Three plays never-before performed will feature in the finals of the 2024 RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival, including a new Irish play, ‘Margaret’. The festival is also set to feature performances by two first-time qualifiers. The RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival, which is held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland, will run from Thursday May 2nd to Friday May 10th.
The draw for the nights on which the plays will be presented took place last Sunday, April 14th. Speaking at the draw Regina Bushell, Festival Director, said: “The RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival has celebrated a number of significant anniversaries in recent years and this year is particularly special as it marks the 20th year of RTÉ as title sponsor.” To mark the occasion, the festival will this year present a special one-off Bride Rosney Memorial Award, recognising a best newcomer from across all skill sets involved.
The 2024 finalists are:
– Bridge Drama will perform ‘The Wake’ by Tom Murphy on Thursday May 2nd, 2024.
– Wexford Drama Group will perform ‘How I Learned to Drive” by Paula Vogel on Friday May 3rd
– Ballyduff Drama Group, directed by Ger Canning, will present ‘The Ferryman’ by Jez Butterworth on May 4th.
– Prosperous Dramatic Society will perform ‘A View from the Bridge’ by Arthur Miller on Sunday May 5th.
– First-time qualifiers Clontarf Players will premiere ‘Radium Girls’ by D.W. Gregory on May 6th.
– Dalkey Players will present ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller on Tuesday 7th May
– Newpoint Players present ‘In the Shadow of the Glen: Reimagined’ (after JM Synge) on May 8th.
– First-time qualifiers Ballycogley Players, directed by Pat Whelan, will perform ‘Out of Order’ by Ray Cooney on Thursday May 9th.
– Ballyshannon Drama Society will premiere ‘Margaret’, a new Irish play by Shaun Byrne, on Friday May 10th.
Tickets go on sale online from 10 am on April 18th on the Dean Crowe website at http://www.deancrowetheatre.com/ and from midday at the theatre box office, phone (090) 6492129. Admission €22. Concessions (€20) are available.