Impressive Ballyshannon Drama Festival draws to a close
ON SUNDAY, March 17, Ballyshannon Drama Festival closed with Prosperous Dramatic Society’s production of Arthur Miller’s ‘A View from the Bridge’, and the awards ceremony.
After nine nights of competition from nine different drama groups, Enniskillen Theatre Company triumphed in the Confined section, winning Best Play; Ena Trimble was awarded Best Director; Michael Boyle gained Best Actor; and Clodagh Sweeney won the Phil Mcloone Award for Outstanding Achievement By a Young Person.
Ballyshannon dominated the evening with Shaun Byrne’s play, ‘Margaret’. Having won at The Enniskillen Drama Festival, they also won The Blue Riband in their home venue, Best Open Play, Best Director, Rachel O’connor winning Best Actress, Best Set, Best Lighting and the Audience Award.
Ballyshannon have qualified for the All-ireland Finals in Athlone, and Enniskillen are currently in third place in the Confined league table.
The full results are as follows.
First Place Open (Maureen Gallagher Award): ‘Margaret’, Ballyshannon Drama Society.
Second Place Open (C. J. King Award): ‘A View from the Bridge’, Prosperous.
Third Place Open (Jim Flynn Award): ‘Alone It Stands’, Balally Players.
Best Director Open (John Stephens Cup): Monica Doherty, ‘Margaret’, Ballyshannon Drama Society.
Best Actress Open (Eoin Carney Award): Rachel O’connor as Margaret, ‘Margaret’, Ballyshannon Drama Society.
Best Actor Open (H. J. Travers Award): Robert Massey, Prosperous.
First Place Confined (Commercial Hotel Cup): ‘The Lonesome West’, Enniskillen.
Second Place Confined (Catherine Breslin Award): ‘New Electric Ballroom’, Newtownstewart.
Third Place Confined: ‘No Going Back’, Castleblayney Players.
Best Director Confined (Hugh and Mary Daly Cup): ‘The Lonesome West’, Enniskillen.
Best Actress Confined (Kathleen Fagan Award): Brid Mcsorley, Newtonwstewart.
Best Actor Confined (Saimer Cup/paddy Mcloone Award): Michael Boyle, Enniskillen.
Phil Mc Loone Award for Outstanding Achievement by A Young
Person: Clodagh Sweeney, ‘Girleen’, ‘The Lonesome West’.
1. Superb Teamwork – Balally Players, ‘Alone It Stands’.
2. Costumes – Phoenix Players, ‘Animal Farm’.
3. Set and Props – The Ray Leonard Players, ‘Eclipsed’.
Lighting (Margaret Mcginley Award): ‘Margaret’, Ballyshannon.
Best Stage Management (Maureen Kane Award): ‘Eclipsed’, Ray Leonard Players.
Best Set (Mary Monaghan Award): ‘Margaret’, Ballyshannon Drama Society.
Billy Myles Audience Award: ‘Margaret’, Ballyshannon Drama Society.