early May each year.
