{"id":2746,"date":"2017-12-31T16:29:15","date_gmt":"2017-12-31T16:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/?p=2746"},"modified":"2017-12-31T16:29:15","modified_gmt":"2017-12-31T16:29:15","slug":"a-letter-from-the-chair-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/a-letter-from-the-chair-3\/","title":{"rendered":"A Letter from the Chair"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Have you ever been in love, me boys?&#8221; the song asks&#8230;In truth we \u00a0were all struck by Drama Cupid&#8217;s\u00a0bow and arrow in 2017. It \u00a0burrowed\u00a0its way, hooked and reeled us all in. When the endorphins get loose they infect everyone, from back stage to main stage and technicians alike.\u00a0We feast on the feeling\u00a0as it travels like a virus until we are consumed by it all.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Our love story with drama began in February with our entry in the three act drama circuit, Tom Stoppard&#8217;s &#8216;The Real Thing&#8217;. It\u00a0became an unreal, surreal, passionate thing for us all, and it was a joy to produce with the best of people in the finest of festivals. The story continued as it so often does with the Ballyshannon Drama Festival, our 65th, when we laughed, cried, clapped and cheered with joy, sadness and celebration.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-2746 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/the-real-thing-opening-night-special-e10\/the-real-thing_-11\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-11-300x199.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-11-300x199.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-11-1024x680.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-11-1440x956.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/the-real-thing-opening-night-special-e10\/the-real-thing_-15\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-15-300x199.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-15-300x199.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-15-1024x680.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/The-Real-Thing_-15-1440x956.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/results-from-the-65th-ballyshannon-drama-festival\/img_0161sm\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"145\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_0161sm-300x145.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_0161sm-300x145.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_0161sm-1024x494.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_0161sm-1440x695.jpg 1440w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_0161sm.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">At the end of May, the next chapter in our story opened with &#8216;A Funny Kind of Day&#8217;.\u00a0Much to his credit, our director Bill Greaves cast seven new actors who had never been\u00a0in a three act play before.\u00a0The result was truly amazing as our new stars enthralled the audience for a four-night run. A wonderful success in every way.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-2746 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/opening-night-a-roaring-success\/img_0190\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"254\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0190-300x254.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0190-300x254.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0190.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/opening-night-a-roaring-success\/img_0216\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"264\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0216-300x264.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0216-300x264.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0216.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/opening-night-a-roaring-success\/img_0228\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"139\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0228-300x139.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0228-300x139.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0228-1024x476.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0228-1440x669.jpg 1440w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0228.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/A-night-of-Comedy_Drama_BDS_A4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2703\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/A-night-of-Comedy_Drama_BDS_A4-213x300.png\" alt=\"A night of Comedy_Drama_BDS_A4\" width=\"213\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/A-night-of-Comedy_Drama_BDS_A4-213x300.png 213w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/A-night-of-Comedy_Drama_BDS_A4.png 606w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/a>The\u00a0 society decided on two one-act plays for our winter sport.\u00a0Both plays were presented back-to-back, with one going forward for the One Act Festival Circuit.\u00a0Ailis Mc Intyre directed one of the plays,\u00a0&#8220;The Fat Lady Sings in Little Grimley&#8221;, a\u00a0hilarious comedy performed by a cast of four new and old hands, and another great\u00a0success.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Anne Mc Hugh directed the second play, a seriously dark piece called &#8220;Five Kinds of Silence&#8221; with a cast of six. This play went forward on the One Act Circuit, where it won\u00a0all five of its circuit festivals, finishing up second in the All Ireland Finals in Letterkenny in December, a fantastic achievement of which we are all proud.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">All plays have a human connection.\u00a0Mark Fortier said &#8220;The purpose of theatre is to put the audience in a better position to understand the world around us.&#8221;\u00a0It&#8217;s true &#8211; their stories evoke memories, funny and sad situations we instantly affiliate with. We recognise\u00a0 characters who live amongst us, some that we love, some we avoid, scenes bring us to places we want to return to or may never want to experience again. They release feelings from the corners of the heart you didn&#8217;t know were there. Memories sneak out of your eyes and roll down your cheeks, and you wipe them away quickly in case someone might witness a weak moment, then all of a sudden there&#8217;s a change of heart as\u00a0you suddenly burst out laughing and everyone around you joins in to relieve the tension and a wonderful moment is shared by all.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-2746 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/five-kinds-of-silence\/5-kinds-of-silence-oct17-12\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"266\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-12-300x266.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-12-300x266.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-12.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/five-kinds-of-silence\/5-kinds-of-silence-oct17-7\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"264\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-7-300x264.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-7-300x264.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-7.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/five-kinds-of-silence\/5-kinds-of-silence-oct17-8\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-8-300x219.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-8-300x219.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-8.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/five-kinds-of-silence\/5-kinds-of-silence-oct17-16\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"181\" src=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-16-300x181.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-16-300x181.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/5-kinds-of-silence-Oct17-16.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Sometimes the sprinkle system is so strong on stage we are drowning from its spill.\u00a0When the lights go down we quickly sojourn to the foyer or green room or white room or any room to share those spoils from a surreal world in real time.\u00a0Folk nudge into the huddle for chat and banter and knowledge, sharing\u00a0a masterclass, and one must retain mental notes to ponder on later and unscramble in one&#8217;s own time.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">On our one act circuit journey\u00a0we watched and listened and admired great works, shared wonderful moments and became friends to strangers. We drank tea, fine-dined on tasty sandwiches and home bakes,\u00a0talked each other into a pint in some local hostelry for the sake of the banter. Sometimes we left euphoric, sometimes we left confused but happy with a night&#8217;s work, but it never leaves you. It will stay in your head and take up residence for the long journey home, tuck itself into bed with you and abruptly waken you in the morning. You try to leave it at home as\u00a0it could come to work and distract you entirely.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div dir=\"auto\">The love of drama is a serious drug that\u00a0links us all to the best of people, and we are richer for that, wiser certainly, and it leaves us yearning for more.\u00a0They say theatre does not last, only in people&#8217;s memories and in their hearts, but that&#8217;s the beauty and sadness of it all, and\u00a0that is why theatre is life, and endlessly fascinating.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">As we leave 2017 we would love to meet you all again next year during the three act festival run and share more wonderful, surreal times.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The Ballyshannon Drama festival is only a March away, and we will be waiting to share your laughter and tears, clap in admiration of your talents, hard labour and appreciate your journey.\u00a0We promise banter afterwards and the sharing of\u00a0thoughts over a cuppa or perhaps a sip or two if ye can stay a while longer.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">We look forward to that reunion.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Until then enjoy the rest that Christmas has to offer. Remember fondly those who can&#8217;t be with us through sickness or otherwise. Send them a message from the heart because they are a very valuable part of our society and have left their indelible\u00a0 print.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Parting thoughts: may each and everyone of you get shot by Drama Cupid&#8217;s bow until your dramatic pulse beats stronger with every new character you mould with truth in your heart.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Have you ever been in love, me boys?&#8221; the song asks&#8230;In truth we \u00a0were all struck by Drama Cupid&#8217;s\u00a0bow and arrow in 2017. It \u00a0burrowed\u00a0its way, hooked and reeled us all in. When the endorphins get loose they infect everyone, from back stage to main stage and technicians alike.\u00a0We feast on the feeling\u00a0as it travels like a virus until we are consumed by it all. Our love story with drama began in February with our entry in the three act drama circuit, Tom Stoppard&#8217;s &#8216;The Real Thing&#8217;. It\u00a0became an unreal, surreal, passionate thing for us all, and it was a joy to produce with the best of people in the finest of festivals. The story continued as it so often&#8230;<\/p><a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/small-business-plan-format/">small business plan format</a> <a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/writing-position-papers/">writing position papers</a> <a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/help-writing-a-college-essay/">help writing a college essay</a> <a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/buying-a-dissertation-2-days/">buying a dissertation 2 days</a> <a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/writing-introductions-for-essays/">writing introductions for essays</a> <a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/writing-a-business-plan-sample/">writing a business plan sample</a> <a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/digital-signal-processing-research-papers/">digital signal processing research papers</a> <a href="http://ballyshannondrama.com/leadership-and-change-management-assignment/">leadership and change management assignment</a>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2746"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2746"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2748,"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2746\/revisions\/2748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ballyshannondrama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}