Actors from Ireland's amateur drama movement come together to mark the deferred
RT All Ireland Drama Festival
WATCH OUR SHORT FILM: https://youtu.be/ByqVSihS4rw
#RTEDramFest | #RTEIntervalAct
50 amateur drama groups compete annually for the coveted grand prix at the RT All Ireland Drama Festival, normally held in May of each year in Athlone, Co Westmeath. In existence since 1953, the festival has once again been deferred to 2022. However, actors from a range of the regional festival locations have come together to mark what should have been the 69th RT All Ireland Drama Festival.
Recorded remotely using mobile devices, the special two-minute film is a reflection on the lockdowns and restrictions that have seen theatres go dark all over the country.
Regina Bushell, Festival Director, says: Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on all in the performing arts, not least on Ireland's network of 37 amateur drama festivals, many of which are at the core of creative and community life in their localities. We are enormously proud of this stunning piece of work, and the opportunity to showcase so many talented voices. As we look toward 2022, and hopefully an in-person festival, I'm mindful of the final reflection in this moving piece: we will start again.
The Players featured in the final film are:
Majella Toolan, Ballinamore Drama Festival
Trisha Keane, Ballyshannon Drama Festival
Regina Bushell, Athlone Drama Festival
Clare Greer, Bangor Drama Festival
Rachael Elliott, Cavan Drama Festival
Tom Hanley, Clare Drama Festival
Tina Ward, Glenamaddy Drama Festival
Aidan Reidy, Kerry Drama Festival.
Padraig O'Toole, Mountmellick Drama Festival
Sean Hurson, Mid Ulster Drama Festival
Gayna Beresford, Newtownabbey Drama Festival
Connie Broderick, Rathangan Drama Festival
Sean Corcoran, Rush Drama Festival
Brendan Doyle, South Wicklow Drama Festival
Peter Davey, Western Drama Festival
RT would like to thank Regina Bushell, Director of the RT All Ireland Drama Festival, and all involved, and Mairead Broderick, Secretary of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland, as well as all the festivals below, in addition to those above:
Castleblayney Drama Festival
Claregalway Drama Festival
Claremorris Drama Festival
Enniskillen Drama Festival
Kildare Drama Festival
Kilmuckridge Drama Festival
Kiltyclogher Drama Festival
Lislea Drama Festival
Newry Drama Festival
Newtownstewart Drama Festival
North Cork Drama Festival
Portadown Drama Festival
Roscommon Drama Festival
Shercock Drama Festival
South Leinster Drama Festival
Strabane Drama Festival
Tipperary Drama Festival
West Clare Drama Festival
West Cork Drama Festival
West Waterford Drama Festival
Wexford Drama Festival
About the Film:
Audio by Jamzie, Bounce Sound
Graphics and Editing by Aileen Crossley, RT
Produced and Created by Tracey Diamond, RT
Interval , written by Joseph Hoban
About the Festival:
With funding from the Arts Council, the first All-Ireland Drama Festival was held in Athlone in April 1953. In 1959 the festival moved from the Sportex Hall to its present location at the Dean Crowe Theatre. Following Esso, Ericsson became the main sponsor from 2000 to 2003. In 2004 RT stepped on board with the festival getting major prominence thanks to the facilities provided by the national broadcaster.
RT is instrumental in the staging of the Awards Ceremony which, since 2005, has been held at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Athlone. The Festival Fringe has grown over the years into a full scale programme consisting of workshops, historic tours, exhibitions, and entertainment events taking place during the day at various venues throughout Athlone. The Fringe has involvement from other local arts groups, schools, the local business community and the municipal authorities and in recent years has hosted the hugely successful Schools Playwright Competition focusing on the writing talents of TY students in the Midlands.
In 1959, following their All Ireland success with Sive, Listowel Drama Group were invited by the Abbey Theatre to perform the play on the stage of the Queen's Theatre, the Abbey's temporary home after the fire in 1951 - a first for an amateur drama group. By 1979, a custom was established in which the Festival winners were offered the Peacock stage for a week's run the following June. The practice continued for thirteen years until 1991, but was restored in 2011 with the inauguration of the Abbey Theatre Award, whereby one of the Festival finalists are chosen by the Abbey to stage their production at the Peacock.
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Actors from Ireland's amateur drama movement come together to mark the deferred
