Friday 17th (C) God of Carnage Harvest Moon D.G. By Yasmina Reza Synopsis of Play: God of Carnage was written by Yasmina Reza and was first published in 2008. It is about two sets of parents; the son of one couple has hurt the son of the other couple at a public park. The parents meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish and the meeting devolves into chaos. Group History: Harvest Moon Theatre Group is a new group based in Claremorris, Co Mayo, with members drawn from all over Connaught. All of the group members have experience of the All-Ireland circuit with other groups. This is the group’s first entry in the Confined Section of the circuit. Saturday 18th (O) Oleanna Prosperous D.G. By David Mamet
Synopsis of Play: Oleanna is a 1992 two-character play by David Mamet, about the power struggle between a university professor and one of his female students, who accuses him of sexual harassment and, by doing so, spoils his chances of being accorded tenure. The play’s title, taken from a folk song, refers to a 19th-century escapist vision of utopia.[1] Mamet adapted his play into a 1994 film. Group History: From humble beginnings, this small village in Co. Kildare, has developed a strong tradition of theatre, it all started with a bilingual play An tAthru Mor, produced by Fr J. O’Brien, over 100 years ago, to the present day where the group has won the RTE All Ireland Drama Finals back to back. 2018 was an outstanding year for the group, their production of Sylvia took 1st place at the RTE All Ireland Drama Festival and the group also secured the Abbey Theatre Award which took them to 5 sold out shows in the Peacock theatre. Sunday 19th (O) A Skull in Connemara Ballycahill D.G By Martin McDonagh
Synopsis of Play: For one week each autumn, Mick Dowd is hired to disinter the bones in certain sections of his local cemetery, to make way for the new arrivals. As the time approaches for him to dig up those of his own late wife, strange rumours regarding his involvement in her sudden death seven years ago, gradually begin to resurface Group History: Following our win on the 2019 Confined Festival Circuit, this is the group’s first outing on the Open Festival Circuit and we are really looking forward to it!! From our home on the banks of the River Suir in the beautiful village of Holycross the group stage performances every winter and participate in the All Ireland Festival Circuit every spring. We have been together for over fifty years and we still enjoying treading the boards together and performing to our loyal audiences! We particularly enjoy performing on the Festival circuit and meeting up with all our friends in drama.
Monday 20th (O) The Father Brideview D.G. By Florian Zellor
Synopsis of Play: André is retired and a man of his own mind. He’s quick with a joke, especially one with an edge, and used to dominating conversations and relationships. But things are getting strange: His trusted watch goes missing, reappears, and is lost again. His daughter’s stories don’t quite add up. His furniture is disappearing and there are strangers at his table. The Father is a thrilling exploration of who we are to ourselves when our signposts disappear. Group History: Brideview Drama was formed in the late 1980s and began competing in the early 90s, winning the confined 3Act in 2005 with Moonshine. By Jim Nolan. They qualified for the Open All-Ireland Finals for the first time in 2018 with ‘Stolen Child’, finishing in second place. They reached the finals again in 2019 with ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’ finishing in 3rd place.
Tuesday 21st (C) The Cripple of Inishmaan Rearcross D.G. By Martin McDonagh
Synopsis of Play: The play is seton the island of Inishmaan in 1934. Billy Claven lives with his adoptive aunties. He’s crippled from birth and endures ridicucle because of his physical deformaties. He longs to get off the island and experience the wider world. He is also secretly in love with the island’s beauty. His opportunity comes when “Man of Aran” is being filmed on the neighbouring island of Innishmor. Group History: Rearcross has a long tradition in Amateu Dramatics stretching back to the 1940. The Group was active on the festival circuit in the 1960’s and 1970’s. for a number of years the group was not active but was revived in 2008 and annual productions have been successfully staged every year since. The group is looking forward to participating again in The Co. Tipperary Drama Festival.
Wednesday 22nd (O) The Playboy of the Western World Hinterland D.G. By J.M.Synge
Synopsis of Play: The play revolves around a young man’s bravado claims that he killed his father. For more than a century audiences have puzzled over how this claim makes him a hero to all the eligible young women who vie for his affections. Patrons also wondered…even as the play’s slapstick humour had them falling off their seats. Group History: Hinterland are a new collective of theatre makers who are based in and around County Tipperary. This not for profit, community theatre project, is led by Robert Power, who is originally from Carrick-On-Suir and has worked in various mediums in the arts world, including theatre and music. It is made up of a blend of experience and youth, both in terms of cast and production team. In the summer of 2022, the group toured their first production of The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge.
Thursday 23rd (O) The Seafarer Thurles D.G. By Conor McPhearson Synopsis of Play: It’s Christmas Eve, and Sharky has returned to Dublin to look after Richard, his irascible and ageing brother, who has recently gone blind. Sharky, an alcoholic, is battling to get through Christmas without a drink. Richard’s drinking buddy Ivan is holed up at the house too. They are joined for a game of poker by Sharky’s old love rival, Nicki, who brings along the mysterious Mr Lockhart. In their alcohol induced world they drink, they fight and they gamble. But, with the arrival of this stranger from the distant past, the stakes are raised even higher, as Sharky may be playing for his very soul. Group History: Thurles Drama Group presents two three-act plays yearly in the Source Arts Centre. Over a period of fifty-six years they have produced plays of every genre, and always of the highest quality. The group has recently bought an old cinema/parish hall which has been refurbished into their own drama hall. They are looking forward to the official opening of The Bríd Ryan Drama Centre in 2023. The group has been competing on the three-act festival circuit over a number of years, and have reached the All-Ireland Finals in Athlone on eight occasions.
Friday 24th (O) Blithe Spirit Kilmeen D.G. By Noel Coward
Synopsis of Play: This smash comedy hit of the London and Broadway stage offers up fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine, remarried but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira, who is called up by a visiting “happy medium”, one Madame Arcati. As the (worldly and un-worldy) personalities clash, Charles’ current wife Ruth is accidentally killed, “passes over”, joins Elvira and the two “blithe spirits” haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity. Group History: Kilmeen Drama Group, based in Rossmore, West Cork, are one of the longest established drama groups in the country. The group competes in both the One Act and Three Act circuits each year as well as running a Summer Theatre programme in the months of July and August. At National level Kilmeen were All Ireland 3 Act Champions in 2006,2011,2012 and 2013. They also won All Ireland glory in 2011 in the One Act finals with “Disco Pigs”
Saturday 25th (O) When Elephants Collide Lifford D.G. By Edward Flanagan
Synopsis of Play: A tale of inheritance. A family in crisis. A father who doesn’t know which child to trust with his legacy. This fast paced play is interwoven with sibling rivalry, jealousy and greed set in a 21st Century Ireland still anchored to 19th cent traditions. Group History: Lifford Players were formed in the early 1950’s by staff from Donegal County Council and Lifford Post Office. Lifford Players are a cross-border cross-community drama group that competes annually on the Irish and Ulster amateur drama circuits. Lifford Players have appeared in the All-Ireland Open Drama Finals a total of 31 times, winning it on three occasions – 1982, 1985, 1987.