The Claregalway Festival of Drama will take place in Claregalway Leisure Centre commencing on this Thursday night, 10th March and runs until Friday, 18th March inclusive. Every year Claregalway Leisure Centre is transformed into a theatre for the duration of the Festival and this year the adjudicator for the Festival of Drama 2011 will be Irene O’Meara who has graced Claregalway Festival of Drama stage as an actor and director.
Speaking at the launch last week, Festival Director Seamus McNulty said that this was another memorable occasion for Claregalway Festival of Drama as it was thirty years since they had their first festival. During that period Claregalway had also hosted the All Ireland Confined Festival of Drama twice. Mr. McNulty paid special thanks to the sponsors of the Festival without whom the Festival could not be such a success. He also paid special thanks to Claregalway Leisure Centre Committee, SMA Fathers and Claregalway Hotel for their assistance and to the media and friends of the festival for their support. He added that there is a wonderful line up of performances ahead during the festival and persons with interest in Drama should not miss a minute of the festival.
The festival will open on Thursday March 10th with Claregalway’s own Compantas Lir performing Brian Friel’s “The Love of Cass McGuire”. On Friday, 11th March, Prosperous Drama Society will present “November” by David Mamet. On Saturday, 12th March, DADS Dunmore will present “The Good Father”, by Christian O’Reilly. On Sunday, 13th March Garrymore Drama Group will present the popular “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” by Martin McDonagh. On Monday, 14th March, Glenamaddy Players will present the Brian Friel classic “Dancing at Lughnasa”. On Tuesday, 15th March KATS (Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Group) will present “Portia Coughlan” by Marina Carr. On Wednesday, 16th March, Corofin Dramatic Society will present “The Rightous Are Bold” by Frank Carney. On Thursday, 17th March St. Patrick’s Day), Doonbeg Drama Group will present “Say Cheese” by Bernard Farrell and on Friday, March 18th Claregalway Festival of Drama will close with Shoestring Theatre Company who will present “Moonshine” by Jim Nolan.
Patrons are asked to note that the performances on Saturday, March 12th and Tuesday, March 15th are not suitable for children.
Doors open each night at 7 pm and curtain up at 8 pm sharp. Season Tickets are currently available. The Committee looks forward to the usual high level of support so as to give a warm welcome to all the groups performing at the festival.
