A few dramatic one-act treats

Nuala Connolly’s production of Melody by Deirdre Kinahan was a joy to see, the two players holding the audience as the story of an unusual love match unfolded. Nuala won best director award for the delicacy, imagination, humour and pathos she and her team found in the play.

Adjudicator Tom Doherty described it as a gentle story of middle-age passion, where two lonely people meet in a park and a spark is created. There have been many plays on the same theme, but the surprise ending to this one made it memorable.

Rosaleen Agnew played Kathleen, a receptionist with a secret, while Pauric Dunne was the “big lump” (Mr Doherty’s words, not mine!) of a civil servant. Over a period of time they share a packed lunch and classical music in the park. It almost ends in disaster, but sense triumphs.

Both players won the top acting awards, creating some of the funniest scenes as they ate the food. Pauric’s manipulations with chopsticks as he tried to master spaghetti was brilliant, and the whole production will delight audiences in Scotland in June.

Bangor Drama Club provided the other two entries. Co. Down: 10,000 years in 30 Minutes was written by Gavin Neilly and the company. The club’s other entry was Interior Designs by Jimmie Chinn.

On Friday night I had the opportunity to see round the new Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey. It is quite magnificent. Part of the council’s estate at the old Mossley Mill, the theatre occupies one side of a square about the size of a football field. Bordered by the restored mill and a new museum build, fountains, swards of grass, amazing lighting and planting make it look like an Italian piazza. The potential for outdoor events in this area alone is enormous.

The theatre seats 400 people in a very steeply raked auditorium. There are no sightline problems and ample leg room. The foyer and reception areas are spacious and welcoming. From a company point of view facilities are first class. Luxury dressing rooms, a stage some 40 feet wide by 35 feet deep, huge dock doors and storage areas and the most up to date sound and lighting equipment make it a very attractive performance space.

The theatre will function alongside the Ballyearl Theatre which is a short distance away. The big question is, will it be viable in Newtownabbey? Well, arts centre manager Bernard Clarkson thinks so, and if he continues with the same enthusiasm that he displayed on Friday evening he has to be right.

I’ll get a chance to see the space with an audience on this Saturday when the Ulster Orchestra is performing the opening concert. The real test comes next week when Sweeney Todd opens on Tuesday night. It continues until February 13.