Ballyshannon Drama Society

‘The Hen Night Epiphany’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 13th, 8.15pm.

Tonight at the Ballyshannon Drama Festival sees the return of the Newtownstewart Theatre Company with their production of ‘The Hen Night Epiphany’.

Should some secrets never be kept no matter what the cost? Five women come together to help clear out a run-down cottage a week before the wedding of its new owner, Una. Joining her on this hen night of sorts are her two best friends, Kelly and Triona, her soon to be mother-in-law, Olive, and Olive’s best friend, Anita. But Una is keeping a secret that, if revealed, will detroy all hopes of her dream wedding and living happily ever after with the love of her life. As the play unfolds, we see the women, one by one, forced to confront awkward truths of their own.

NTC have been in existence for a few years now, this will be their third year on the circuit. The group performed Frank Mc Guinness “The Factory Girls” last year to great success and are very much looking forward to the 2017 Festivals.

 

UNA – CIARA CONNOLLY

KELLY – MARIA HARKIN

TRIONA – LISA CALLAGHAN

OLIVE – GILLIAN MAYSE

ANITA – BRIEGE MC SORLEY

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR – FINTAN GALLAGHER

 

‘The Hen Night Epiphany’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 13th, 8.15pm.

Contact John on 0863743207 or the Abbey Arts Centre box office on 0719851375 to avoid disappointment.

‘The Play About The Baby’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 19th, 7.30pm.

Closing the Ballyshannon Drama Festival this year we have Prosperous presenting Edward Albee’s ‘The Play About The Baby’.

Please note the earlier start time of 7.30pm to allow for the awards ceremony, which will begin shortly after the adjudication.

The play opens in a version of Eden, with the Boy and Girl. She is pregnant. The Girl gives birth to the baby. Soon, a middle aged couple, the Man and Woman appear…Witty, cryptic, part puzzle play, part vaudeville, the play is essential Albee, and shows the major American dramatist – now deceased – continuing a career of experimentation that has always been very European in its absurdist embrace and subsequent disregard for naturalism. This funny, harrowing dramatic fable, which features a four-member ensemble, is as explicit and concise a statement of what Mr. Albee believed as he is ever likely to deliver. It is presented in the form of what might be called a cosmic vaudeville, in which two old pros in this old world teach a pair of young adults just how bleak and dangerous the universe can be.

 

MAN – ROBERT MASSEY

WOMAN – AMANDA RYAN

BOY – JAMES MURPHY

GIRL – ASHLEIGH O’NEILL

DIRECTOR – LURLENE DUGGAN

CREW

Production Assistant: Siobhan Keogh; Stage Management: Siobhan Keogh; Set Design: Lurlene Duggan; Lights: Ciaran Healy, James Murphy, Jimmy Grace; Sound: Claire O’Neill; Set Construction: T. J. Duggan, Brian Moran, Malcom Taylor, Peter O’Neill; Backstage: Cyrena Hayes, Trish O’Neill.

‘The Play About The Baby’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 19th, 7.30pm.

Book your Season Ticket now to get access to all 9 nights of the festival for only €60.
Nightly tickets are €15/€12 for concessions.

Contact John on 0863743207 or the Abbey Arts Centre box office on 0719851375 to avoid disappointment.

 

 

 

‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 18th, 8.15pm.

On Saturday the 18th, Corn Mill present Brian Friel’s classic ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’.

‘Philadelphia Here I Come’ is a 1964 play written by Brian Friel. It is set in the fictional town of Ballybeg. It centres around Garet (Gar) O’ Donnell’s proposed move to America. Gar is protrayed by two characters, Gar Public (the Gar that people see, talk to and talk about) and Gar Private (the unseen man, the man within, the conscience). It’s essentially about exile, the exile of emigration, the exile of emotional disconnect, the exile of choosing security over love and the exile of living fantasy rather than reality. The play is a tragic comedy with many comical scenes.

 

 

 

MADGE – MAURA FARRELLY

GARET O’ DONNELL (PUBLIC) – DEREK O’REILLY

GARET O’ DONNELL (PRIVATE) – CHARLES MCGUINNESS

S.B. O’DONNELL – RAY HACKETT

KATE DOOGAN – GRACE KELLY

SENATOR DOOGAN – JIM WILLIAMSON

MASTER DOYLE – BRIAN REILLY

LIZZY SWEENEY – TARAGH DONOHOE

CON SWEENEY – SEAN MCINTYRE

BEN BURTON – JOE MC MANUS

NED – STEPHEN GREY

TOM – RONAN WARD

JOE – LARRY O’HALLORAN

CANON MICK O’BYRNE – BRIAN REILLY

DIRECTOR – KILLIAN MC GUINNESS

CREW

Lighting: Phillip McIntyre, Barry Nash, Noel Nash; Sound: Gus Hanly, Angela McCluskey;

Set Design: Phillip McIntyre, Noel Nash; Décor: Sinead O’reilly, Taragh Donohue; Stage Manager: Taragh Donohoe; Make Up: Una Ward.

 

‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 18th, 8.15pm.

Book your Season Ticket now to get access to all 9 nights of the festival for only €60.
Nightly tickets are €15/€12 for concessions.

Contact John on 0863743207 or the Abbey Arts Centre box office on 0719851375 to avoid disappointment.

‘Blackbird’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 17th, 8.15pm.

On St. Patrick’s Night, Bradán make a welcome return to Ballyshannon with ‘Blackbird’ by David Harrower.

A young woman is searching for a man she knew many years ago. She comes to his place of work and confronts him about past events. A tense, intriguing and explosive exposé of their lives ensues.

Please Note: this play contains adult content.

Running Time: 90 minutes – no interval.

 

UNA – MICHELLE READE

RAY – GEORGE HOGAN

DIRECTOR – REIDÍN DUNNE

CREW

Lighting: Tom Kennedy; Sound: Colette Kinsella; Stage Manager: Claire Reilly; Set/Sound

Design/Projections: Brendan Farrell, Vinni Casey, Clodagh Whealan.

 

‘Blackbird’, the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, March 17th, 8.15pm.

Book your Season Ticket now to get access to all 9 nights of the festival for only €60.
Nightly tickets are €15/€12 for concessions.

Contact John on 0863743207 or the Abbey Arts Centre box office on 0719851375 to avoid disappointment.