AMATEUR DRAMA TAKES CENTRE STAGE AS THE 2026 RTÉ ALL IRELAND DRAMA FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN THE ABBEY THEATRE

The festival programme promises a feast of drama, a bumper packed fringe festival and gala awards to be livestreamed www.rte.ie

The 2026 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival, held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI), will take place from 30th April to 8th May in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone.

The nine finalist drama groups include a record four from Co. Wexford. The plays to be performed by the finalists are wide-ranging and comprise several amateur premieres ‘Ballyturk’ by Enda Walsh, ‘Wit’ by Margaret Edson and ‘Things I Know to Be True’ by Andrew Bovell. They also include classics such as Sive by John B. Keane and two productions of Hugh Leonard’s ‘Da’, 2026 is Hugh Leonard’s centenary year.

For a second year, the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards will stream live on www.rte.ie/culture at 9pm on Saturday 9th May. With awards for achievements both on and off stage, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Stage Design, the stakes are high to see who will win the coveted Perpetual Trophy and The Abbey Theatre Award.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival in the Abbey Theatre, RTÉ Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst said: ‘As RTÉ marks 100 years of public service media in Ireland this year, RTÉ is proud to continue its support of the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival which, as the national festival for amateur drama, is a wonderful celebration of creativity and community across Ireland. The passion which the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival inspires among so many local drama groups who so proudly represent their communities as they compete for one of nine prestigious places in the final in Athlone is one of the reasons we are delighted to be part of this wonderful occasion.

Congratulations to the nine drama groups who will take to the stage as finalists in this year’s festival. To come through regional heats that span the length and breadth of the country and make it this far is a great achievement, particularly with the high standards we have come to expect from talented amateur drama groups across Ireland.

The All Ireland Drama Festival proudly enables creativity to thrive in local communities across the country and RTÉ is honoured to continue working with the festival, to nurture acting talent, champion the power of drama, and bring this important event to audiences, not just through our live stream which enables audiences everywhere to join this wonderful occasion, but also through RTÉ lyric fm, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ.ie, and our social channels.’

At the launch today in the Abbey Theatre, Festival Director, Michael McGlone, opened the proceedings remarking that: ‘Amateur Drama has a home in every community, village and town right across this country. We cannot underestimate the power of belonging to a drama group. It does not matter what age you are or your skills, there is always a place for you on or off the stage’.

He went on to acknowledging the importance of the continued support of both the national broadcaster and the national theatre, and thanked Kevin Bakhurst, Director General RTÉ, and the Abbey co-directors Mark O’ Brien and Catriona Mc Loughlin and John Keane, Chairperson of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland.

He concluded: “I was very impressed at the festivals I attended this year with the calibre of productions on-stage, and the dedication and commitment of everyone involved as they strove to reach the finals in Athlone.

Now, it is their time to shine on the famous stage of the Dean Crowe Theatre – these are the multi-award winners, the true masters of their craft. But the real spectacle has yet to come.

The RTÉ All Ireland drama festival, the ultimate test, where the cream of the crop will take to the stage and battle it out before the discerning eyes of our esteemed adjudicator, Padraic McIntyre’.

Co-Directors of the Abbey Theatre, Artistic Director Caitríona McLauglin and Executive Director Mark O’Brien said: ‘The vibrancy and vitality of amateur drama across Ireland speaks directly to the importance of storytelling in Irish culture. Amateur drama is thriving in and of itself, while maintaining a symbiotic relationship with the wider theatre ecosystem. Its roots and ethos of collaboration is enviable. It is energised from the ground-up, built on a shared devotion to the artform and underpinned by a belief in the power of community: the rallying together of amateur drama groups, the healthy rivalry, the celebration of success and the shared sense of achievement are the values we need to see now in society more than ever. The Abbey Theatre salutes and thanks everyone who dedicates themselves to our art form and participates in amateur drama across the country. We are thrilled to play a part in the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival, and we are delighted to sponsor the Abbey Theatre Award and invite one lucky company to perform on our Peacock Stage.’

Finalists

The nine finalists are:

• Balally Players with Heaven by Eugene O`Brien
• Wexford Drama Group with Someone who`ll watch over me by Frank McGuinness
• Kilmeen Drama Group with Ballyturk by Enda Walsh
• Bunclody Kilmyshall Drama Group with Da by Hugh Leonard
• Ballycogley Payers with All my sons by Arthur Miller
• Dalkey Players with Sive by John B Keane
• Brideview Drama Group with Da by Hugh Leonard
• Bridge Drama Group with Things I know to be true by Andrew Bovell
• Corofin Dramatic Society with Wit by Margaret Edson

While some performances have sold out tickets can be booked through the Dean Crowe website at http://www.deancrowetheatre.com/ or at the theatre box office, phone (090) 6492129. Admission €25 (includes a €2 Booking Fee). Stream the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Gala Awards live on www.rte.ie/cultureat 9pm on Saturday May 9th.

ENDS

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Bigger and better fringe festival

This year’s Athlone Festival has a bumper programme of fringe events with something for everyone including the Athlone Film Festival which continues to grow from strength to strength, the Schools Playwright Awards, and a parade. We have added several new additions to the 2026 programme including ‘Après Play’ meet ups, pop up bite sized drama in pubs events, set dancing, a country music special and the return of the Sheraton Miscellany. More details will be available on our website and social media closer to the time.

Adjudicator

This year’s adjudicator, Padraic McIntyre, is a native of Bailieboro, Co. Cavan and trained as an actor at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. He has an MA in Theatre Studies from DCU. Padraic is currently Venues Manager at Armor Arts Centre. Previously he was the Artistic Director of the Livin’ Dred Theatre Company. He has written numerous plays including ‘The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down’ which has sold out venues around the country.