Happy Days all round for Cavan Drama Festival
It was a happy night for a Newry drama group as their production of Beckett’s Happy Days scooped the overall prize in this year’s Cavan Drama Festival.
With the Cavan Drama Festival celebrating a landmark year - the second longest running in the country - Saturday’s finale was a fitting climax.
Newpoint Players lifted the prestigious Dr Lyons Cup as the best play in the Open section. Adjudicator Darragh Smith was blown away by their interpretation of the classic.
Lislea Dramatic Players, made it a noteable Newry double as they won the Confined section for their production of Philip King’s farce ‘See How They Run’.
“We had a wonderful week of drama where the calibre of acting was simply outstanding,” Darragh told the Celt.
“Two images have stayed with me; The Black Wing (Anna Kilcoyne) in Dalkey Players Production of By The Bog of Cats and the embedded Winnie, played by Treassa Davey who simply enthralled us in Newpoint Players’ Happy Days.”
OPEN SECTION
Dr. Lyons Cup: Newpoint Players Newry.
Best Actor: JC Bonar, Butt Drama Group.
Best Actress: Teresa Davey, Dalkey Players.
Best Producer/Director: Sean Treanor, Newpoint Players.
CONFINED SECTION:
A.O.H Cup: Lislea Dramatic Players, Newry.
Best Actor: Eugene McLoughlin, Wayside Players
Best Actress: Deirdre Coulter, Lislea Dramatic Group
Best Producer/Director: Kathleen Byrne, Wayside Players
Most promising Young Performer: Hannah Clabby, Dalkey Players.
Adjudicator’s award: Ellen Hannaway, Lislea Dramatic Group.
Stagecraft: Butt Players.
Best Set: Wayside Players.
Stage Presentation: Dalkey Players.
It wasn’t just the Newry groups who were in celebratory mood, as the organising committee finally got to celebrate the festival’s diamond anniversary.
Despite the unseasonal snowfall, they hosted a wine reception for patrons on Thursday night.
“The eight fabulous nights of drama performed in the Townhall Cavan were a fitting tribute to the vision and hard work of the present and former committees of the Cavan Drama Festival that has now celebrated over 75 years in existence,” said festival chairperson Rachael Cullivan.
“A lovely addition to the seven nights of plays competing on the All Ireland Open and Confined circuits was a night showcasing local writing and acting by the Moogles and Rampart Players that was hugely enjoyed by the audience.”
Rachael was also eager to note the festival programme included a drama focussed on the Cavan orphanage fire which claimed so many young lives in February 1943.
“It was both poignant and fitting that in the year of the 80th anniversary of the tragic Poor Clare Convent Fire that the beautifully acted performance of ‘Stolen Child’ by Corofin Dramatic Society was based on that dark chapter in our history.”