Top impresario will judge drama festival

With a reputation as ‘the adjudicator who misses nothing’ because of his wealth of experience out front and behind stage, participating companies will be polishing their performances to meet his high standards.

The festival, which runs from 5th – 13th March 2010 in the recently refurbished Waterside Theatre, will showcase the cream of amateur drama talent from north and south of the border. Nine plays will run on the nine consecutive nights of the festival culminating in the award of trophies for best play, best actor and actress, best set, best lighting etc.

And while winning the silverware is a tribute to the skills of actors, directors and stage crew, plays also compete for the award of points that will contribute towards a company or companies going forward to the Ulster or All Ireland drama festival finals – the Oscars of amateur drama in Ireland!

Each evening’s play will be adjudicated by Mr McMullin. Now retired, he is a former director of the Irish Theatre Company and former Chairman of the National Theatre Company and he was, for a time, Cork’s theatre critic for ‘The Stage’ and an occasional book reviewer for ‘The Irish Examiner’.

Speaking recently to Festival Chairperson, Maureen Gallagher, Mr McMullin expressed delight at having the opportunity to come to the City and praised the committee for its choice of plays for this year’s landmark festival:

“Having heard so much from colleagues over the years about your very successful festival, I am very much looking forward to visiting the City of Derry Festival”, he said.

“And may I also offer my congratulations to the organising committee for the wide-ranging and exciting programme of plays that will make up this year’s festival. I look forward to seeing every one of them”, he added.

Tickets for the festival are available from the Waterside Theatre box office 028 71 314000 and further details about the festival are available on the theatre’s website www.watersidetheatre.com.