Festival opens with a Flourish

The 33rd City of Derry Drama Festival got off to a great start last weekend with good houses, some outstanding acting and a varied and entertaining programme.

Mayor Kevin Campbell officially opened the festival on Friday last and praised the festival for its ongoing contribution to the cultural life of the city. “ It is great that the Festival has grown and attracts so many companies from all over Ireland”

Adjudicator Tommy McArdle is full of praise for the productions that he has seen so far: “A company knows they have achieved a lot when the audience is sucked into the story, which is happening every night. Picking the winners will not be easy.”

Among the highlights still to come is a rip- roaring farce ‘Moonlight and Magnolias’ by Ron Hutchinson tonight, Wednesday March 6, which marks the welcome return of award winning company Bangor Drama Club. With witty pointed dialogue and hilarious situations it tells what might have been going on behind the scenes in the creation of the script for ‘Gone With the Wind’.

On Thursday, March 7, Ballyshannon Drama Society present ‘Snake in the Grass’ by Alan Ayckbourne, which is a spooky suspense drama.

On Friday former Festival winners, Properous Dramatic society bring us a rare opportunity to see a controversial but very funny play by America’s leading contemporary dramatist Edward Albee. The plot of ‘The Goat or Who is Sylvia?’ revolves around a middle-aged man who has a mid-life crisis and falls in love with a Goat. The festival concludes on Saturday with Phoenix Players Tubbercurry’s presentation of ‘Poor Beast in the Rain’ the first play in the highly acclaimed Wexford trilogy by Billy Roche. It has high comedy, bittersweet memories and tough choices all instigated by the return of Wexford man to the place of his youth.

There is still time to take advantage of the special offer to buy tickets for two performances and get a free ticket for a third night.

Full details of the programme are available on the Festival website www.cityofderrydramafestival.com

The festival is supported by local businesses and Derry City Council Grant Aid scheme.

Related topics: