Drama Festival curtailed due to coronavirus

Portadown Drama Festival is being cut short due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The main prize winners at the final night of the 2020 Portadown Speech Festival pictued with the platform party. INPT11-201.The main prize winners at the final night of the 2020 Portadown Speech Festival pictued with the platform party. INPT11-201.
The main prize winners at the final night of the 2020 Portadown Speech Festival pictued with the platform party. INPT11-201.

It had been hoped the drama element of the festival could continue till its planned close on Friday but the festival committee has now taken the decion to cut it short.

The move comes after the committee agreed to cancel other festival events in the coming weeks.

A spokesperson for the festival said: “In light of the new directive from the Government re the advice about non-essential social contact, the Director of Portadown Drama Festival announced that the Drama Festival was closing after Monday night’s play. Rosemary Drama Group with their production of “These Shining Lives” gave an outstanding performance of a very poignant story and brought the curtain down on our 2020 Festival.

“Portadown Festival Association would like to take this opportunity of thanking all our performers, teachers, parents, volunteers and sponsors for their support and loyalty to us over the years but particularly in these unprecedented circumstances.

“Please exercise caution and be very careful as we embark on the days ahead of us. Keep safe everyone.”

In an earlier statement the festival committee said; “In the light of current circumstances and after close and continued monitoring of the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease) it is with regret that the decision has been made to cancel the upcoming Portadown Festival Association sections as follows: Irish Folk Dancing, Saturday, March 21–Saturday, March 28; Music Monday, March 30 – Saturday, April 4 and Dance Friday, April 1–Saturday, May 9.

“This difficult decision has not been taken lightly, but ultimately, the health and safety of our performers, audience, volunteers and adjudicators is paramount. We are all bitterly disappointed but do hope you understand.

“All teachers, schools and parents who have entered children in these Sections will be contacted immediately.

“Entry fees will be refunded in due course and we respectfully ask for your patience in this regard.

“We would like to thank you for your continued support of Portadown Festival and look forward to welcoming you back again in 2021!

Updates will be issued on the webpage www.portadownfestival.org.uk and the our Facebook pages Portadown Festival Association and Portadown Drama Festival.

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