2007 Festival

2007 Tipperary Drama Festival

CONFINED

1st – Muintir na Tire Cup: “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”, Droichead Nua

2nd : “The Exorcism”, Holycross / Ballycahill Drama Group

3rd : “Midden”, Bridge Drama Group

BEST ACTOR : Kevin Lawlor-Fitzpatrick as Pato in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” Doichead Nua D.G.

BEST ACTRESS : Anna Swords as Maureen in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” Doichead Nua D.G.

BEST SUPP. ACTOR : Barry J. Ewing as Ray in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” Doichead Nua D.G.

BEST SUPP. ACTRESS : Barian Brophy as Mag in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” Doichead Nua D.G.

BEST PRODUCER : Paddy Melia, Doichead Nua Drama Group

OPEN

1st – TIPP FM Trophy:”The Normal Heart”, Silken Thomas Players

2nd : “The Kings of Kilburn High Road”, Palace Theatre Group

3rd : “The Glass Menagerie”, Thurles Drama Group

BEST ACTOR : Conor O’Connell as Ned Weeks in “The Normal Heart” Silken Thomas Players

BEST ACTRESS :Mary Condron as Amanda Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie” Thurles Drama Group

BEST SUPP. ACTOR : James Lenane as Git in “The Kings of Kilburn High Road” Palace Theatre Group

BEST SUPP. ACTRESS : Kate Lineen as Laura Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie” Thurles Drama Group

BEST PRODUCER : Sean Judge, Silken Thomas Players

OVERALL

HANNIFIN CUP : Brideview D.G. Tallow “The Memory of Water”

GALLAGHER AWARD : for most promising actor/actress – Annette Dowling, Athlone Little Theatre

SCHOLARSHIP : Tricia Lowry, Holycross D.G.

Dr. MORRIS MEMORIAL CUP : [Tipperary Group]Thurles Drama Group

BEST SET OVERALL : [Josie Slattery Perpetual Trophy] . Palace Theatre Group “The Kings of Kilburn High Road”

1st ADJUDICATOR AWARD : Jason Gill, Athlone Little Theatre

2nd ADJUDICATOR AWARD : Mary Curley as Teresa in “The Memory of Water”, Brideview D.G.

SCHOOLS WINNER

Presentation Convent, Thurles (Producer: Pauline Dwan)

Creative Producer Award : Mary Slattery, Ursuline Convent, Thurles

 

Synopsis of the plays and history of the groups

 

Friday March 16th 2007 Confined

The Exorcism by Don Taylor  Holycross Drama Group

The Play:

Rachel and Edmund have just bought a small 17th Century labourer’s country cottage, which, however, has been tastefully renovated and converted. Dan and Margaret have come to spend Christmas; Margaret gives them a present, a somewhat primitive African carving . Later, as Rachel is playing the harpsichord, she suddenly gets a feeling of Déjà vu. Shortly afterwards, a series of macabre events occur which eventually mount relentlessly to bizarre climax.

The group:

The group is in existence for almost fifty years. We have competed in – and won – numerous festivals all over Ireland. The group have reached the All-Ireland Confined Finals on many occasions, including coming third in Claregalway last year. “Sive” by John B. Keane, “Run for your Wife” by Ray Cooney and T.S. Elliot’s “Murder in the Cathedral” are among the productions that the group have performed. We have even travelled by special invitation to Germany to stage our award winning play “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” by Martin McDonagh for the American Forces there.

Saturday March 17th 2007 Open

The Brothers Malone by Jason Gill Athlone Little Theatre

The Play:

Local backbench T.D., M J Malone, while trying to boost his profile and secure a junior ministry finds himself embroiled in scandal and struggling to hold his seat against the challenge of Simon Curry, estranged son of the constituency’s old chieftain, Billy Curry, whose seat M J inherited.

The group:

Formed in 1936, continuously producing 3 to 4 plays per year to the present. See www.athlonlittletheatre.ie. This is our first circuit in over 30 years.

Sunday March 18th 2007 Confined

Midden by Morna Regan Bridge Drama

The Play:

Midden is the story of five women, from three generations. Full of humour and vitality, Morna Regan’s play unpicks the tangled threads between past and present, mothers and daughters, exile and home.

After fifteen years in Philadelphia, Ruth has built up a business successful enough to bring her home. But instead of the welcome she has longed for, her arrival provokes instant strife, opening old scars and revealing incendiary secrets.

The group:

Bridge Drama was founded in 1999 with the objective of providing a drama outlet for local talent. The group has continually evolved and expanded and now produces two full length three act plays each year. In 2002 the group started participating in the Amateur DramaCircuit qualifying for the All-Ireland Finals each year since 2004.

Monday March 19th 2007 Open

The Kings of Kilburn High Road by Jimmy Murphy  The Palace Players

The Play:

In the mid 1970s a group of young men left their homes in the West of Ireland, sailed across the sea to England, in the hope of making their fortunes and returning home. Twenty five years later – only one – Jackie Flavin, makes it home – but does so in a coffin.

The group:

In 1989, the Palace Players staged their first play ‘I Do Not Like Thee Dr. Fell’ which incidentally, started them off on the festival circuit. Thaey moved to a new home in nearby Kilworth 1994. They were All-Ireland winners in the Confined section in 1995 with ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. Their festival productions of recent years include ‘The Lonesome West’, ‘The Last Burning’, ‘The Chastitute’, ‘The Wake’ and ‘Son of Man’.

 

Tuesday March 20th 2007 Schools Drama

 

Wednesday March 21st 2007 Open

The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams  Thurles Drama Group

The Play:

Long ago abandoned by her husband, Amanda Wingfield dominates her children with her faded gentility. Her son Tom longs to be free from the shackles of his family. Her disabled daughter Laura is painfully. Amanda decides that the only future for Laura is to find a husband for her. The arrival of Tom’s friend Jim O’Connor as a potential suitor brings the family situation to crisis point.

The group:

Thurles Drama Group was founded in 1967 and first entered the festival circuit in 1986. In1996 their production of “Dancing at Lughnasa” made it to Athlone followed by “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” in 1997. “Faith Healer” made it3 ina row in1998. In2003 the group once again qualified for Athlone with “The Enemy Within”. The group produces 2 full length plays each year plus an evening of theatre.

Thursday March 22nd 2007 Open

Bitter Sanctuary by Rosemary Ann Sissons Zyber Theatre Tralee

The Play:

Set in a refugee camp somewhere in Europe, some time after the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 (last year being the 50th anniversary) the play charts the course of three families. It has a parallel with the Ireland we live in today where displaced people attempt to create a home, to teach their children, and above all, to retain their dignity. Emigration and escape is their only hope. This is a play that can insipire great affection and love, not just for itself, but for the whole human condition.

The group:

Zyber Theatre was formed in 1982 and this year celebrates its 25th birthday. Over the years they have performed plays of a wide variety such as “The Crucible” and “All my Sons” by Arthur Miller, “The Importance of Being Earnest” , “Drama at Inish”, “Relatively Speaking”,“Moll”, Philadelphia Here I Come” and “Toad of Toad Hall”. They have also performed plays by founding member John Fraher, “What Time is it in Bangkok”, “The Game” and “Barndance”. They are delighted to return to the Festival Circuit.

Friday March 23 2007 Open

Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson Brideview Drama Tallow

The Play:

The Memory of Water skilfully charts the joyous and painful territory of family relationships with insight and compassion. This touching and hugely entertaining comedy provides an insight into the lives of three sisters who are reunited for their mother’s funeral. The sisters recall their childhood, but find that personal grievances have coloured their memories, which differ greatly and cause immense friction.

The group:

Brideview won the All-Ireland Confined in 2005 with “Moonshine” and entered the Open competition in 2006 with “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. This play won 2 “Most Entertaining Play Audience Awards”, “Best Moment in Theatre” and over 8 acting awards.The cast of our current play is a mix of long standing award winning actors as well as newcomers and we look forward to entertaining festival audiences again this year.

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