Packed houses were the order of the wek as the curtain closed on another hugely successful Claregalway Festival of Drama which concluded at the weekend.
Festival Director Dermot Hession was warmly complimented on the manner in which he organised the event and he was helped by a wonderful committee who provided tremendous assistance each night.
Pauline Byrne who was Adjudicator this year and on her first visit to Claregalwa Drama was tremendousy impressed and had a very difficult task in selecting the winners for the week. However decisions had to be made and as Pauline announed the results there was much excitement.
Best Overall Production going to Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group for their presentation of “The Good Father” by Christian O’Reilly.
Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group also took the best play in the Open Section and Kieran Tyrell of Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group took Best Director (Open) award. they also took the Best Actress award with Mairead connaughton taking the award for portraying the part of Jane in “The Good Father”.
Alan Nuzman of Dalkey Players who played the part of Her Father in “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhi won the best Actor award in the Open section.
Best Supporting Actress Award in the Open Section went to Laura Gleeson of Letterkenny Drama Group who played the role of “Gronya” in “Dramateurs” by Kieran Kelly.
Best Supporting Actor Award in the Open Section was won by Dermot Byrne of Dalkey Players for portraying the part of A Nasty Interesting Man/Lord of the Underworld in “Eurydice”.
In the Confined section Clann Machu Drama Group took Best Play in their section with “Sive” by John B. Keane. Seamus Corry of Clann Machu Drama Group took Best Director Award in the confined section.
Best Actor Award in the Confined Section went to Iggy Bownes of Clann Machu Drama Group who played the part of Thomasheen Sean Rua in “Sive”.
Best Actress Award in the Confined Section was won by Finola Mellett of Clann Machu Drama Group who played the part of Mena Glavin in “Sive”.
Best Supporting Actor Award in the Confined Section went to John Morley of Ray Leonard Drama Society who played the part of Pato in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” by Martin McDonagh.
Adjudicator’s Award was won by Maria Fitzgerald, Alice Meehan and Sharon Nealon of Dalkey Players for their part as The Stones in “Eurydice”.
Best Stage Crew was won by Bunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group for their presentation of “The Good Father”. Best Sound was won by Kathy Fahey and John Corless of Ray Leonard Drama Society in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”. Best Lighting was won by Oisin Herraghty and Dominic Jordan of Clann Machu Drama Group in “Sive”.
