A feast of theatre as groups prepare for All Ireland performances

DRAMA GROUPS taking part in the upcoming Confined and Open All Ireland Drama Finals are taking to the stages of Wexford once again as a warm-up for their all important performances in Carnew and Athlone.

With five groups qualified, there will be a feast of drama on Wexford stages for audiences to enjoy.

With the Confined All Ireland taking place in Carnew from Friday, April 13 to Saturday, April 21, the two Wexford-based Confined groups are getting performances under their belts this week.

Ballycogley Players will stage Conor McPherson’s ‘The Night Alive’ in the Dun Mhuire Theatre on Thursday and Saturday of this week, at 8 p.m. Tickets are €10 and are available on the door.

The play stars Chris Maddock, Con Doyle, Sean Carthy, Trish Boyce and Colm Doyle, and is a raucous but poignant tale of how, even in the most unlikely of situations, humanity can be found. The group performs in Carnew on Tuesday, April 17.

In the same competiton, Coolgreaney Amateur Dramatic Society will return to Inch Hall on April 10, 11 and 12 with their production of Ariel Dorfman’s ‘Death and the Maiden’.

Starring Denise Moules, Eamonn O’Shiel and Richard Lister, the play is a tense thriller that ruminates on the difference between justice and revenge. The group performs in Carnew on April 16.

In the Open Section, Bridge Drama are first out of the traps, performing their play ‘Cash On Delivery’ by Michael Cooney at the National Opera House on April 20 and 21. A fast-paced farce, the play follows the fortunes of Eric, who has been cheating the social welfare system and is now trying to extricate himself from the web of deceit. The group will perform in Athlone on May 8.

Wexford Drama Group will stage three performances of David Auburn’s ‘Proof’ in the coming weeks. They will take to the stage of the Dun Mhuire on April 21, Gorey Little Theatre on April 24 and St Michael’s Theatre, New Ross on May 5. The play focuses on Catherine and her struggle with mathematical genius and mental illness. They will perform in Athlone on May 9.

Kilmuckridge Drama Group will perform Conor McPherson’s ‘The Seafarer’ in the KMH in Kilmuckridge on April 27, 29 and May 1. The play centres around a card game between a group of drinkers where the stakes are higher than most of them know. They will perform in Athlone on May 4.