Pictured at the launch of this year’s Enniskillen Drama Festival are representatives of the sponsors and the officers and committee members of the festival. They are from left, back row, Dermott Lunney, Rodney Watson, Eamonn Bradley, Avril Noble, Gareth McKeown, Peter McBride and Martin Quinn, Treasurer. Front, Patricia McCauley, Jimmy Brynes, Michael Hynes, Brian Farry Festival Director, Kathleen Maguire and Ewan Richmond gkfh50
THE Annual Enniskillen Drama Festival, now in its 33rd year, once again promises to provide local audiences with nine nights of top class performances from an eclectic selection of plays at the Ardhowen Theatre in the first week of March.
Supported once again by Fermanagh District Council and a number of local businesses the festival continues to flourish and develop as one of the foremost amateur drama festivals on the circuit.
Through its affiliation to the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland and the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals it nominates to the finals which are held later in the spring in Athlone, Rossmore in Cork and Newtownabbey respectively.
Each year the festival organisers seek to make a varied range of dramatic productions accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
Festival director, Brian Farry, and his committee believe that this year’s festival programme which consists of nine visiting teams competing for the awards promises to provide not only entertainment but also plenty of argument and debate for local theatre supporters.
“Of the nine plays on view there is a good blend of drama and comedy. Four of the plays will not have been seen on the Ardhowen stage before and we have managed to find a balance between Irish, English and American plays. In addition once again we have attracted some of the most experienced groups in the country with success at All-Ireland finals behind them”
He also expressed the hope that the increase in audiences last year will be repeated this year. “I once heard that the presence and active response of an audience provides the oxygen for live theatre. Our festival audiences are highly respected by all the visiting teams for the support they communicate to the actors on stage. And of course the marvellous Ardhowen helps enormously.”
Each evening after each production there will be the adjudication where a critical appraisal of the play as well as advice and encouragement are given to the teams.
The adjudicator this year is Mike Kaiser, a member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators, who will be experiencing Fermanagh hospitality for the first time but as is the norm with drama festivals will find a few who will not be slow to let him know their opinions on the performances.