DRAMA QUEENS
AT THE Presentation Art Centre on Thursday August 18, Enniscorthy Drama, now in its third year, announced that it would be choosing a local charity to benefit from all of its furture productions.
‘We are not about making money,’ Chairman of EDG Liam Doyle told those gathered for the launch of the group’s next play A Whistle in the Dark.
‘We are delighted to date with our success and with the massive support we have received from the Enniscorthy community and beyond and we have decided to put something back. So we decided to bring local charities on board for each of our Productions going forward’.
‘The people of Enniscorthy have been more than supportive of us and more than supportive of amateur drama so with each new play we will choose a charity to benefit from our success and your support,’ he told the Presentation audience.
Mary Kneafsey of Ichthyosis Ireland said that they were delighted to be the first charity chosen, not just because they would benefit financially from the venture, but because it would raise the awareness of this little known condition. Ichthyosis is a genetic skin disorder characterized by dry scaling skin all over the body similar to the scales on a fish – hence the name which is an ancient Greek word for fish.
There is no cure for the condition and there are many varying forms and degrees of it. Mary paid tribute to the local group for all their hard work getting the word out there and had a particular mention for local sufferer Conor Kenny and his family who are doing trojan work in County Wexford. There are approximately 20 cases of Ichthyosis in Ireland and six of them happen to be from Wexford.
Mary was profuse in her thanks to EDG and wished them well with their forthcoming production, A Whistle in the Dark.
‘A challenging play from a powerful playwright,’ was how actor, director and long-time champion of amateur drama Andy Doyle described the work of Tom Murphy as he launched A Whistle in the Dark at the Presentation.
‘A gripping piece of drama that is as relevant now as it was when it was written in the late 1950s and full credit is due to EDG for taking it on.’
Andy went on to say: ‘Violent, compelling and emotive – it is wonderful and exciting to see a relatively young and new group like Enniscorthy Drama push the boat out on this one and they deserve to be applauded and supported for their brave decision.’
He complimented the group for the work they have been doing for drama in the town staging 12 productions since coming into existence three short years ago with A Whistle in the Dark their fourth play this year to date. He paid tribute to their commitment and talent and wished them every success with this play and future productions.
A Whistle in the Dark can be seen at the National Opera House in Wexford on Saturday August 27, at the Presentation Art Centre for four nights from September 1-4 and in Gorey Little Theatre on September 9.