Ballyduff prepare to host 40th annual West Waterford Drama Festival

It’s been 40 years a-growing. It was starved of oxygen by Foot and Mouth in 2001 and almost choked to death by Covid twenty years later. They were the only two years when the drama festival in Ballyduff did not happen.

Pandemics and theatrical events don’t sit easily together. But we’re back. And back to celebrate the 40th festival – no mean achievement. And a fair compliment to all the audiences, the drama groups, the sponsors and everybody else who come together annually at a community level in order to make this happen.

During those years, there have been around 400 individual plays that have charmed our lives, made us laugh with the farce of them, and made us weep with the hurt of them. Transported us from ancient Greece to boggy mountain tops in north Donegal, from bloody tyranny to joyous togetherness.

Oh sure, there have been great ones, great plays that we will never ever forget and great groups. Like Carrick-on-Suir in the early years and Enniscorthy later on and later again the lunatic rebelliousness of Silken Thomas. And Kilmeen, always and forever. And then the locals became mighty strong, not alone good but great. Capable of fighting for and winning All-Irelands – Ballyduff, Palace Players and Brideview. No longer bridesmaids. Mighty laughter, raucous song, huge potential for comedy and tragedy. And that was only the festival club!

So what’s in store for 2022? This year, it’s nine nights. And Irish plays dominate. But why shouldn’t they? Because there are no better masters (oops, or mistresses) of the pen than Irish playwrights. Except, perhaps, Sam Shepard and David Lindsay-Abaire, who wrote the two American plays on offer. The groups have a familiarity about them but why wouldn’t they? These are the groups that have graced the stages of Ireland for many years past, and ones that have striven through Covid to get going again. The ones who rehearse in barns, back kitchens and on Zoom. Because this is what they do. They prepare so that they can entertain. So that they can shift our emotions and transport our senses.

The Festival runs from March 4th to 12th with booking on (058) 60456 from 21st February. Please see next week in TheAvondhu for the full line-up of all the groups and plays. In the meantime, you can access the festival website at ballyduffdrama.com where you will find a synopsis of each individual play and more.

Which one would I definitely not miss out on? Ain’t saying. Because over the years, many of the great ones have been the surprise ones. The ones you could never have expected. The ones that came out of the blue. Like Harry Ruddle’s goal. Pure drama.