‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ Opens Feb. 12th

Ballyshannon Drama Society will present Oscar Wilde’s classic and much-loved comedy ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ in the Abbey Arts Centre on February 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th, before heading off to eight more festivals in the All Ireland Amateur Drama Festival. Oscar Wilde’s wildly entertaining comedy sparkles with dazzling wordplay and hilariously unlikely situations. This “trivial comedy for serious people” features two carefree bachelors, Jack and Algernon, each with a carefully hidden double life. But when Algernon discovers that Jack has been posing as a man named Ernest to escape to the city, he promptly travels to Jack’s country estate to pose as the fictional figure himself! Silliness ensues with whimsical ingénues, jealous fiancées, indomitable dowagers, and the most famous…

Cast Announcement for ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’

We are delighted to announce the cast for our upcoming circuit production ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde (in order of future appearance!): Algernon Moncrieff – Sean Donegan Lane – Kevin Lilly Jack Worthing – Terence McEneaney Lady Bracknell – Rachel O’Connor Gwendolen Fairfax – Louise Larkin Miss Prism – Trish Keane Cecily Cardew – Sinead Luke Rev. Canon Chasuble, D. D. – Tony Liston Merriman – Mark Kirby The show will open in the Abbey Arts Centre on February 12th and continue on the 13th, 14th and 16th, before heading out on the road to festivals around the country. Thanks to all who turned up for auditions. It was great to see some new faces in the…

Auditions for ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, 2019 Festival Play

Ballyshannon Drama Society is delighted to announce plans to enter Oscar Wilde’s brilliant satirical comedy ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ in this year’s All Ireland amateur drama festival. There will be two open auditions: Thursday October 11th at 7.30pm and Monday October 15th at 7.30 in the Abbey Centre. All welcome. Bring your best English accent! A copy of the script can be downloaded here: ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde or read here: ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde (Gutenberg Project) The character list is as follows: Jack Worthing A young gentleman from the country, in love with Gwendolen Fairfax. Algernon Moncrieff A young gentleman from London, the nephew of Lady Bracknell, in love with Cecily Cardew….

The hilarious ‘Play On’ continues Wed, Thurs and Sat – don’t miss it!!

Don’t miss ‘Play On’, the side-splitting new comedy from Ballyshannon Drama Society, which continues Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday this week. Warning! ‘Play On’ may seriously affect your health! After last night’s hilarious opening performance, there have been reports of tears streaming down faces, sides bursting with laughter, and audience members worrying about their heart conditions due to too much hilarity!! Last night’s opening show was an absolutely fantastic way to end months of rehearsal, and to begin the run of 4 nights (only 3 left!) in the Abbey Centre. The audience were laughing from the moment the curtain opened, and continued to laugh all the way to the final curtain…the final final curtain, that is. ‘Play On’ follows a really…

Get your tickets now for ‘Play On’

‘Play On’ by Rick Abbott is the hilarious new comedy from Ballyshannon Drama Society which is guaranteed to have them rolling in the aisles every night! Directed by Rachel O’Connor and featuring many familiar faces, this promises to be a great night’s entertainment for all. The story follows an amateur drama group and their trials and tribulations in trying to put on a murder mystery play in their local theatre. The show opens on Tuesday May 22nd and continues Wednesday 23rd, Thursday 24th and Saturday 26th (no show on Friday) at 8.30 pm nightly.

Results from the 66th Ballyshannon Drama Festival

And the Winners are… THE PATSY CROAL BLUE RIBAND: ‘Sylvia’ by Prosperous OPEN FIRST PLACE (Maureen Gallagher Award): ‘Sylvia’, Prosperous SECOND PLACE (C. J. King Award): ‘Beneath An Irish Sky’, Letterkenny THIRD PLACE (Jim Flynn Award): ‘Dancing At Lughnasa’, Lifford Players BEST PRODUCER (John Stephens Cup): Lurleen Duggan, Prosperous BEST ACTOR (H.J. Travers Award): Robert Massey, Prosperous BEST ACTRESS (Eoin Carney Award): Ashleigh O’Neill, Prosperous CONFINED FIRST PLACE (Commercial Hotel Cup): ‘Buried Child’, Phoenix Players, Tubbercurry SECOND (Catherine Breslin Award): Sillan Players, ‘Una Pooka’ THIRD: Newtownstewart, ‘Meeting at Menin Gate’ BEST PRODUCER (Hugh & Mary Daly Cup): Peter Davey, Phoenix Players, Tubbercurry BEST ACTRESS (Kathleen Fagan Award): Rebecca Farrington, Kiltimagh BEST ACTOR (Saimer Cup/Paddy Mc Loone Award): Pat Feeley, Phoenix Players, Tubbercurry BILLY MYLES AUDIENCE AWARD: Prosperous, ‘Sylvia’ BEST SET (Mary…

Sunday Night at the Drama Festival: Prosperous present ‘Sylvia’ (7.30pm)

Sunday 18 March is the concluding performance of the festival and Prosperous Dramatic Society will present ‘Sylvia’ by A R Gurney. It is a smart, playful, sophisticated and occasionally gritty comedy about relationships, nature and growing older. A lovable dog changes the lives of a middle-aged couple who have entered the empty nest time of life and have moved to Manhattan after twenty years in the suburbs. Greg is dissatisfied with his job but Kate is excited about her new teaching opportunities and new-found freedom. Sylvia challenges everything and everyone in the relationship. Prosperous Dramatic Society first won the 1 Act Open All Ireland finals in 1995 with ‘Faint Voice’ by John MacKenna. They won the 1 Act All Ireland finals in 2012…

Saturday Night at the Drama Festival: Bradán Players present ‘Conservatory’

On Saturday 17 March the Bradán Players will present ‘Conservatory’ by Michael West. In the play you will hear: ‘I wasn’t throwing up. I was dying. I was very ill… And do you know what? In the middle of all that… malaise. I remember thinking “This is what it’s like to be married” But I’ll do it again.’ An elderly couple sit in a dark room in their house, doing the crossword, taking their tablets and knitting, all the while raking over a traumatic past that has all but destroyed them. Conservatory is a compelling play about loss and family which shows that happiness is not a necessary condition of togetherness. It premiered at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in March 2014. Founded in…