Well deserved! Awards handed out after a great one-act festival

A SERIES OF magnificent one-act plays were staged at Mermaid Arts Centre last week for the Bray One Act Drama Festival.

The festival is renowned on the circuit as the friendly festival and this is one of the reasons why it is so sought after and well supported by the groups and the audiences who come to see the plays year in year out.

This year the festival committee had a new director, William Mansefield, who was delighted with the way the week went.

‘ There was a great buzz on each night and the groups were so supportive of each other,’ he said.

‘ The audiences are willing the groups to do well and it all adds up to a wonderful, supportive, creative atmosphere, which was there from the start 41 years ago and continues to this day.’

Announcing his winners of the week, adjudicator Terry Byrne complimented the festival on their commitment to youth theatre and expressed how impressed he was that the open- ing evening was dedicated to the younger groups.

St Patrick’s Dramatic Society, Dalkey, were Best Group, and runners-up were Bray Arts Drama Group.

Best Comedy went to St Patrick’s Dramatic Society, and their Syemour Cresswell was Best Director.

Oran O’Rua of Balally Players was Best Actor, and Fiona Keane of Bray Arts Drama Group was best Actress.

Shay Brennaan of St Patrick’s Drama Society, Dalkey, took Best Supporting Actor, and Miriam Reilly of Dalkey Players Best Supporting Actor.

Olivia Matthews of Kilrush Drama Group was announced as Most Prommicing Young Actor.

The Lighting and Design Award went to Caroline Hill of Square One Theatre Group.

The Adjudicator’s Award went to Ashford ICA.

Kilmac Drama were Best Youth Group. Ciaran Gilpin of East Glendalough School won Best Youth Actor. Caoimhe Flynn of Kilmac Drama won Best Youth Actress.

Merit awards were presented to Sally Shanley: (Bray School of Speech and Drama), Hannah Stephens: (Kilmac Drama), Ciara Fitzgibbon: (Mel Ryan Adult Drama Group), Hannah Blair White: (St Patrick’s Dramatic Society, Dalkey), Jean Kelly: (Delgany ICA), Helen Taylor: (Delgany Dramatic Society)

The Fred Lee Special Award for Services to Drama was presented to Peter Harrison.

The director expressed his thanks to the committee who worked so hard, the wonderful staff at the Mermaid Theatre, to the Audiences for their support during the week and of course

Adjudicator Terry Byrne and festival director William Mansefield presenting the Adjudicator’s Award to Hilda Roche from Ashford ICA.

Merit award recipient Hannah Stephens from Kilmac Drama with the festival director.

Best Youth Actor Ciaran Gilpin from East Glendalough School with festival director William Mansefield.

Caroline Hill receiving the Lighting and Design Award.

Jean Kelly from Delgany ICA Drama Group, who received a merit award from festival director William Mansefield.

Best Actor Oran O’Rua of Balally Players with the festival director.