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from The Scene, April 27th, 2007
Sligo Drama takes to the Hawk's Well stage this Spring, turning the spotlight on Seán O' Casey's much loved "The Plough and the Stars". Directed by Ursula Smullen, the cast includes Averyl Dooher, Barry Deignan, Gerry Ryan, Siobhán Dooney, Máire Hynes, Ultan Burke, Muireann Tóibin, Róisin Kilcoyne, Vinnie Holland, Kevin Boyle and welcomes young actors Dermot Ryan and Elaine Burke to the stage in their first Drama Circle show.
The Plough and the Stars is named after the banner of the Irish Citizen Army, of which Seán O' Casey was a member for a while. The story is set in the Dublin tenements in the year 1916. It centres on a young married couple called Jack and Nora Clitheroe. Jack is a member of the Irish Citizen Army. Nora is ambitious to move out of the tenements and to prevent her husband from involving himself further in politics. The action of the play concerns the events of Easter Week and their repercussions on Dublin
tenement dwellers, who represent a cross section of political and religious opinion. "The Plough and the Stars", with its unsympathetic treatment of the participants in the Easter Rebellion, touched off a riot in the theatre when first performed in 1926, and after this event O' Casey left Ireland for England, never to return. The play was made into a film in 1936, directed by the legendary John Ford. It starred Barbara Stanwyck as Nora Clitheroe
and Preston Foster as Jack, with Barry Fitzgerald as Fluther Good. See "The Plough and the Stars" at the Hawk's Well Theatre from Thursday 26th - Saturday 28th April, nightly at 8pm. Tickets €15/€13 are now on sale at the box office or by telephoning 071-9161526 / 071 9161518.
from The Sligo Champion, April 25th, 2007
Emotionally draining but ultimately extremely satisfying. These were the words used by Pat Sweeney to describe her experience of playing Nora Clitheroe in the Sligo Drama Circle’s production of “The Plough and the Stars” in 1969. Now thirty eight years later, Averl Dooher is taking on the role of the ambitions wife who tries to better the lives of herself and her husband Jack, against a background of devastating poverty during 1916 Rising. In the end, her loyalty and love for her husband costs her the
life of their child and her sanity.
“As a young actress, Nora is a great role to play and I thoroughly relished being given the opportunity to bring her to life,” said Pat. She explained that The Assembly Room in the Town Hall was the setting for the 1969 production, staged as part of the entertainment for the Yeats’ International Summer School. However, in the 60s, the Circle didn’t have a set and it was only through the generosity of the Carrick-on-Shannon Drama Group that the production was able to go ahead. Directed by one of Sligo’s
best loved and well-known directors, Walter Mc Donagh, the cast included well-known local personalities Liam Mc Kinney, Ruth Crampton, Ben Healy, Cormac Sheridan, Eily Kilgallon and Maria Mc Dermottroe.
Thirty eight years on, Sligo Drama Circle’s latest Nora, Averyl Dooher said she’s interested to see what Pat will think of her portrayal of the character, which will be performed on stage at the Hawk’s Well Theatre from today, Wednesday until Saturday night. She also wondered how both Pat and other audience members will react to Jack’s quite brutal treatment of his wife, which is portrayed in this production.
“The pitiful character at the end of the play, wandering aimlessly around Bessie’s home, is a far cry from the glamorous Nora we hear about through other characters and meet in Act One,” said Averyl. “I really hope my interpretation of Nora captures this for the audience.”
She added: “Nora is vibrant and sassy at the beginning of the play, and like me, she’s quite bossy, so it’s really not hard for me to play the part, but it’s the scenes in the second part of the play where Nora must cope with losing her baby, her husband and her mind that I am most enjoying and that I find most challenging. “I’m really looking forward to audiences meeting the character again and hope they empathise with her pain and suffering.” The Drama Circle welcomes back Ursula Smullen to direct the
show, which also stars Gerry Ryan (Fluther), Siobhán Dooney (Bessie), Máire Hynes (Mrs Gogan), Dermot Ryan (Covey) Ultan Burke (Uncle Pether), Barry Duignan (Jack Clitheroe) Muireann Tóbín (Rosie Redmond), Jerry Norman (Barman) Róisín Kilcoyne (Woman), Vinnie Holland (Lieut. Langon), Kevin Boyle (Capt Brennan), Elaine Burke (Mollser), Michael Leyden (Voice), Adrian O’ Neill and Chewey Mc Morrow (Soldiers). The show runs nightly at 8pm and tickets can be booked from the box office on 071 9161526. More information is available at
www.sligodramacircle.ie.
from The Sligo Champion, April 18th, 2007
Sligo Drama Circle take to the Hawk’s Well stage this Spring, turning the spotlight on Sean O Casey’s “The Plough and the Stars”. Directed by Ursula Smullen, the cast includes Averyl Dooher, Barry Deignan, Gerry Ryan, Siobhán Dooney, Máire Hynes, Ultan Burke, Murieann Tobin, Róisín Kilcoyne, Vinnie Holland, Kevin Boyle and welcomes young actors, Dermot Ryan and Elaine Burke to the stage in their first Drama Circle show. Opening night next Tuesday, April 24, is also fittingly the 91st anniversary of the
Easter 1916 Rising, with the play set in the Dublin tenements during this period.
The action centres on a young married couple, Jack and Nora Clitheroe and while Jack’s mind is preoccupied with thoughts of the Citizen Army, of which is a member; his young wife Nora’s ambitions revolve more around how she can better their lives and prevent Jack from involving himself further in politics. But despite Nora’s best efforts to fashion a comfortable life for herself and her husband, against a backdrop of grinding poverty, her world falls in when she fails to stop him joining the rebel forces
ranged against the British army on Easter Monday.
First performed in 1926, its unsympathetic treatment of the participants in the Easter Rebellion, started a riot in the theatre and after this event O’Casey left Ireland for England, never to return. The play runs for five nights from Tuesday, April 24 to Saturday, April 28 with the opening night a fundraising gala organised by the Rotary Club in association with the Inner Wheel Club of Sligo. All proceeds of this evening, which will include a wine reception from 7pm, will go to secure much needed
specialised equipment for St Cecilia’s Special School, Cregg House, a school for children with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties. Tickets for each night are priced at €15/ €13 and are now on sale at the box office or by telephoning 071 91 61526/ 91 61518.
from The Sligo Champion, April 11th, 2007
Sligo Drama Circle continues its 50th birthday celebrations when it returns to the Hawk’s Well stage with a revival of a Seán O’ Casey classic. Having previously been performed by the Circle in 1969 and 1992, “The Plough and the Stars” will be staged from Tuesday, April 24 to Saturday, April 28 at 8pm.
Set during 1916, the action of the play concerns the events of Easter Week and their repercussions on Dublin tenement dwellers, who represent a cross section of political and religious opinion. The first performances of the play in 1926 caused riots in Dublin, where audiences objected to what seemed to be O’ Casey’s less than sympathetic portrayal of the heroes of the Easter Rebellion. Directed by Ursula Smullen, “The Plough and the Stars” will open with a Fundraising Gala Night organised by the Rotary
Club in association with the Inner Wheel Club of Sligo. All proceeds of this evening will go to secure specialised equipment for St Cecilia’s Special School, Cregg House, a school for children with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties.
Tickets for the the opening night cost €15 and this includes a wine and soft drinks reception on arrival at 7pm. Booking for the entire run of the show can be made at the Box Office on 071 9161526/ 071 9161518 and further information is available at www.sligodramacircle.ie.
from The Sligo Weekender, October 3rd, 2006
October 1956. October 2006. Sligo Drama Circle is marking its achievements between this first and second date by fittingly offering people a chance to look back at the last 50 years. From humble beginnings, Sligo Drama Circle began when a group got together on a cold October night 50 years ago with the purpose of bringing more variety of drama to Sligo. To be a theatre-lover in Sligo in the ’50s and ’60s must have been a real treat as this was the start of an exciting time, offering budding actors the chance to get onto
the big stage. In those days, actors got the chance to display their talents in the Sligo Town Hall. Nowadays, productions are performed in the Hawk’s Well Theatre. There was no television in the days when the Sligo Drama Circle was formed and only limited cinema showings, so its existence was very important in the lives of many Sligo people.
Sligo Drama Circle and its forerunner Sligo Unknown Players were at the forefront in bringing to Sligo audiences the best of Irish and international theatre and being the focal entertainment outlet. Proof of this is on display in the foyer of the Hawk’s Well Theatre. An exhibition of old posters, programmes and tickets are currently on display. In the early days, it cost only 60p to get in to see a show. The first play was produced in March 1957 and since then, the group has produced the works of major Irish, European and American playwrights. Its
first production of Gerard Healy’s play Thy Dear Father in 1957 was critically acclaimed and came second in an all-Ireland drama competition. Since then, the group has won awards all over Ireland including the Ulster Drama Cup in May 1967 at the Opera House in Belfast with JM Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World and the All-Ireland Esso Trophy in April 1970 with Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire.
Sligo Drama Circle has had a long association with the Sligo Yeats Society, performing the plays of WB Yeats and other writers of the Irish Literary Renaissance at the summer school from 1966 to the early 1990s. In 1970 the group launched a “Theatre For Sligo” project which sought to provide a properly-equipped and professionally-run theatre for both players and audiences in Sligo. In February 1974, the then Bishop Dominic Conway announced his intention to present a site on Temple Street to the drama circle for the purpose of building a new
theatre. This was a huge step forward for the drama circle. This visionary project eventually became reality in January 1982 with the opening of the Hawk’s Well Theatre, on a site shared with Donegal/ Sligo/Leitrim Tourism. The theatre was named after the play by WB Yeats, which has been produced many times by the group. The programme of March 1982 read: “We hope that the Sligo Drama Circle and the Hawk’s Well Theatre will have a long and happy association and that the words of Yeats about his own Hawk’s Well be prophetically true - ‘He who drinks,
they say, of that miraculous water lives forever’.”
The Sligo Drama Circle now renews that association with the Hawk’s Well Theatre as it re-launches its fascinating exhibition of memorabilia in the foyer. It details some of the history of the Circle and includes old photos, posters, tickets and programmes from the past 50 years. The exhibition will be of great interest to the public, especially those who remember the performances in Sligo’s Town Hall. The exhibition is open to the public and is free-of-charge. It is open during box office hours and immediately before and after evening shows. Sligo
Drama Circle is currently rehearsing for its next production, Neil Simon’s comedy The Sunshine Boys. It will run next month.
from The Sligo Champion, July 5th, 2006, by Maria
Tracey
After treading the boards on a variety of
Sligo stages throughout its 50 year history, Sligo Drama Circle
appears to have taken the audience's "encore" directly to heart.
First set up in 1956, the Drama Circle commenced its reign on
the Sligo theatre scene with Walter Mc Donagh's directed play,
"Thy Dear Father". However, having been set up in 1950's
Ireland, a lot has changed for the SDC over the past years, as
it made its way into the 21st century. Chairperson of SDC,
Ann-Marie Byrne, said that while today's group put on a play
once a year, it was not unheard of back 50 years ago to have a
different play every night.
"In the summer it was all different and they
used to put on a different play nightly; I suppose it shows how
we just don't have the time for things like that anymore", she
said. Other changes include the introduction of a Youth Theatre
Group within the Circle, allowing young people the opportunity
to develop and nurture their acting skills. At the moment there
are almost thirty young people attending the group and according
to Ms. Byrne, there is an "ever growing demand". Also
in past years, young people within the Circle were given the
opportunity to delve into the world of directing. "Our rehearsal
space in Market Yard is the perfect venue to encourage young
people to get involved in directing", she said. "It is a
non-threatening environment and they don't appear to have that
fear of failure about them".
Ms. Byrne explained
that all these youth oriented projects were created to "fit into
the 21st century". However, she added that these ventures would
not have been possible without the "commitment and dedication"
shown by SDC's original members. And according to Ms. Byrne, the
Gala Night, which took place to commemorate the anniversary
provided an opportunity to "pay tribute to the people who had
worked so hard in the Circle over the past 50 years". The night
embraced both the old and the new elements of the SDC, and
fittingly took place at the Hawk's Well Theatre. "The
establishment of the Hawk's Well is largely due to the hard work
of all these people", said Ms. Byrne. Programmes, posters and
memorabilia from shows over the years were on display in the
foyer on the night.
And while the SDC
celebrations have now faded into the backdrop, "The Sligo
Champion" relives the Circle's 50 years one last time, through
its own collection of photographs and programmes.
from The Sligo Champion, June 21st, 2006
With half a century
now under their costume belts, Sligo Drama Circle took a well
deserved bow last night as celebrations for their 50th
anniversary kicked off. In honour of the celebrations, Shelagh
Stephenson's play “The Memory of Water” commenced at the Hawk’s
Well Theatre last night. "The Memory of Water" is a witty and
moving exploration of how being in a family leaves its marks on
us. Three bereaved daughters gather at their mother’s home
on the day before her funeral and her death is the catalyst for
“what normal people do in abnormal times,” and their outpouring
of grief, bickering, contradictory memories of childhood, and
resentment are part of their journey towards acceptance and
forgiveness.
As the bleakness of
the winter outside begins to make it’s presence felt on the
three sisters at the centre of this piece, we begin to
understand that, like nearly all familial relationships, these
women have little in common besides a shared blood line.
And on top of that they have secrets they have never shared with
each other. Each sister, at various times share a number of
memories from their common childhood, some happy and some not so
happy, but each quickly discovers that the others do not share
the memory at all, or else remember events in a totally
different light. And according to the play's director, Sligo
Drama Circle’s Ursula Smullen, the production will bring a smile
to everyone's face.
“There is nothing
like a funeral to bring a family together or tear them apart,"
she said. "The Memory of Water is a slightly irreverent but
hilarious piece of theatre focussing on three sisters as they
prepare to bury their mother Vi and this production promises to
make you laugh until you cry.” The play will run at 8.00pm until
Saturday, with tonight's performance hoping to raise €2000
towards computer equipment at St Edward’s National School.
And on Friday, the group will hold their 50th Anniversary Gala
Night, which will be followed afterwards by a wine reception.
It will be a night
of reminiscing as the Drama Circle look back on their first
production, “Thy Dear Father” by Gerard Healy which ran from
November 18 to 20 1956 in Sligo Town Hall, with tickets priced
at three shillings and six pence. There will also be an
exhibition in the foyer celebrating 50 years of The Drama
Circle, with programmes, posters and memorabilia from shows over
the years. Tickets for the play at priced at €12/€15 while the
Gala night is priced at €20.
from The Sligo Weekender, June 20th, 2006, by Conor
Quinn
Siobhán Dooney will be remembering her dear
father Paddy as she takes part in the Sligo Drama Circle’s 50th
anniversary celebrations, which begin in the Hawk’s Well today,
Tuesday. Paddy Dooney was a founder member of the Circle, and
acted in its first production, Thy Dear Father, which ran at
Sligo Town Hall from November 18-20, 1956. Fittingly, Siobhan
will play the part of Vi in the production of The Memory of
Water by Shelagh Stephenson, which kicks off the celebrations
today.
Dooney was one of an extremely talented group of actors who were
members of the Circle in the early years. “It was a golden age,”
Siobhan explains, and lists some of her father’s peers,
including such famous names as Eddie McDermottroe, Walter
McDonagh and Eddie Fitzpatrick. Such was their success that she
has a bracelet made from medals won by her father on the
circuit. She remembers that he was sought out by Garry Hynes to
play Michael James in an early-1980s production of The Playboy
of the Western World that enjoyed great success in London and
New York, before going on to do radio theatre with the BBC. With
such a prominent father, and a mother also a member of the
Circle, it is hardly surprising that Siobhan has been involved
in drama most of her life.
“I was entered into the Drama Circle books the day I was born,”
she laughs. Now a lecturer in IT Sligo, she has taken part in
Drama Circle plays since her late teens, and has also been
involved in drama and film throughout the country - Alan
Stanford workshops in Trinity College where she studied, the
Focus Theatre on Pembroke Street also in Dublin, and the
award-wining Cathal Black film Korea, as well as outings with
local production companies Everyman and the Blue Raincoat. There
will be other strong connections with the founding generation as
the Circle celebrates its half-century. Members of the cast from
th earliest performances are expected to attend the gala night
on Friday, June 23, where there will also be an exhibition of 50
years of Drama Circle memorabilia and a wine reception.
The Memory of Water, directed by Ursula Smullen, and also
starring Ann Marie Byrne, Muireann Toibin, Averyl Dooher and
Liam Cunningham, will run in the Hawk’s Well from June 20-24,
and proceeds from Thursday’s performance will go towards St
Edward’s National School.
from The Sligo Weekender, June 14th, 2006
Sligo Drama Circle is planning a celebratory
year for 2006. And with good reason. It is celebrating the 50th
anniversary of its formation and it is kicking off its
celebratory year with a play titled "The Memory of Water". This
production is the first in a series of events that will mark the
year, which has cultivated a huge interest in acting since its
formation. The Drama Circle’s first production was "Thy Dear
Father" by Gerard Healy and ran from November 18 to 20 in 1956
in the then Sligo town hall. Tickets at that time cost three
shillings and six pence. In stark contrast to the early days,
this year’s production "The Memory of Water" by Shelagh
Stephenson is running for six nights at the Hawk’s Well Theatre
from June 20 to 25 and tickets cost E12 and E15 with tickets
costing E20 for the gala night on Friday night June 23.
The play is a dark comedy but is a witty and moving exploration
of how being in a family leaves its marks on us. Three bereaved
daughters gather at their mother’s home on the day before her
funeral. Her death is the catalyst for what people call a time
when normal people do abnormal things and their outpouring of
grief, bickering, contradictory memories of childhood, and
resentment are part of their journey towards acceptance and
forgiveness. As the bleakness of the winter outside begins to
make its presence felt on the three sisters at the centre of
this piece, we begin to understand that, like nearly all
familial relationships, these women have little in common
besides a shared blood line. On top of that they have secrets
they have never shared with each other. What is interesting
about this piece is that it explores the question of shared
memory from a highly personal perspective. Each sister, at
various times for example, shares a number of memories from
their common childhood, some happy and some not so happy, but
each quickly discovers that the others do not share the memory
at all, or else remember events in a totally different light.
The Memory of Water was first presented in London in 1998, where
it received unqualified rave reviews and moved from its off-West
End theatre to the West End for an extended run. The London
Sunday Times reported at the time: "Shelagh Stephenson's writing
is barbed, lyrical, witty and full of a rare emotional
intelligence. Sligo Drama Circle’s production is directed by
Ursula Smullen. There is a 50th Anniversary Gala night on Friday
23 June. Tickets on that night are E20 with a wine reception
after the show. There will also be an exhibition in the foyer
celebrating 50 years of The Sligo Drama Circle, with programmes,
posters and memorabilia from shows over the years. Thursday
evening’s performance is a charity evening in aid of St Edward’s
National School in Sligo. The proceeds of the night will go
towards raising E2,000 for computer equipment at the school.
from The Scene, June, 2006
The Sligo Drama Circle celebrates 50
years of drama productions by presenting "The Memory of
Water" by Shelagh Stephenson at The Hawk's Well Theatre,
Sligo from 20th to 25th June at 8pm. The Friday 23rd
June performance is the 50th Anniversary Gala Night.
Tickets on that night are €20 with a wine reception
after the show. Ticket prices for the shows on the other
nights are €12 and €15. This production marks the start
of 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Sligo Drama Circle.
The Drama Circle's first production was "Thy Dear
Father" by Gerard Healy and ran from 18th - 20th
November 1956 in Sligo Town Hall. Tickets cost all of
three shillings and six pence!
This dark comedy is a witty and
moving exploration of how being in a family leaves its
mark on us. Three bereaved daughters gather at their
mother's home on the day before her funeral. Her death
is the catalyst for "what normal people do in abnormal
times," and their outpouring of grief, bickering,
contradictory memories of childhood, and resentment are
part of their journey towards acceptance and
forgiveness. As the bleakness of the winter outside
begins to make it's presence felt on the three sisters
at the centre of this piece, we begin to understand
that, like nearly all familial relationships, these
women have little in common besides a shared blood line.
On top of that they have secrets they have never shared
with each other. What is interesting about this piece is
that it explores the question of shared memory from a
highly personal perspective. Each sister, at various
times for example, shares a number of memories from
their common childhood, some happy and some not so
happy, but each quickly discovers that the others do not
share the memory at all, or else remember events in a
totally different light.
The Memory of Water was first
presented in London in 1998, where it received
unqualified rave reviews and moved from its off-West End
theatre to the West End for an extended run. The London
Sunday Times said, "Shelagh Stephenson's writing is
barbed, lyrical, witty & full of a rare emotional
intelligence", and the Independent called it, "Wickedly
funny and moving."
There will also be an exhibition in
the foyer celebrating 50 years of The Drama Circle, with
programmes, posters and memorabilia from shows over the
years. Thursday evening's performance is a charity
evening hoping to raise €2000 towards Computer Equipment
for St Edward's National School. Tickets usual prices.
from The Sligo Weekender,
February 7th, 2006
Would you like to break on to the acting scene in Sligo? Well now your chance has arrived courtesy of the Sligo Drama Circle. The drama group has been entertaining people for over 50 years and has built up a strong reputation among the best groups in the county for emerging talent. Ursula Smullen will be directing a play called The memory of water" in May and is looking for a cast. An audition/reading will be held at 9pm on Monday, February 13, in the Drama Circle’s performance space in the Market Yard. She is especially keen to find two men, that
can fit a description of ‘inadequate’.
As well as this, the Sligo Drama Circle are preparing for other performances. Coming shortly is a one-act play performed by Joan Fitzpatrick and Lionel Gallagher. Both have sang, danced and acted together and even have fitted in an odd film during their careers. This play, entitled Liz and Greg, is written by local man Ultan Burke. Joining them on stage will be Michael Leydon, Muireann Tobin, David Davey and Caroline Norris. The Youth Group, mentored by Peter Milne, are performing in the Factory Space in April and November. And right through the
season, there are more one-act plays and watch out for special 50th birthday events.
from The Sligo Champion,
February, 2006
Sligo Drama Circle
are looking for two unsatisfactory men for their upcoming play,
"The Memory of Water" by Shelagh Stephenson. Directed by Ursula
Smullen, the play sees three bickering sisters at their mother's
funeral. A hugely entertaining comedy, the play shows insight
and compassion into the sisters' relationship and their mixed
memories of their mother as they settle into well-worn family
roles.
The men in their
lives are "unsatisfactory"; one a media type, the other a health
food shop owner. There will be an audition/reading on Monday
February 13th at 9pm in the Drama Circle's rehearsal space in
the Market Yard, and any man who feels a little unsatisfactory
or who might like a good bicker is welcome to attend.
from The Sligo Champion,
February, 2006
Sligo Drama Circle
is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has a number
of productions lined up to mark the special occasion. In May,
local girl, Ursula Smullen, will direct "The Memory of Water",
auditions for which will be held next week, while in November,
Joan Fitzpatrick will direct "The Sunshine Boys". Both of these
shows will be staged in the Hawk's Well Theatre. Meanwhile, the
Drama Circle's Youth group will be on stage in April at the
Factory Performance Space. A run of one-act plays commences in
February with "Liz and Greg" by local writer, Ultan Burke. The
play observes moments in the lives of two siblings and their
conflicting philosophies. Joan Fitzpatrick, Muireann Tóibin,
Caroline Norris, Lionel Gallagher, Michael Leyden and David
Davey make up the cast that, fittingly, represents the fifty
years of Sligo Drama Circle.
from The Sligo Weekender,
November 15th, 2005 Sligo Drama Circle launched their eagerly awaited new theatre production last night (Monday) in the Hawk’s Well theatre, where it will run for the week.
Four award winning actors form the cast of this long awaited production of the “Beauty Queen of Leenane”. Painstakingling rehearsed under the direction of Joan Fitzpatrick, Sligo audiences will not be disappointed by his superb production from Sligo Drama Circle. The small Connemara town land of Leenane comes to life through the characters of Maureen Folan (Anne Marie Byrne), her ageing and needy mother (Pat Sweeney) her love interest Pato Dooley (Vinnie Holland) and his younger brother Ray (Colin Callanan).
This tragicomedy makes for the ultimate theatrical experience as the pathological relationship between mother and daughter unfolds alongside the relationship between Maureen and Pato, observed by the “go-between” Ray.
Martin McDonagh is renowned in his writing for his portrayal of the darker sides of the Irish landscape, but in this production we see how successful he is at combining both humour with deep sadness.
On Broadway The Beauty Queen of Leenane sold out for it’s entire run but there are some seats still available for this one week only performance of this classic play by Sligo Drama Circle. The play opened on Monday, 14 November and will continue it’s run until Saturday, November 19. Booking tickets in advance is essential. To book yours call the theatre box office on (071) 9161518
from The Sligo Champion, November, 2005
Four award-winning actors who form the cast
of the long-awaited production of "The Beauty Queen of Leenane"
have been in painstaking rehearsal under the direction of Joan
Fitzpatrick, and the fruits of their endeavours are about to be
brought to the stage. Sligo audiences will not be disappointed
by this superb production from Sligo Drama Circle. The small
Connemara townland of Leenane comes to life through the
characters of Maureen Folan (Ann Marie Byrne), her aging and
needy mother (Pat Sweeny), her love interest Pato Dooley (Vinnie
Holland) and his younger brother Ray (Colin Callanan).
This tragicomedy makes for the ultimate
theatrical experience as the pathological relationship between
mother and daughter unfolds alongside the relationship between
Maureen and Pato, observed by the "go-between" Ray. Martin Mc
Donagh is renowned in his writing for his portrayal of the
darker sides of the Irish landscape, but in this production we
see how successful he is at combining both humour with deep
sadness. On Broadway "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" sold out for
its entire run but there are some seats still available for this
one week only performance of this classic play by the Sligo
Drama Circle. The play opens on Tuesday November 14th and will
continue its run until Saturday 18th.
from The Sligo Weekender, November 30th, 2004
This
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Sligo Drama Circle will stage
two one-act comedy classics from the pens of George Bernard Shaw
and Alan Bennett. On December 3 and 4 they will perform “How He
Lied To Her Husband” at the Drama Circle’s own performance space
to the rear of Montmarte Restaurant in The Market Yard, Sligo.
Directed by Michael Leyden, this period satire tells of the
Illicit love-triangle between Aurora Bambas (Ann Marie Byrne)
and her lover Henry Apjohn (Barry Duignan) and her husband Teddy
(Peter Milne). The Saturday night performance (December 4) will
have an added treat with an extra helping of comedy “A Bed Among
The Lentils” written by Alan Bennett and performed by Orla
McSharry as the Parson’s wife.
from The Sligo Champion, November 24th, 2004
How He Lied to Her Husband is a wonderful one act satire by George Bernard Shaw currently in rehearsal by Sligo Drama Circle. A delightful offering, it contains sparkling language, caustic humour and seering social commentary, all the trademark features of George Bernard Shaw. The play tells the story of Henry Apjohn, a young idealistic dreamer/poet. ”The Adonis”, as Mr Shaw describes him, is played with wonderful flamboyance by Barry Duignan, walking on air as he woos the object of
his desires, Aurora Bambas. Aurora, not being as young as she used to be, basks in the attention bestowed upon her by the beautiful youth. Henry has written a series of poems for the gorgeous Aurora, but alas her husband, Teddy, the gruff more experienced man of the world, has managed to get his hands on the said volume of lyrical love compositions. As Henry and Aurora discuss the complexities of this “sticky situation”, Teddy returns to confront the would be lovers. The results are hilarious, with even a bout of fisticuffs thrown in!
Set in Aurora’s drawing room in south Kensington, in the early 1900s, this period piece from Sligo Drama Circle proves to be a wonderful evenings entertainment. The twittering, melodramatic Aurora is played by the very experienced Anne Marie Byrne. Teddy, the husband, is portrayed with excellent condescension and suspicion by Peter Milne. This is Peter’s first endeavour with Sligo Drama Circle, bringing with him over 20 years experience ranging from working with disadvantaged children to teaching drama
at third level, all over the U.K and Ireland. Micheal Leyden, in the director’s chair, shows great insight into the work of G. B. Shaw, translating itself into an excellent working relationship with his cast.
How He Lied To Her Husband starts its run with two performances on Friday and Saturday December3rd and 4th at 8.30pm in the S.D.C Performance Space, Market Yard. (behind French restaurant), and over the following weeks will be performed in such diverse venues as the Nazareth House, the Yeats Building, the Model-Niland Centre, the Glens Centre Manorhamilton and a parlour over a pub in Manorhamilton. More news of dates and venues next week.
from The Sligo Champion, March 16th, 2004
Tonight, Tuesday,
is the eagerly awaited opening night of the Sligo Drama Circle's
production of "A Streetcar Named Desire". And while nerves are
jangling, both the crew, the cast and the audience are looking
forward to the performance. The Drama Circle have worked hard to
bring this large-scale production to the stage. They have even
enlisted the help of an American actor, Timothy Dillard, to play
the lead role of Stanley alongside Máire Hynes and Ann Marie
Byrne in the all-important role of Balnche DuBois. The cast also
includes Eileen Higgins, Ultan Burke, John Rogers, Barry Deignan,
Frances Ryan, Orla Mc Sharry, Deborah Barker and Fintan Whelan.
In 1947 this Tennessee Williams play "A Streetcar Named Desire"
opened on Broadway for a two-year run with Marlon Brando as star
and Elia Kazan as director. In 1951 the famous play was made
into a movie starring Brando and Vivian Leigh in the lead roles,
with Kim Hunter as Stella and Karl Malden as Mitch. The story
opens with Blanche DuBois coming to New Orleans to visit her
sister, the pregnant Stella, and the sister's husband Stanley
Kowalski. To get to their seedy apartment, she has to take a
streetcar named Desire. The play, set just after the Second
World War in the French Quarter of New Orleans, deals with
fantasy and illusion, the Old South and the New South, cruelty,
desire and loneliness. "A Streetcar Named Desire" will be at the
Hawks Well from tonight, Tuesday March 16th until Sunday March
21st inclusive.
from The Sligo Champion, March 10th, 2004, by Jim
Gray
A New York actor
will be making his Sligo stage debut next week - and it's all
thanks to a feature in The Sligo Champion Arts Page. Tim Dillard
was working in a production of "Italian Wedding" in Dun
Laoghaire when, out of the blue, his Slig0-based friend, Róisín
Monaghan, called to tell him the part he had always wanted to
play was soon to be up for grabs in Sligo. Róisín
had read an appeal in The Sligo Champion for a suitable person
to play the demanding role of Stanley Kowalski in their
forthcoming production of the Tennessee Williams' classic "A
Streetcar Named Desire", and she knew that Tim would be
interested.
"I studied the play
at college, and it's a role I've always wanted to play, but for
various reasons the circumstances were never quite right. On
this occasion, everything fitted perfectly. I was delighted to
get the call from Sligo, and when I came here and met the Drama
Circle people, I had no doubt but that this would be a great
production and that I could work well with the team. That's
exactly how it's turned out", Tim reports. An experienced actor
on both stage and film, Tim studied at the American Music and
Dramatic Academy in New York before moving on to play in
off-Broadway productions and in touring shows. He later moved to
Austin, Texas, becoming involved in the film industry there, and
starring in a number of films which were extensively shown at
top film festivals throughout the U.S. Moving to Dublin a year
and a half ago, Tim has been constantly working in stage
productions in the capital as well as concentrating on his
writing skills.
Having worked in
professional theatre almost all of his career, Tim admits that
he was very pleasantly surprised by the high standard he has
witnessed with the Drama Circle production, under the direction
of Joan Fitzpatrick. He says, "Everybody has been very
accommodating and friendly, and they're very easy to work with.
The commitment is unbelievable. We've been working four or five
nights a week since January. The great advantage of amateur
theatre is that there are more people involved in the creative
process, everybody is allowed their voice and their input. That
seldom happens in professional productions. The other
difference, of course, is that in professional acting it can
sometimes be just about the pay-cheque. People don't always
actually like the work they're doing, whereas in amateur
theatre, there's a genuine love and passion for what they're
doing, and that rubs off. It's very special"
So taken has he
been by his Sligo experience that Tim is hoping the opportunity
will arise quite soon to work here again. "When I finish
Streetcar, I begin shooting a new film at locations all over the
country. There's a possibility that Sligo will be one of the
locations, and I'll certainly be recommending it. I'll take any
excuse to get back here, I love it so much", he says. Whatever
about Tim's love of the place and the play, there is certainly a
passion in the Drama Circle for 'Streetcar', which has become an
integral part of the company's illustrious history. in 1979,
under the direction of Liam Mc Kinney, the Drama Circle's
production of 'Streetcar' won the Esso Trophy at the finals of
the All-Ireland Drama Festival, and among the successful cast
was the director of the current production, Joan Fitzpatrick.
Set in New Orleans,
the play deals with the relationship between sisters Blanche and
Stella DuBois and Stella's husband, Stanley. Desire is central
to the play, with all the emotional turmoil and tension it
brings to the lives of the three main characters. Tim is joined
by an experienced local cast, with Ann Marie Byrne playing
Blanche; Máire Hynes playing Stella and Gerry Ryan playing
Mitch. Other featured cast members include Eileen Higgins, Orla
Mc Sharry, Ultan Burke, Barry Deignan, Jack Rogers, Frances
Ryan, Deborah Baker and Fintan Whelan.
from The Sligo Weekender, March 9th, 2004
All good things come to those who wait, but the waiting is finally over. Sligo’s theatre lovers will soon be basking in the glow of another glorious production from the Sligo Drama Circle, this time Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”. The production had initially been scheduled for Autumn of last year, but various factors forced its delay twice and created yet more logistical headaches for the dedicated cast and crew. They didn’t let their artistic temperament get the better of them though and instead vowed that the show would go
on.
Triumphantly, “A Streetcar Named Desire” will open at the Hawk’s Well Theatre on Tuesday night next, March 16 for a six-night run. “Streetcar...” is under the direction of Joan Fitzpatrick. Joan was a member of the original Drama Circle’s cast of “A Streetcar Named Desire” from 34 years ago when it was directed by Liam McKinney in 1970. The modern-day cast include Ann Marie Byrne as Blanche DuBois, New York actor Timothy Dillard playing Stanley. Maire Hynes plays Stanley’s wife Stella and Gerry Ryan as Mitch. They are supported by the other members
of the cast: Eileen Higgins, Ultan Burke, Jack Rogers, Barry Deignan, Frances Ryan, Orla McSharry, Deborah Barker and Fintan Whelan.
The play is set just after the second World War in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The play deals with Fantasy and Illusion, The Old South and the New South, Cruelty, Desire, and Loneliness. “A Streetcar Named Desire” hit theatres in 1946. The play cemented William’s reputation as one of the greatest American playwrights, winning him a New York’s Critics Circle Award and a Pulitzer Prize. Tickets for “A Streetcar Named Desire” are already in big demand so book yours early through the Hawk’s Well box office on (071) 9161518.
from The Sligo Weekender, November 25th, 2003
After ten months away from the Hawk’s Well stage, Sligo
Drama Circle make a welcome return with a John B. Keane
masterpiece. “The Year of the Hiker” is regarded as one of the
Irish playwright’s finest works, exploring as it does the
classic themes of outsiders, greed, jealousy and love. It will
open at the Hawk’s Well tonight, Tuesday, November 25 and runs
until Saturday 29 inclusive at 8pm nightly. Tonight’s
performance is almost sold out but there are still a handful of
tickets to the midweek shows so book yours via the theatre box
office on (071) 9161518. Tickets cost E10 (E8 concession).
Directed by long-time Drama Circle member Fintan Whelan, the
play tells the story of the Lacey family whose father, the
“Hiker”, walked away from family, home and responsibility some
twenty years before the play’s opening scene. The wounds and
distress have not been healed and on the morning of daughter
Mary’s wedding to local doctor, Willie Dolly, the talk is of the
fear that the “Hiker” might turn up and further embarrass the
family’s hard-won status in the farming community. When the
wedding party depart the Hiker returns and he is nothing like
his legendary mythic status but is a tired whipped dog, home to
die in a warm corner. His wandering Bohemian spirit and his
sense of home are gone yet he blames Freda for driving him away.
All the family have achieved something with their life in his
absence, with his eldest son Joe taking on the father’s role and
running the farm. Now his return, like the bad penny, threatens
all this security and respectability. The play has a handful of
emotionally charged moments, particularly between the Hiker and
his estranged relatives. As an opening production, Fintan could
hardly have chosen a harder play, but everyone who has worked on
this production has enthused about the ability of this
first-time director. The play is also a fitting final dramatic
production for an exceptional year of drama at the Hawk’s Well,
which has seen productions from The Blue Raincoat, Beezneez,
Coolera Dramatic Society and Everyman Productions to name a
few.
from The Sligo Weekender, November 13th, 2002
Sligo Drama Circle have revived a gem of a play, “The Factory Girls” by Frank McGuinness, to present at the Hawk’s Well from tonight, Tuesday November 12 to Saturday, November 16. Whilst now a well established and critically acclaimed dramatist with “Someone to Watch Over Me”, “Innocence”, “Observe The Sons of Ulster...”, McGuinness began writing at 30 during a spell of unemployment and his first work was The Factory Girls.
His mother worked in a local shirt factory and his inspiration is the need to give a voice to those who are oppressed or ignored, be they soldiers, hostages or factory workers.
In a Donegal shirt factory, five women must face the threat of redundancy. Led by Ellen they decide to confront both management and union and fight to determine their own future. Written in 1982 the play mirrors the harsh realities of today’s sit-ins and closures - witness the events in the Peerless and I.F.I. factories in Athy and Arklow. The factory girls challenge the employers and their conditions of work while all the time opposing the straight jacketing of society and their men-folk.
The play displays the love and humour of its female characters. It bears testimony to the strengths and skills of working women the culture of work they represent and the threat to destroy that culture. Women articulate their anger, courage and compassion throughout the unfolding drama. As Vera says “factory girls never grow old and they don’t fade away”.
Director Damien Quinn has brought together a strong cast for this production, including Marianne Fahy (who plays Ellen), Ann-Marie Byrne (Vera), Nicola Morrison (Rebecca), Pat Sweeney (Una), Niamh Curley (Rosemary), Michael Roper (Bonner), and Ronan Brennan (Rohan). Many of these actors have worked with the Drama Circle on previous productions while Ronan Brennan is a newcomer to Sligo Theatre, having lived and acted in Monaghan. The play also marks the directorial debut of Damien Quinn who is well known to Sligo audiences through his school of
drama and his performances on stage.
The opening night performance on November 12 is being performed in aid of the Alzheimer Society, Sligo. Their work is constant and ongoing and any person wishing to contribute to this dedicated work can contact the Dunally Centre on (071) 46400. Admission to this production at the Hawk’s Well is €9 (€6.50 concession) and tickets can be booked from the theatre box office on (071) 61518/61526.
from The Sligo Champion, November 7th, 2002
Sligo Drama Circle have revived a gem of a play, The Factory Girls by Frank McGuinness, which will be presented at the Hawk's Well Theatre from next Tuesday, November 12th, until Saturday 16th. Now a well established and critically acclaimed dramatist, with works such as "Someone to Watch Over Me", "Innocence", "Observe the sons of Ulster marching towards the Somme", Mc Guinness began writing aged 30 during a period of unemployment. His first play was "The Factory Girls". Interestingly, his mother worked in a local shirt factory and his
inspiration was the need to give a voice to those who are oppressed or ignored, be they soldiers, hostages or factory workers.
In a Donegal shirt factory, five women must face the threat of redundancy. Led by Ellen, they decide to confront both management and union and fight to determine their own future. Written in 1982, the play mirrors the harsh realities of today's sit-ins and closures. The factory girls challenge the employers and their conditions of work, while all the time opposing the straight-jacketing of society and their men folk.The play displays the love and humour of its female characters. It bears testimony to the
strength and skills of working women, the culture of work they represent and the threat to destroy that culture. The women articulate their anger, courage and compassion throughout the unfolding drama.
Director, Damien Quinn, has brought together a strong cast. Ellen is played by Marianne Fahy, who has extensive stage experience both professionally and with local groups. This is her first outing with the Drama Circle. Vera is played by Ann-Marie Byrne, who was an outstanding success in the Drama Circle's acclaimed production of Charlie's Aunt last year. Playing Rebecca is award-winning actress Nicola Morrison, who won a best actress award in the UK in Everyman's production of "The Mai". Pat Sweeney
from Ballyshannon, who plays Una, re-establishes a link with the Drama Circle, having last performed in late 1960's productions. Niamh Curley, who plays Rosemary, has starred in recent productions such as The Odd Couple and Charlie's Aunt. Ronan Brennan is a newcomer to Sligo theatre, having transferred from Monaghan. He plays Rohan, while the part of Bonner is played by the vastly experienced Michael Roper.
Damien Quinn is well known to Sligo audiences through his School of Drama and his performances in the Yeats Suppers, Big Maggie and the 1989 production of Juno and the Paycock that toured to the United States. This is his directorial debut. The opening night, Tuesday 12th, has been taken to highlight and support the Alzheimer's Society. Their work is constant and ongoing, and any person wishing to contribute to this dedicated work can contact Mrs. Barker, Dunally Centre, 071-46400.
from The Sligo Weekender, March 7th, 2002
Sligo Drama Circle
is busy putting the final touches to their upcoming production
of Charley’s Aunt in The Hawk’s Well Theatre from March 12th to
16th at 8pm nightly. A classic farce by Brandon Thomas, this is
the first Sligo production of the play. Director Joan
Fitzpatrick and her ensemble are rehearsing diligently and
enthusiastically to present Sligo audiences with a rip-roaring
and hilarious night’s entertainment.
Following Joan’s acclaimed success last year with Neil Simon’s
“Odd Couple” Sligo Drama Circle is confident of a similar
resounding triumph. When the proposed visit of an Aunt from
Brazil falls through, the relatives in Oxford decide to take
advantage of the situation and what follows is a romp through
invitations, postponements, impersonations. Ludicrous and funny
and in true farce tradition, by the end all is revealed a series
of impending betrothals and may they live happy every after!
Take a deep breath! Marc McSharry and Barry Duignan play the
debonair students - not too difficult, Michael Roper the
money-chasing, carpet-bagging uncle. Anne Marie Byre is the
delayed aunt in transit and Robert Fitzpatrick is Babs/Donna
Lucia who loves the attention of the young ladies. The
experienced cast is completed by Roddy Quinn as Sir Francis,
Damien Quinn as Brasset, Niamh Curley as Kitty, Terry Duffy as
Amy and Máire Hynes as Ela.
from The Sligo Champion, March 7th, 2001
In true theatrical fashion, the show must go on! Good news on the theatre front is that the Sligo Drama Circle's hilarious production of "The Odd Couple" is going ahead this week at the Hawk's Well. Directed by Joan Fitzpatrick, and with Gerry Ryan and Robert Fitzpatrick, mesmeric in the lead roles, this splendid adaptation of the Neil Simon classic is just the tonic to dispel those foot and mouth blues. The show runs at the Hawk's Well until Saturday. Please note that disinfectant mats will be in place
at the theatre.
from The Sligo Champion, February 28th, 2001
Tuesday night, 6th March, marks the opening night of Neil Simon's uproarious comedy "The Odd Couple" at the Hawk's Well Theatre, presented by Sligo Drama Circle. Director, Joan Fitzpatrick has put together a great cast for this fast paced comedy. The play was the forerunner of the film "The Odd Couple" and of the long running spin-off series. The main characters of Oscar Madison and Felix Unger were
played by Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon in the film, and, in the series, by Jack Klugmann and Tony Randall. In Sligo Drama Circle's version, local actors, Gerry Ryan and Robert Fitzpatrick are perfect for the parts. Gerry takes to the role of sloppy, couldn't-care-less Oscar as if born to play it, and Robert brings his comic skills to perfectly capture the obsessive, neurotic character of Felix. They are more than ably supported by Terre Duffy,
Niamh Curley, Damien Quinn, Lionel Gallagher, John Hannon and Eamonn Killilea, all local actors, some well known to Sligo audiences, some new faces. The play is guaranteed laugh-a-minute production. The first night - Tuesday 6th March - will run as a fund-raiser for St. Mary's GAA club, and the play will run until 10th March at 8.30pm in the Hawk's Well Theatre.
from The Sligo Champion, September 20th, 2000 Sligo Drama Circle is back on track for the winter! In its continuing efforts to encourage people to get involved in amateur drama, the Circle will host a once-a-month "Open House" evening in its headquarters in the Market Yard. Drama activities of various kinds will be organised on those evenings, and anyone interested in drama will be welcome to come along. To start the new season, the first
"Open House" will be held on Thursday September 28th at 8pm in their premises at the Market Yard (beside Montmartre Restaurant). This month they will work with excerpts from three contrasting plays, exploring the dramatic possibilities of each.
from The Sligo Champion, April 26th, 2000 The Sligo Drama Circle is back in full swing again. Since 1997, the previous committees have been working hard to establish the new premises in the Market Yard and this year sees its completion. Having inaugurated the new premises, the group are all set for a busy year. 2000 will see the launch of a lot of new talent. An AGM was held in February and the following members have been elected to the
committee: Máire Hynes, Chairperson; Rita Ann Burke, Secretary; Jimmy Staunton, Treasurer; Members of the Committee, Michael Leyden, Frankie Brannigan, Majella Robinson, Kieran Keeney, Noreen Egan, Joan Fitzpatrick, Joe Meehan. It is great to see the familiar names and faces returning to give of their time and experience to one of the oldest amateur drama groups in Sligo, so we would be expecting some great entertainment in the not too distant
future from the group. Next Thursday, April 27th, sees the debut reading of a play by amateur playwright Rita Ann Burke. All Sligo Drama Circle members are invited along to give some positive criticism and feedback to a very brave lady, putting her artistic talents on the line. This is the first of many entertaining nights which will be held in the new building. The Committee wishes to thank all members for their support over the past number of
years as they worked hard to establish the new premises. The membership fee is still £5 per year. Máire Hynes, Chairperson, is very enthusiastic about the upcoming year and is looking forward to seeing both old and new faces at the Sligo Drama Circle's many events throughout the year.
from The Sligo Champion, August 1997
In the Hawk's Well
Theatre from Tuesday August 19th to Saturday 23rd, Sligo Drama
Circle offers it own commemoration of the Great Famine. Directed
by Paddy Foran, the Circle stages Gerard Healy's classic drama
"The Black Stranger in the Temple Street venue. This is a must
for all lovers of the well crafted Irish play and it also gives
the public the opportunity to pay tribute to those who lived,
suffered and died during that traumatic time, one hundred and
fifty years ago. The director has assembled an accomplished cast
for this production. Featuring long-time Drama Circle actors
Pauline Mc Niffe, Joe Meehan, Rory Callagy, and Lionel Gallagher
as well as several younger performers with plenty of experience
on the Sligo stage and as Siobhán Campbell, Ann Brady, Brian Mc
Gowan, Kieran Doherty and Fintan Whelan, audiences are assured
of a fitting re-enactment of this tragic event in our history.
Despite its
harrowing theme, "The Black Stranger" is not all gloom and doom.
There is plenty of humour and human interest as the drama
unfolds to tell the story of two families as they struggle to
come to terms with what is happening to their world. We relive
the period with them as they face the transition from the years
of relative plenty to the dark days of hunger. Sligo Drama
Circle links the events of 150 years ago with those of the
present day by giving a contribution from every ticket bought to
help relieve the famine now engulfing North Korea. In that land
the rice crop has failed just as the potato crop did in Ireland
1847. In our world of the end of the second millennium, history
repeats itself and only the location has changed.
from The Sligo Weekender, August 2nd, 1996
The new Hawk's Well Theatre will host a production of J. M. Synge's "The Playboy of the Western World". The production, by the Sligo Drama Circle, is the beginning of their 40th birthday celebrations. Frankie Brannigan directs the play and the production boasts a very stage ecperienced cast. The lead role of Christy Mahon falls to Eddie Mc Dermottroe Jnr. A host of other familiar faces will feature in one of Synge's most memorable works. These include Ann Brady as Pegeen Mike, Yvonne Curran as the Widow
Quinn, Bob Mc Donough as Michael James and the role of Old Mahon goes to Joe Meehan. Two actors from the Ballina Salmon Festival Drama Group are joining the Sligo Drama Circle production. The new Hawk's Well stage will welcome Ray Collins and Pat Durcan from the Ballina group who will play the roles of Philly Cullen and Shawn Keogh respectively. The Playboy of the Western World will run nightly at 8.30pm from August 13 - 17 next. Booking enquiries
to the new Hawk's Well Theatre, Temple Street, Sligo. Tel: (071) 61526.
from The Sligo Weekender, March 8th, 1996
A unique Sligo family connection with one of Ireland's most celebrated plays will be complete when Sligo Drama Circle present their latest production of J. M. Synge's masterpiece, The Playboy of the Western World, at Fr. Flanagan Hall, Summerhill College from March 4th to 13th. Playing the central character of Christy Mahon will be Eddie Mc Dermottroe Jnr. whose father Eddie and sister Maria, have graced previous award winning local productions of the "Playboy". Now a successful professional actress -
currently enjoying a stint in Glenroe - Maria brought Pegeen Mike memorably to life about twenty years ago, while Eddie Senior rendered many a masterful performance as Old Mahon in previous Drama Circle efforts. Now it's the turn of Eddie Jnr., recently returned from Australia, and according to the show's director, Frankie Brannigan, audiences can expect the same high standards which they've become accustomed to from the Mc Dermottroe clan.
Frankie has assembled a very experienced cast for a play which is sure to be relevant to second level students, as it is on this year's Leaving Certificate curriculum. Ann Brady, whose recent stage successes includes Dancing at Lughnasa and Blythe Spirit, plays Pegeen Mike; Bob Mc Donough is her father Michael James Flaherty; Joe Meehan is Old Mahon; Yvonne Curran plays the Widow Quin; newcomer Michael Lyons takes the part of Shawn Keogh; and John Legge and Seán Burke are Jimmy Farrell and Philly Cullen respectively. The talented cast is completed
by "village girls" Bernie Ryan, Madonna Byrnes, Aoife Lawlor and Majella Robinson. While the story of The Playboy of the Western World has been told and re-told by professional and amateur groups all over the country, the challenge is still as fresh and as daunting as ever. "Although I've acted in it a few times, this is my first attempt at directing 'Playboy' and it is a challenge", concedes Frankie Brannigan. "But it's an exciting challenge".
from The Sligo Champion, August 12th, 1994
Sligo Drama Circle's actress Yvonne Curran was the star of the show at the First National / Mid and North West Radio Drama Awards where she won the Best Actress category. Yvonne was competing with top amateur actresses from counties Donegal, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim and Galway. Yvonne played the lead role in Kenny Donagher's highly commended work "The Return". Kenny Donagher wrote this play specifically for the Radio drama series. Sligo Drama Circle were nominated in almost all categories in what has
become a major drama occasion for the West and North West. The cast with Sligo Drama Circle's entry included: Michael Lyons, Yvonne Curran, Rita Ann Burke, John Mahon, Peter Breen and Kenny Donagher. This year's overall winner of the Radio Drama Awards was the Coolmore Players, Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal. They won the £500 cash prize and the First National specially commissioned perpetual trophy for Soinbhe Lally's excellent work "The Wonders of the
Universe and Other Species". The series was adjudicated by a panel of independent adjudicators including well known drama critic with the Irish Independent, Des Rushe, playwright and writer-in-residence with the Abbey Theatre, Neil Donnelly, Director of the Druid Theatre Galway, Maeliosa Stafford, and the panel were chaired by non-voting drama enthusiast, Seán Mc Loone, First National Manager, Donegal Town.
from The Sligo Champion, February 18th, 1994
The popularity of Seán O' Casey's plays has never been in question and the Sligo Drama Circle's production of "Juno and the Paycock" is no exception in this regard. As a result the Drama Circle have added an extra performance to their current run in the Hawk's Well, on Saturday 19th at 8.30pm. Juno is the voice of O' Casey against violence. Idealists are supposed to improve society, yet the ideals of those at war cause great suffering. The men boasted of their destructive power, but the women bore the
brunt of it. Boyle (Cormac Sheridan) for all his bragging, applies all his energies in avoiding work. The will, instead of bringing prosperity, brings quite the reverse. Jerry (Dave Mc Keown) for all his ideals and promises, rejects the pregnant Mary. A so-called Christian society is not very comforting towards a single pregnant girl. Directed by Frankie Brannigan, Juno features a host of well known faces.
from The Sligo Champion, February 11th, 1994
Sligo Drama Circle makes a welcome return to the Hawk's Well with a new production of "Juno and the Paycock" this week. Under experienced director, Frankie Brannigan, this ever popular O' Casey classic runs from tonight (Wednesday) to Friday February 18th (excluding Sunday 13th) nightly at 8.30pm. Set in a Dublin tenement house in 1922, "Juno" has the great O' Casey characters of Juno Boyle, Joxer, Captain Boyle and Maisie Madigan. These creations are among O' Casey's finest achievements and earned him
an international reputation. Likewise, "Juno" has a special place in the history of the Drama Circle. By invitation, the 1989 production of Walter Mc Donagh delighted audiences in the vast Sheldon Theatre in St. Louis. That American tour with "Juno" will long remain one of the all-time highlights in the Circle's history. Now, the current production is seeking to emulate the spectacular achievements of its predecessor. It's an "almost new" cast,
the only link with the American "Juno" being Yvonne Curran, who plays Mary Boyle, the role she played with distinction in St. Louis. Frankie Brannigan has assembled a cast brimful of experience and enthusiasm. We can look forward to another interesting Juno Boyle from the very experienced Noreen Egan, while Cormac Sheridan's performance as Capt. Boyle is eagerly anticipated. The large cast also includes sparkling performances from Kenny Donagher,
Dave Mc Keown, Bob Mc Donagh, Enda Eames, Rita Walsh, Áine Gilmore, Brian Woods and Brian Mc Gauran. We're told that seats are scarce from Monday to Friday, owing to large scale Leaving Cert student interest in the production, but the Hawk's Well will cater especially for an adult audience on Saturday next, February 12th. It should be well worth a visit.
from The Sligo Champion, November 19th, 1993
The classic comedy "Blithe Spirit" continues at the Hawk's Well for four nights, from Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st inclusive. But theatre-goers take note, there's no performance tonight (Wednesday 17th). Instead Jack and the Lads hold centre stage elsewhere! For an evening of fun and all round dramatic entertainment, "Blithe Spirit" qualifies admirably. This light-hearted comedy, by Noel Coward, achieved instant classic status on its first West End appearance. The unlikely plot has all the ingredients
for fun and surprises. Charles, married a second time, and wife Ruth, have invited the hearty, eccentric and comic Madame Arcati, a medium, to entertain their little gathering; nothing serious, but he might learn a few tricks of the trade for his next book - "The Unseen". Madame, a dabbler of the mildly occult, and a chancer with style, stumbles onto her greatest triumph. Enter Elvira, wings well oiled for smooth landing, as the playful ghost of
wife No. 1; exit Madame, away on her bicycle, leaving a matrimonial muddle behind. Solid certainties soon begin to shake and shudder, but how will Charles, a man of wit, cope with two wives? Can his marriage avoid an astronomical tail-spin? Comedy, like sport, hinges on the dramatic, the unexpected, the "Unseen". Enough said. All will be revealed tomorrow Thursday 18th. In this Sligo Drama Circle presentation, there is an excellent cast, with many
proven achievements. Taking central roles are: Denise Burns (remember Gay Byrne's radio production of "The Playboy", "Philadelphia, "South Pacific" "Inish"); Ann Marie Byrne (Grease, Calamity Jane, On the Inside / On the Outside, Inish) John Gaffney (Philadelphia, The Playboy, Blood Wedding, On the outside / On the Inside - director), Ursula Smullen with her vast musical and stage experience, plays Edith, a maid; Ann Brady takes on a new theatrical personal in the part of Ruth, second wife to Charles (John Gaffney). Add to that the experienced
Maureen Barry as the doctor's pleasant and excitable wife and John Legge as Dr. Bradman. The vastly experienced director, Joan Fitzpatrick, is herself an ardent admirer of the Coward bubbly style. For anyone who needs reminding, Joan's impressive repertoire includes: The Streetcar, Shadow and Substance, Rain, The Glass Menagerie, The Crucible, Charley's Aunt, Fiddler on the Roof, Oliver and Philadelphia. Considerations such as these should be a more than adequate guarantee of a good night's entertainment. But remember the ghost of Elvira is Off
Duty tonight Wednesday 17th. Remember the dates, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st November at 8pm, Thursday to Sunday inclusive.
from The Sligo Champion, November 12th, 1993
"Blithe Spirit", which makes its first ever appearance at the Hawk's Well on Tuesday, November 16th, represents one of Noel Coward's brightest, and most popular dramas. Billed as an improbable farce, this light-hearted romantic comedy achieved instant classic status on its first West End appearance in 1941. Now the Sligo Drama Circle, with the experienced Joan Fitzpatrick as Director, will present this Noel Coward masterpiece for five nights only, from 16th to 21st November, excluding Wednesday 17th (Big
Jack gets the spotlight). "Blithe Spirit" has all the ingredients for a hilarious evening's entertainment. Audiences will warm to the sparkling wit and repartee that never dates. In a plot full of ironies, mystery and surprise, the comedy reaches new levels of merriment when cynical novelist Charles' second marriage is disturbed by the playful ghost of his first wife, Elvira. It had all started innocently. Handsome Charles, and smart looking
second wife Ruth, have planned a cosy little social evening. Central attraction will be the hearty and eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, who will provide Charles with a few tricks of the trade for his next novel. But when they toast "The Unseen" (the book title) it reverberates far beyond the book's covers, and unwittingly he hands Madame her greatest triumph, and probably her only one. Then she in turn, leaves Charles and Ruth to stew in their own juice. Poor Charles. His first wife Elvira, a free spirit, exuding a certain ethereal,
not-quite-of-this-world quality, soon becomes a very down to earth presence! And keep an eye too on their maid Edith - something odd about her! Poor Charles, transformed by events into some sort of astral bigamist, might agree that love is a strong psychic force but soon he is wondering if these charming wives might be capable of further low cunning. But to follow the further twists of the plot would give the game away; come, see and enjoy it for
yourself, right on to the surprising, and quite moving finale! Director, Joan Fitzpatrick, a household name in theatrical attainment, is confident she has a most capable cast to provide the maximum entertainment with this deftly written comedy. Theatre-goers will readily acknowledge the proven abilities of this cast line-up: John Gaffney (Charles), Denise Burns (Madame Arcati), Ann-Marie Byrne (Elvira, wife No. 1), Ursula Smullen (Edith the maid),
Maureen Barry (Mrs. Bradman), Ann Brady (Ruth, wife No. 2), John Legge (Dr. Bradman).
from The Sligo Champion, July 31st, 1992
The Sligo Drama
Circle production of 'The Plough and the Stars' returns to the
Hawks Well Theatre for eight nights only from Monday 3rd to
Monday 10th August, inclusively. This great O' Casey classic,
colourful and one-time controversial, had a spectacularly
successful spring run, so any patrons unable to gain a seat
then, have a second opportunity. The director, Frank Brannigan,
and his impressive cast is due full credit for the outstanding
quality and popularity of this production. Frank justly ranks as
a definitive interpreter of O' Casey - this is, in fact, his
fourth presentation of the 'Plough'. Only one cast changed is
involved from March last, the part of the boisterous Bessie
Bugess, so ably played by Cliodhna Howley, is now taken on board
by that talented actress Winifred Mc Nulty. The complete cast
list reads: Michael Leydon, Yvonne Curran, Cormac Sheridan,
Winifred Mc Nulty, Noreen Egan, Meg Leahy, Joe Meehan, Fergal Mc
Girl, Dave Mc Keown, Siobhán O' Doherty, Kenny Donaher, John
Rouse, Eamonn Byrd, Brian Mc Gauran, Bob Mc Donagh. This large
cast and hard working back-up team are once again all set to
offer a really good night's entertainment. 'The Plough and the
Stars', a title unique and imaginative, symbolises the dream and
the reality themes at the heart of the drama. Rightly enshrined
as one of the great Irish classics, it was first produced in
Dublin in 1926.
from The Sligo Champion, February 21st, 1992
Sligo Drama Circle
return to the Hawk's Well next week with "The Plough and the
Stars" . Under the experienced hand of director Frank Brannigan
and this ever-popular O' Casey classic, runs from Wednesday 26th
February to Saturday 7th March, excluding Sunday. Frank
Brannigan's name is synonymous with the Profile Theatre Company
with whom he last directed "The Plough" ('89). This will be his
fourth involvement with "The Plough" - the first time was in
fact with the Drama Circle. Four of Frank's '89 cast reappear in
this new production and all but one in new roles.
When the versatile
Cliodna Howley of drama, musical and cabaret fame, steps on
stage as Bessie Burgess she will have the unique distinction of
re-enacting the same role she carried off so admirably in '89.
The other three retained are Meg Leahy, Joe Meehan and Michael
Leyden. Meg can be expected to bring the same high standards tp
her new role as prostitute Rosie Redmond as she did with Nora.
She is most experienced, having played with Everyman Theatre, St
Columba's Theatre Company and of course Profile. Michael Leyden,
a very entertaining Uncle Peter in '89, now assumes the leading
role as Jack, with Joe Meehan as Peter Flynn. Joe needs no
introduction to Sligo theatregoers; on stage, off stage, his
commitment continues unabated. Michael Leyden too has been busy,
he was last seen as a very convincing Shiels in Bill Hickey's
very successful production of O' Casey's "Gunman" in 1990.
While not in the '89 gang of four, Cormac Sheridan merits
special attention. This is Cormac's third "Plough", and he
reverts to his first role as Fluther. His list of appearances in
musicals and plays is as impressive as his stage stature -
remember "Tomfoolery", "Guys and Dolls", "Plaza Suite", "The
Streetcar", "The Crucible" etc. etc.
The complete cast
list of "The Plough" stars much more talent. Yvonne Curran, past
Secretary and Chairman of the Circle and Noreen Egan, present
Chairman, bring their vast experience to the roles of Nora and
Mrs. Gogan respectively. Both these fine actresses have also
directed for the Drama Circle, most recently Noreen's radio play
production for North West Radio - "A Little Drop of Beethoven";
Yvonne, now in the leading female role, had the distinction of
playing Mary in O' Casey's "Juno" when that Circle production
was invited to play in St. Louis in March 1989, with Walter Mc
Donagh as Director.
The remaining
parts, blending exuberance with tested maturity, are also
impressive: Dave Mc Keown (Barman) - has had leading roles with
Sligo Fun Company, Drama Circle and Acorn Theatre Co.; Fergal Mc
Girl - comes to Drama Circle from Butt Players, Ballybofey;
Eamonn Byrd (Corp. Stoddard) - Fun Company and Sligo Musical
Society; Brian Mc Gauran (Sgt. Tinley) was in "Philadelphia"
with the Drama Circle and also with Sligo Fun Company
productions; Bob Mc Donough (Figure) of Panto, Musicals and
Cabaret fame, is new to Drama Circle. Also included are Kenny
Donagher (Capt. Brennan), Maura Boyle (Rathmines Woman), John
Rouse (Langon) and Siobhán O' Doherty (Mollser). Siobhán, on
stage in her first adult Drama Circle appearance, trained with
the Fitzpatrick School of Speech and Drama, and completes the
only father/daughter twosome - her father Phelim, with fellow
teachers Kenny Donagher and Maribeth Milne, take responsibility
for set design and construction. "The Plough and the Stars" -
nightly at 8pm, Hawk's Well Theatre, from Wednesday 26th
February to Saturday March 7th (excluding Sunday).
from The Sligo Champion, November 1991
1991 is a big year
for Sligo author John Kavanagh. During the summer his first book
of poems "Etchings" was published by Salmon Publishing of Galway
to critical acclaim and now Sligo Drama Circle is about to give
a reading of his first play "A Savage Humility" in the Hawk's
Well Theatre on Tuesday 12th November. Based on the Cuchulainn
saga, John deals with the legendary hero from a new angle - an
aging champion for whom everything begins to go wrong; his past
comes back to haunt him, his marriage to Emer is under stress,
his relationship with the High King Conchubhur takes on a wholly
new meaning. And the tensions of present day Ireland,
particularly Ulster, have their echoes in the distant past, the
more things change the more they remain the same.
Directed by Lionel
Gallagher and with a cast that includes Paddy Dooney, Walter Mc
Donagh, Columb Mc Bride, Siobhán O' Dea, Joe Meehan, Seán Burke,
Michael Leyden and Jackie Henry, Sligo Drama Circle hope that
the author will be encouraged and informed by what he sees on
the Hawk's Well stage. Many recent Irish plays have been
severely criticised for being staged without proper preparation
and exploration, the criticism being that they were presented in
major theatres in an unfinished state to the detriment of the
play and the discouragement of the author.
Sligo Drama Circle
considers that there is great potential in this new work and
hopes that John will be assisted in his writings for the theatre
by this exposure to the Sligo public. It is hoped further that
all who are interested in new writing and new authors will
attend this reading (8.30 Tuesday 12th November) and that a full
discussion of the work will be held between public, author, cast
and director after the performance. While it is not a full
staging but a rehearsed reading, it should prove a most
interesting and stimulating evening.
from The Sligo Champion, July 1991
The Sligo Drama Circle returns to the Hawk's Well Theatre with
eight consecutive performances of the Seán O' Casey classic "The
Shadow of a Gunman". (August 5th to August 12th inclusive) This
entertaining and satirical play is the first of the famous
"Dublin Trilogy", the others "Juno" and "The Plough" also had
successful productions in Sligo in recent times. The first
performance of "The Shadow of a Gunman" was in April 1923.
During that first short run the "House Full" sign hung out for
the first time in the twenty year history of the Abbey. Though
earning only £4 in royalty, Seán O' Casey was a new breath of
life to a struggling theatre. Re-opening in Horse Show week in
August '23 the extended run was also a sellout earning the
princely sum of £20 in royalties. O' Casey became an immediate
celebrity, and Abbey Theatre foundress Lady Gregory gave him her
own reserved seat next to W. B. Yeats.
Since the Sligo Drama Circle's short run in June '91, director
Bill Hickey has availed of the interval to further perfect and
reinforce the dramatic impact of this great play. Theatregoers
mindful of Bill's many recent stage successes and his meticulous
attention to details, can confidently look forward to a great
night's entertainment. The first "Gunman" was hailed as "Satire
in a Class by Itself". O' Casey would never idealise violence.
Here was an author getting back at war and politics in a
somewhat startling manner. Against the War of Independence
background are three of the principal characters; Seamus Shiels,
heroic in speech rather than action; Donal Davoren the poetic
dreamer posing as a gunman on the run; and the youthful and
heroic Minnie Powell who fatefully falls for Davoren.
Self-interested types like Owens, Grigson and Gallagher were
instantly recognisable to those Dublin audiences for whom self
mockery was always endearing. Everyone could identify with Mrs.
Grigson's question "Do the insurance companies pay if a man is
shot after curfew?" The complete cast list reads: Kevin Boyle (Donal
Davoren), Michael Leyden (Seamus Shiels), Kieran Keeney (Mr.
Maguire), Joe Meehan (Mr. Mulligan), Jacinta Maye (Minnie
Powell), Chris Feeney (Tommy Owens), Ita Mc Morrow (Mrs.
Henderson), Lionel Gallagher (Mr. Gallagher), Winifred Mc Nulty
(Mrs. Grigson), Columb Mc Bride (Adolphus Grigson), Kieran Mc
Cauley (Auxillary). For a pleasant night's entertainment,
remember the dates, Moday 5th to Monday 12th August '91
inclusive (eight nights) at 8.30pm.
from The Sligo Weekender, August 1989
'Summertime and the
living is easy' - isn't exactly what you'll hear S.D.C.
Director, Walter Mc Donagh, chirping during this holiday season.
Living indeed is easy if you're lazing languidly on the sun
drenched decks of the 'St. Louis Princess' as you glide down by
the 'Gateway Arch', swept on by mighty Mississippi, a mega-sized
cigar in hand and the requisite crate of the ever-so-popular
'Bud Light' on ice. Summer '89 the reality! Despite not having
the power of bi-location, Walter has effectively achieved
bi-production. Just imagine this programme: From August 11th to
August 23rd inclusive, (one night only, August 14th excluded),
the Sligo Drama Circle presents W. B. Yeats version of 'King
Oedipus' and the O' Casey classic, 'Juno and the Paycock, both
directed by Walter Mc Donagh. So Sligo's long serving Drama
Circle have been very busy over the past few months.
The calendar of
events at the Hawk's Well reads as follows: (1) King Oedipus,
Friday 11th and Saturday 12th August; (2) Juno and the Paycock,
Sunday 13th August to Sunday 20th August (excluding Monday
14th); (3) King Oedipus, Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd, Wednesday
23rd. These performances will, of course, coincide with the
Yeats International Summer School. The background and build-up
to both productions is quite unique. First there's the much
travelled 'Juno', one of S.D.C.'s greatest success stories,
indeed almost the stuff of dreams. This production first
appeared during the summer of '88 and while playing at the
Hawk's Well, it so impressed some American visitors, including
Joe Mc Glynn, Irish Consul at St. Louis, that the entire cast
and production crew were invited to St. Louis. Many readers will
have read of the marvellous nights in the magnificent Sheldon
Theatre on Washington Ave. and the boundless hospitality enjoyed
by all. Indeed its not unlikely that some of S.D.C.'s St. Louis
friends may happen to be here again for this 'Juno' production.
The success of 'Juno' can best be gauged from a few excerpts
from that much feared and highly esteemed drama critic, Joe
Pollack. Writing in the influential St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he
comments on the S.D.C.'s production: "The
production was good - often very good. It's exciting to listen to O'
Casey's words coming from actors who are part of the land and
the heritage - Eddie Mac Dermottroe is splendid as Jack Boyle. He has a perfect match in Lionel
Gallagher as Joxer. It's a rich and
superior performance. Ann Mc Dermott, as Juno is solid and impressive. Ita
Mc Morrow, a blowzy-blonde neighbour, makes the most of her
appearances". Great praise surely, the kind that any drama group
would be tempted to overuse in its publicity. Al the above named
are back again in 'Jun' and there are some new and impressive
cast changes, notably Noreen Egan of 'Blood Wedding' fame, and
John Woods from the professional ranks of the Acorn Company.
And
so to 'Oedipus'. This full length English version by W. B. Yeats
is on a grand scale. Especially commissioned by the Sligo Yeats
Society for this commemorative year (1939 - 1989) and generously
sponsored by the Bank of Ireland. Sligo theatre-goers shouldn't
miss this glittering production: The sets have been
professionally constructed as have the splendid masks and
costumes of Kate Mc Donagh and John Foley; the original music is
by Barry Brennan and Padraic Meehan; as usual the choreography
by Mary Mc Donagh is top class. It has long been widely
acknowledged that Sligo Drama Circle has developed a special
expertise in the production of Yeats plays. Again director,
Walter Mc Donagh, epitomises this great tradition of close on
thirty years involvement and experience. This production of
'Oedipus' has offered new scope for his creative urges and just
look at the brilliant array of vocal talent he has assembled:
Speakers of the calibre of Edmund and David Henry, Paddy Dooney,
Bill Hickey, Joe Meehan, Yvonne Curran, John Kavanagh - its a
huge case, including speaking and non-speaking choruses, all
visually enhanced by Paul Tucker's lighting skills.
And
so this very exciting, specially commissioned 20th century
version of 'Oedipus' brings a rather unique theatrical
opportunity to Sligo audiences. That poor unfortunate who
managed to kill his dad and marry his mum etc. etc. is one of
the greatest of Greek classical scenarios, which has been
further immortalised as the Oedipus Complex of modern
psychology. These two summer specials, 'Juno' and 'Oedipus',
must rate as a glowing tribute to the enthusiasm and expertise
of one man in particular, Walter Mc Donagh. Come and see for
yourself, you won't be disappointed.
from The Sligo Champion, April 7th, 1989
Sligo Drama Circle
members have just returned from the United States following a
much acclaimed performance in St. Louis, Missouri, of the Seán
O' Casey classic "Juno and the Paycock". The St Louis
Post-Dispatch newspaper, in a review, described the Sligo
group's production as "good - often very good". The newspaper's
theatre critic, Joe Pollack, stated that if ever a play proved
that those who failed to learn from history were doomed to
repeat it or that the more things change the more they remained
the same, it was "Juno and the Paycock", the classic drama by
Seán O' Casey. It was set in 1922 but more than three
generations later Irishmen were still fighting Irishmen and
grinding poverty still had the nation in turmoil. The review
continued: "The Sligo Drama Circle from the Irish community of
the same name brought the play to the Sheldon and while the
accents sometimes caused difficulty, the message of the play was
loud and clear and the production was good - often very good".
The Sligo group
arrived back at Strandhill Airport following their trip which
lasted from March 9th to the 18th during which they experienced
boundless hospitality. "The interest in and enthusiasm for
anything Irish during St. Patrick's week might be expected but
the availability of an O' Casey classic with all Irish (and all
Sligo) cast was unique for both the Sligo Drama Circle and the
appreciative American audiences," said Mr. Seán Burke. During
their visit, Sligo Drama Circle participated in the St.
Patrick's day Parade in their specially designed Drama Circle
sweatshirts. "Sligo might have been far away but the massive
newspaper, radio and television publicity made everybody in the
S.D.C. company so proud and so determined to do Sligo proud,
none more so than director, Walter Mc Donagh," said Mr. Burke.
The St. Louis
Post-Dispatch review stated that it was depressing to realise
how much remained the same either in truth or in perception, but
it was exciting to listen to O' Casey's words coming from actors
who were part of the land and the heritage. "The story is basic:
the Boyle family, deep in poverty, includes
father, mother, son and daughter. Jack is a loafer, his wife,
Juno, tries to keep things together, son Johnny is crippled from
battle wounds in "the troubles", daughter Mary is on strike.
Suddenly, like an announcement from heaven, Boyle is told he
will receive an inheritance of as much as 200 pounds. Betting on
the come, the family buys furniture, clothes and booze, living
it up to the highest. The comedown is savage: the inheritance
vanishes through a legal error, the son is executed for being an
informer, the daughter is made pregnant by the man who promised
the inheritance, seduced her and left town".
The
review added: "Eddie Mac Dermottroe is splendid as Jack Boyle, known as the
Paycock (peacock) because of his pride. His problems are largely
of his own making. He's proud and lazy and not nearly as bright
as he thinks he is, and an "old fashioned man" in terms of
dominating - even bullying - his wife and children. Mac
Dermottroe's lilting strut, his sudden rages, his drunken
rantings, are outstanding. He has a perfect match in Lionel
Gallagher as Joxer, his neighbour and drinking companion. Joxer
is the ultimate sycophant, always turning his face to the kind
word, his hand to the full glass, and Gallagher is just
wonderful. He is smarmy s he glides across the floor, wormy as
he insinuates his great friendship for the Paycock, two-faced as
he snarls invective at the Paycock behind his back, lower than
low as he steals his last bottle of beer. It's a rich and
superior performance.
Ann Mc Dermott, as Juno, doesn't have the opportunity for
flamboyance that Mac Dermottroe and Gallagher have, but she help
hold the play together even as she fails to hold her family
together. She's solid and impressive. Ita Mc Morrow was the
other standout as a blowzy-blonde neighbour who makes the most
of he appearances", the review said. The Sligo group's visit to
St. Louis was not only successful, but it will go down as one of
the major all-time highlights in Sligo Drama Circle's history.
from The Sligo Champion, February, 1989
Sligo Drama
Circle's "Juno and the Paycock" currently playing to packed
houses at Sligo's Hawk's Well Theatre, is to play in St. Louis
Missouri, on St. Patrick's weekend. Walter Mc Donagh's
production has won a new place in the history of Sligo theatre
by being invited to play in the 740 seater St. Louis venue on
the nights of March 16th and March 17th. During the sell-out run
of "Juno" in Sligo last August, leading attorney and head of St.
Louis Irish Cultural Association, Joe Mc Glynn, was in Sligo and
was so impressed by the success of the O'Casey play that he set
about organising the invitation to the USA. Mr. Mc Glynn has had
a long association with Sligo. It was at his invitation that the
then Mayor of Sligo, Cllr. Martin Keaveney, visited St. Louis
for the St. Patrick's Day parade in 1973.
So enthusiastically
did Mr. Mc Glynn's party sell the idea of a visit of the Sligo
group that all is now set for the entire cast of "Juno" to fly
out to Missouri. The travelling party, which includes Sligo's
Queen Maeve, Lucy Mc Connell, will number twenty people. "it is
particularly gratifying that founder members Eddie Mc Dermottroe,
once again Chairman of the company and playing Captain Boyle,
and Director Walter Mc Donagh, should be at the forefront of the
tour" a Drama Circle spokesman said.
Other leading roles
will be played by Ann Mc Dermott, Lionel Gallagher, Ita Mc
Morrow, Yvonne Curran, Ronan Mc Evilly, Francis Curley, Damien
Quinn, Kieran Keaney, Marie Mc Tiernan and Joe Meehan. Ms. Mc
Connell's trip is being sponsored by the Sligo Vintner's
Association. Feis Shligigh has also contributed towards the
trip, and the Ulster Bank has helped by sponsoring the programme
for the current run in the Hawk's Well Theatre, which continues
nightly until Tuesday February 7th.
from The Sligo Champion, July 24th, 1987
"It revolutionised the whole
amateur drama scene", a comment
made about J. B. Keane's "Sive". Like all revolutions it had its
growing pains having been initially rejected by the Abbey but
engendering so much excitement in the Limerick audience of 1959,
the year of its first performance, that the Gardaí
had to be called out. It went on to win the All-Ireland finals
in Athlone and, of course, was the making of Keane as a
dramatist. The Sligo Drama Circle will present "Sive" at the
Hawks Well from Monday July 27th to Sunday August 2nd at 8.30pm.
It seems, therefore, a very fitting production for the return of
somebody to the Sligo stage who has been missing for far too
long. Eddie Mc Dermottroe makes a welcome return after eighteen
years absence. Eddie was first associated with the Sligo Unknown
Players which will call to mind the name of Charlie Hughes to
many Sligonians and then the Bernadette Players under the
direction of the late Gerry Westby. He was a founder member of
the Sligo Drama Circle and became its first Chairman.
As an actor, his performances are
remembered both locally and nationally and deservedly he
received numerous awards in drama festivals throughout Ireland.
Some of his best known and most loved performances were Captain
Boyle in "Juno and the Paycock", for which he was awarded gold
medals in Navan, Cavan, Roscommon, Tubbercurry and Ballinrobe;
Old Mahon in "The Playboy of the Western World"; Colonel Ecardo
in "Montserrat" for which he was awarded a gold medal in Galway
and Navan and many others too numerous to mention. It is his
great joy to return to the stage in this production of "Sive".
He numbers Pats Bocock as one of his favourite characters and "Sive"
one of his favourite plays, having played it in 1969 in Sligo
Town Hall, also directed by Walter Mc Donagh.
Joining Eddie in this production are other
members of the original cast. Kay Guinane plays Nuala Glavin;
Rory Callagy and Brian Bohan also take part. Kay's tradition in
the history of Sligo drama stretches back as far as Eddie's,
having also played with Sligo Unknown Players and the
Bernadettes. Coincidentally, this production features another
father-daughter team. In the 1969 production the part of Sive
was played by Maria Mc Dermottroe, who has since gone on to
become a professional actress and only recently returned from
Hollywood where she took part in a film directed by John
Houston. In this production Sive is played by Darina Gallagher,
whose father, Lionel, plays "Seán Dota". Darina, who has already
been singled out by many for her notable performances in
Sligo to date, could very well follow in the footsteps of her
predecessor. The other names who complete the cast are Joe
Meehan, Yvonne Curran and Dara Mc Moreland. "Sive", full of
tragedy, but not without humour, tells the story of a young girl
forced to marry an old man due to the avaricious nature of her
relatives. Actors who have played in "Sive" talk of the feeling
of the audience participation and a sense of having taken part
in a primitive ritual. I'm sure Sligo audiences will enjoy
participating in this very dramatic performance when it run at
the Hawks Well from Monday July 27th to Sunday August 2nd at
8.30pm.
from The
Sligo Champion, May, 1987
The Sligo Drama
Circle will celebrate their thirtieth anniversary in true style
this month with an adventurous birthday production of Agatha
Christie's "Ten Little Indians". Originally staged under the
title "Ten Little Niggers", British Race Relations Laws enforced
a name change, and despite the absence of race relations laws in
the Republic, Sligo Drama Circle decided to abide by the British
ruling. But what's in a name? In this case it's certainly the
play that matters, and Sligo Drama Circle promise a nail-biting
production starring all well-known performers, plus a few
surprising new faces!!
Anyone who relishes
a good 'whodunnit' will know that Agatha Christie's name is
synonymous with detective thrillers, here are the most
intriguing, perfectly crafted plays of that genre, tense,
mysterious and always crowned by that last minute cliff-hanger,
guaranteed to keep the audience tottering nervously on the edge
of their seats!! Picture the scenario. The ten persons in the
title are, in classic murder mystery style, invited to holiday
at the luxurious, but isolated, Indian Island by person or
persons unknown. Pretty harmless so far. However, slowly but
bloodily, each little visitor is bumped off. Whodunnit? Why? Who
will be next to die?? "Ten Little Indians" is a paradise for the
amateur criminologist, heaven for the armchair detective. Will
you unravel the mystery before the final curtain?
Sligo Drama Circle
is the county's oldest amateur drama society and it has, over
the decades, spawned such theatrical luminaries as Paddy Dooney
and Maria Mc Dermottroe. Paddy Dooney recently toured with the
Druid Theatre Company's highly acclaimed production of Synge's
"Playboy of the Western World", he charmed viewers of RTE's
Saturday Live programme when he appeared as a guest of Mick 'Miley'
Lally in February last. Maria Mc Dermottroe has enjoyed a
charmed professional acting career, rarely 'resting', she has
worked with all the top Irish companies, including the Abbey,
and recently captured a starring role in John Huston's film of
the James Joyce short story "The Dead".
Who knows what will
become of talented young members of the current cast in years to
come, names like Yvonne Curran, Ruth Marshall, John Kavanagh and
Mark Granaghan are as yet little known but, Sligo Drama Circle
today, tomorrow Hollywood?? Irene Fleming directs and it opens
at the Hawk's Well on Wednesday May 20th and runs until Sunday
24th.
from The
Sligo Weekender, November 9th, 1984, by Mary Gaffney
"If we give as much
happiness to our audiences as we have had during rehearsals, we
will be content", said Joan Fitzpatrick who is producing Sligo
Drama Circle's musical "Guys 'n Dolls" which opens on Thursday
November 15th at 8.00pm in the Hawk's Well Theatre. Set in
Brooklyn, the musical fable is based on a short story by Damon
Runyon with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser who also composed
the music for "Where's Charlie?" Many of the characters are
drawn from Runyon's links with the crime world.
Sky Masterson,
played by Vincent Ryan, is drawn on the life of Batt Masterson,
one time sheriff of Dodge City, while Nathan Detroit, played by
Robert Burnside, is based on Lou Clayton, a colourful gambler
and cabaret partner of Jimmy Durante. Lieut. Brannigan is played
by Walter Mc Donagh and Sarah Brown, a 'mission doll', who falls
in love with Sky Masterson, with Jane Fitzpatrick playing
Adelaide, the girlfriend of Nathan Detroit. Popular numbers in
the show include - "I have Never Been in Love Before", "A Bushel
and a Peck", "Luck Be a Lady", "Sit Down You're Rocking the
Boat" and the theme song "Guys 'n Dolls". It will be a trip down
memory lane for those who remember the film version of the 70's
with Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra and Vivian
Blaine.
Choreography is by
Mary Mc Donagh and musical direction by Kathleen O' Hara. The
set is being designed and constructed by Neilus Flynn, Joe
Meehan and Feilim O' Doherty. There is a cast of 45 with Vincent
Ryan and Margaret Curley in their first major roles. The cast
also includes Cormac Sheridan, Liam Finan, Paddy Dooney, Enda
Sheridan, Dermot Mc Dermott, Collette Mc Bride, Mai O' Connor,
Fr. Frank Downes, Bernadine Mc Gauran, Donal Mc Lynn and Kieran
Moriarity. Costumes are being supplied by Derry O' Donovan,
Dublin. Opening night will be a Gala Performance in aid of the
Mental Health Association.
"This is a dream
come true for the Drama Circle", said Joan, award-winning
actress and producer of a number of plays and musicals. Last
year her Tubbercurry entry won the Junior Tops of the Town. "To
get this wonderful cast and find they were available has been a
major achievement", said Joan.
from The
Sligo Weekender, May 1984, by Mary Gaffney
"I was born with a
play script in my hand", joked Irene Fleming when she spoke to
Sligo Weekender about her production of "Drama at Inish" which
the Sligo Drama Circle are presenting at the Hawk's Well Theatre
from Wednesday May 9th to Saturday May 12th. Irene, a teacher at
St. Cecilia's, Cregg House, began her acting career with the
late Charlie Hughes as did many of the cast of "Drama at Inish"
and again, like many of the cast, she was a member of the
All-Ireland winning "A Streetcar Named Desire". With her present
production, Irene is determined to repeat the success of the
Abbey Theatre when they revived "Drama at Inish" last year.
"In fact the Abbey
produced it twice, once as a musical and then as a straight
play", said Irene. "Our cast is a mixture of a continuation of
an association that began with Charlie Hughes and younger
actors". "Drama at Inish" was written in 1933 by Lennox Robinson
and is set in a small seaside town that is being visited for the
summer season by a theatre company. The lead role of the
extrovert actor-manager of the company, Hector de la Mare, is
taken by Paddy Dooney, fresh from his professional tour with the
Druid Theatre Company in "Playboy of the Western World". Paddy,
a founder member of the Sligo Drama Circle, has featured in many
of its productions. He is ably assisted in "Drama at Inish" by
Pam Donaghy as his wife, Constance Constantia, who is a very
experienced actress and was a member of the cast of the Drama
Circle's production of "Fallen Angels" last year.
In "Drama at Inish",
Mr. de la Mare presents plays in the local hall by the Russian
and Scandinavian writers who brought such influence on Irish
dramatic writing of that period. The town folk take the plays
very much to heart and a minor Peyton Place develops on the
Irish coast. Dramatic suicides are contemplated although never
successfully carried out and with comic results. "The play is a
comedy and while it was set in the 30's, in many ways it is
relevant to the Ireland of today", said Drama Circle Chairman,
Seán Burke. "The local politician steps out of line and people
might be forgiven for thinking that the author had particular
political events with Sligo connections in mind when he wrote
the part of Peter Hurley"
The comedy of the
play is displayed beautifully in one scene when Peter Hurley,
the local T.D., was asked if he ever spoke in the Dáil. "I riz
twice one day but someone else riz quicker", he replied. The
proprietor of the hotel, Mr. John Twohig, the most important man
in town and chairman of all the committees, including
entertainment, is played by Seán Burke. Lionel Gallagher plays
the T.D. Peter Hurley, Maureen Barry is Mrs. Twohig, Brenda
Boyle is Lizzie, John Twohig's sister who claims she was jilted
by Peter. Peter's son, Eddie, is played by Kevin Boyle, Michael
the Boots by John O' Dea, previously seen with the Profile
Players. Ruth Marshall plays Christine Lambert, Joe Meehan plays
Hegarty the reporter, Cormac Sheridan the local Sergeant,
Pádraig Harte the local farmer Slattery and Yvonne Curran the
hotel maid, whose production of a Yeats play at Feis Shligigh
won a member of the cast, Denise Burns, the Mary Friel Cup for
the overall winner in the drama section.
"We wish to express
our appreciation for the support we have received from the
business people of Sligo. Amateur groups need financial aid as
well as patronage in efforts to educate for leisure and promote
the arts", said Mr. Burke.
By Brendan Tansey, The Sligo Journal, August 20th, 1982
I knew one certain
thing about New Yorker, Philip Price, before we had a chance to
chat. And that was that he was a workaholic! I mean it is not
often that a professional producer - after completing a hectic
term in the competitive realm of American theatre - comes to a
small place like Sligo to stage what promises to be one of the
largest and most glamorous musical shows ever to be put on here.
The show, "Where's Charlie?", will run for nine days and has
made use of some of Sligo's top amateur talent. And it has all
been done within six weeks! A hectic schedule and still Mr.
Price smiles and remarks: "I have been coming to Sligo on my
holidays for the past four years". A house in Dromard originally
brought Philip to Sligo. He came with friends to do it up and he
now holidays yearly here. Why, I asked him, was he so interested
in staging a production of "Where's Charlie?" in Sligo? "I guess
the play held an attraction for me. It is a very old play - in
fact it goes back to 1894. I first saw it when I was seventeen
and it has always been a favourite", he says.
Perhaps,
inevitably, he became interested in local theatre. His first
production was "Endgame" - which proved a tremendous success
when it was staged in the Venue. And last year his production of
"Rain", a play by Somerset Maughan was also a great success. But
"Where's Charlie?" which opens in the Hawks Well this Friday, is
his most ambitious, most expensive and most glamorous production
in Sligo to date. "I must admit it is a terribly ambitious
production. We have only had a short period of time in which to
produce it and I van guarantee that it will be all set for the
opening night", he says. There will be a cast of twenty-four,
including both old and new faces to local theatre. And how has
he found our local talent? "I am impressed. One of our main
difficulties was to find an actor to play Charlie and we were
fortunate to find Martin Mc Dermottroe who is very talented. We
have also found a variety of talented actors and singers to play
the other parts", he says. Philip pays dues to all who helped to
mount the production, among them Kim Newport and Kathleen O'
Hara who are responsible for dancing and singing, respectively.
He also praises the 'wonderful' chorus which will play a strong
role in the standard of the production.
I asked him his
opinion of amateur drama in Sligo:- "it is very competitive. For
instance there are three amateur companies which is rather
unusual. Now this is a good thing if they help and co-operate
with each other and mutually raise the standard of local drama.
But I believe there are some differences of opinion and lack of
co-operation. This is a great pity because this is very
non-productive", he says. Philip is a professional producer in
New York - the centre of American Theatre. He went there as a
production co-ordinator and over the years he has worked at
virtually all levels of theatre production. He currently works
off-Broadway. According to Philip, theatre in the States is a
totally different ballgame than here. "It is very tough and
competitive. To stage a production you have to go through a maze
of unions and producing is extremely expensive", he says.
However, at the moment Philip can rest from the fiery
competitiveness of the New York thoroughfare as he enjoys the
rather simpler, more friendly atmosphere of local theatre. "I
enjoy holidaying in Sligo. People live at a more human, relaxed
pace", he says.
from The Sligo Champion, August 20th, 1982
The answer to doom and gloom? No! Sligo's Hawk's Well Theatre is not going into the political arena from August 20th to 29th - a ten day run - the Temple Street theatre should be alive with laughter and song as Sligo Drama Circle presents the musical version of the famous old farce "Charley's Aunt" - a show that should appeal to all the family. Bubbling over with fun, "Where's Charley" should be a treat fro tourists and locals alike - a real tonic to round off the summer of sunshine and ease us all into
the autumn/winter season still smiling. Director Philip Price - back again from New York this summer - brings his professionalism to bear on a large cast of old favourites and new faces. Starring as "Charley" will be Martin Mc Dermottroe of the well known theatrical family with Joan Fitzpatrick, Walter Mc Donagh, Robert Burnside, Pam Donaghy and Lionel Gallagher adding their experience to the production. Emerging actress Yvonne Vurran - remember
"Tina" in "Living Quarters" - plays opposite Charley and Ronan Mc Dermott and Anne Mc Dermottroe join them as the quartet of young people around whom the whole hilarious happening takes place. The chorus brings a bevy of beautiful girls and macho youths - Marian Keys, Deirdre Gaule, Siobhán Meehan, Fidelma Morrison, Bernie Willis, Mary Dalton, James and William Kelly, Tom Fox, Vincent and James Ryan and Jimmy Foran. Musical Director is Peter
Golub, a brilliant young composer/musician from New York with an impressive Broadway and Off-Broadway pedigree with Sligo's Kathleen O' Hara as his collaborator. Choreography is devised and coached by Kim Newport and should be really exciting. Costumes are in the professional hands of Mary Brecht. With setting, lighting and general staging equally professional and with the comfort and atmosphere of the Hawk's Well, "Where's Charley?" is a show not to be missed.
Organising the venture with Sligo Drama Circle is the "One Mind Club" and as the Sligo Kidney Unit Fund will benefit greatly with every ticket sold for "Where's Charley?" and there is a special children's price of £1.50 and £2.50m for adults to help in making it family entertainment. Booking is at the Hawk's Well Theatre, Temple Street, Sligo, daily from 2-6pm. Phone (071) 61518 or (071) 61526. Or if you are in the centre of town the "One Mind Club" has its own booking at "My Lady", Castle Street, Sligo.
Remember the dates Friday August 20th to Sunday August 29th at 8.30pm.
from The Sligo Journal, August 20th, 1982
Shsss ....! Philip Price's dislike of the mumbling in the
young chorus rang loud and clear. These producers really do look
stern and dictatorial - just like in the movies - as they sit in
their chairs in the centre of the floor clad in denims and with
their shirt sleeves rolled up. Now it wasn't Hollywood but with
Walter Mc Donagh looking like a scholar deciphering an ancient
text, as he gave a last minute scanning to his script, and
Lionel Gallagher, stuck in the silence of a corner learning of
his lines, it certainly didn't lack in atmosphere. Was that the
staid serious-looking Mr. Mc Dermottroe that had greeted me on
the way in? There he was dressed up in a black Victorian woman's
dress, hopping this way and that way, and making such
exaggerated faces and sounds. But seriously, he's the main actor
in "Where's Charlie?" And he looked very impressive. But then,
although he has not taken part in local drama in three years, he
has a good deal of experience to draw upon. He worked for many
years with an experimental drama group in Holland and he
promises to be superb in this show.
Then there's Ronan Mc Dermott, who, although he regularly
forgot his lines in rehearsal, exuded such an air of confidence
and ease, that the problem seemed a colourful part of his style.
He is an impressive young actor that knows local drama
productions in and out by now. I can still remember his regular
performances in Summerhill College. Polanski might well have
regretted his choice of cast for "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" had
he stuck his head in the door during the rehearsals! Yvonne
Curran (a fine young actor) and Ann Mc Dermottroe were smashing
in their 18th century dresses. The acting wasn't bad either and
save some imperfections in the singing, they're set to be all
right on the night. One trim looking young lady was keeping a
keen eye on the dance movements. Kim Newport didn't budge all
night from her chair as she observed the rhythm of things. And
the rhythm was good it seems, as she rose at the end of it all
with a smile on her face and now a word of complaint.
Robert Burnside was moving about the place with an even
bigger smile on his face! There he was with his top hat, can and
whatever else you need to be a perfect 18th century gentleman.
And he was very good in his role - totally in control and very
funny. All in all the rehearsal for "Where's Charlie?" will take
over eight weeks - and that's considered a tight schedule. I
must admit I never realised it was so demanding. Oh there's
plenty of crack all right and it's a great way for spending your
time, but producing such a musical involves downright hard work
and dedication. Quite frankly, I think I'll stick to just
writing about these amateur productions. In my job you make the
lines, not forget them!
from The Sligo
Champion, June 4th, 1982
Sligo Drama Circle returns to the Hawk's Well stage on Tuesday June 8th for a five night run with Brian Friel's "Living Quarters". This production has already been selected as the opening play of this year's Yeats International Summer School in August. "Living Quarters" is one of the more recent works from the pen of Ireland's leading contemporary playwright and should have the crowds heading for the Temple Street theatre as Friel has always proved most popular with Sligo audiences.
"Living Quarters" concerns an Irish army officer who becomes a national hero for his exploits "under fire" in the Middle East and explores the effect this has on his relationship with his family. Set in Donegal, we find the returned hero having a triumphant welcome home, but beneath the surface all is not well on the North Western front. One critic described the Dublin production of "Living Quarters" as "the most fascinating and, in the end, truly
moving evenings we have had in Irish theatre for much longer than one cares to remember". Director, Lionel Gallagher, is no stranger to Friel's work, having played in "The Loves of Cass Maguire" and directed a memorable "The Freedom of the City" in the Town Hall some years ago. For "Living Quarters" he has assembled a very strong cast, Paddy Dooney, Walter Mc Donagh, Joan Fitzpatrick, Cormac Sheridan, Joe Meehan, Pauline Mc Niffe, Sheila Horan,
John Caheny are all taking part as is Yvonne Curran, the find of the acting sessions in this year's Sligo Feiseanna. Yvonne plays "Tina" the youngest daughter of the returning hero. The Hawk's Well should prove an ideal setting for "Living Quarters" which demands a wide stage for maximum presentation. Prices are £2.50, £2 and £1.50 with reductions for students, pensioners and unemployed. The curtain rises at 8.30pm nightly and as Brian Friel sets
the scene so carefully and skilfully from the very beginning, it is important that patrons be present at the opening of the show.
from The Sligo
Champion, November 12th, 1982
Next week from Wednesday 10th to Sunday 14th November the Sligo Drama Circle presents Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious comedy "Bedroom Farce". Ayckbourn is the most successful and prolific English playwright since Noel Coward, having a phenomenal string of box-office hits to his credit. Earlier this season, Sligo Drama Circle presented Ayckbourn's "How the Other Half Loves" and this production promises to be as frenetically funny as the last.
"Bedroom Farce" is a play for four couples. Ernest and Delia go out to to a dinner to celebrate their wedding anniversary. When this is a failure they return home and prepare to celebrate with pilchards on toast in bed. Malcolm and Hate are preparing a house warming party. Nick and Jan have been invited to this but Nick has hurt his back and prepared to rest quietly in bed. All three preparations are doomed to disaster by the marital problems of Trevor (son of Ernest and Delia) and his wife Susannah who
descend on each couple in turn leaving chaos in their wake. the bedrooms are presented simultaneously on stage and the action flows in and out from one to another during this hectic night. The cast includes five from the previous Ayckbourn play, Seán Mc Bride, Moira Doonan, Mary Flynn, Tony Mc Niffe and Kevin Boyle. The other characters are played by three newcomers to Sligo Drama Circle: Brenda Boyle, Mary Mc Donnell, and Eoin
Clerkin. The play is produced by Irene Fleming. The big question is, of course, who will next get into Jan's bed. Somebody will. It could be you! Find out in the Hawk's Well, Wednesday 10th to Sunday 14th November.
from The Sligo
Champion, November 27th, 1981
Theatre returns to
Strandhill on Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th
December when Sligo Drama Circle takes to the boards in Kevin
Flynn's popular "Venue". For its double bill the Circle has
chosen two short contrasting pieces. "Sundance", a western with
a difference and "There are Tragedies and Tragedies", a folk
comedy by George Fitzmaurice.
"Sundance" by Meir
Z. Ribelow, features such characters as Jesse James, Wild Bill
Hickock, Billy the Kid and Sundance himself
is a
hilarious comedy with a deep underlying message. Anyone who saw
it sweep the boards in the recent excellently organised one act
festival in Coolera House will agree that it is one of the
funniest plays that could be staged and an ideal vehicle for pub
theatre. Director Joe Meehan has gone for experience in his
players and has brought Cormac Sheridan, Eamon Tolan and John
Caheny back before a Sligo audience to join regulars Lionel
Gallagher, and Columb Mc Bride in the all male cast. "Sundance"
starts nightly at 8.30pm and should not be missed by anyone
interested in good theatre or a good laugh.
The second half of
the double bill is Padraig Foran's production of "There are
Tragedies and Tragedies" by George Fitzmaurice. This marvellous
but understaged Kerry playwright has at last come into his own
and is being discovered more and more by professional companies.
Sligo Drama Circle has previously done two of his folk comedies
"The Magic Glasses" and "The Pie Dish". In the cast are Ann Mc
Dermott, Pauline Mc Niffe, Rory Callagy (another welcome return)
and that great institution of the Sligo Theatre, Paddy Dooney
who helped to found the Drama Circle Twenty five years ago this
month.
Lighting is in the
hands of Dave Meehan, sets designed and constructed by Padraig
Mc Loughlin, costumes are by Olive Greenlee, make-up supervisor
is Patricia Zeserson, and Charles Henry is production manager.
The dates are again December 2nd, 3rd, 4th, the time is 8.30pm
and the admission is £1.50.
from The Sligo Champion, April 17th, 1981
Sligo has been chosen as one of the venues for the Amateur Drama League of Ireland National Festival. The event will take place in the theatre of the Regional College from April 20th to 29th and will be the last such staged before the final in Mullingar from May 8th to 18th. Sligo Drama Circle are organising the Sligo shows and among the groups, including some from the North of Ireland, taking part will be the Phoenix Players from Tubbercurry. Said Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, a member of the Sligo Drama Circle,
and current National President of the A.D.L., "The festival really is a celebration of drama and we are confident of its success".
from The Sligo Champion, March 6th, 1981
On Sunday next Sligo Drama Circle launches its Jubilee year with a gala opening performance of "Antigone", a brilliant modern play by French author Jean Anouil. This play has been performed in many languages around the world, and had a very extended West End run when it was first translated into English a few years ago. The Circle's choice of play which deals with the individual courage of those who would pursue their own course of pure conscience and idealism against all odds is most appropriate in a
year that not only makes the Twenty Fifth Anniversary of the founding of the Circle, but also one in which the theatre, that so many of its members have sought with such singular devotion, will be opened. More exciting news, however, is that Antigone has been entered to appear in three events of the National Theatre Festival after its Sligo run, Enniskillen, Derry and Ballinamore. Rehearsal and preparation, as a consequence, have been even more
intense and thorough than usual and no effort has been spared to present a really first class show. The cast of this extremely difficult and ambitious play is directed by Liam Mc Kinney, current President of the Amateur Drama League of Ireland. Mr. Mc Kinney, of course, has had an enormously successful record as a director in competitive work in the past and will no doubt be aiming to clinch the National title once again. In the lead role of
Antigone, Liam has introduced an exciting newcomer to the Sligo stage in Ms Marianne Fahy. Marianne's role is so demanding that she has had to forsake virtually all other activity for the past months in order to prepare herself. As she puts it herself: "The fact that I never leave the stage for the duration of the play is an enormous challenge in itself, not to speak of all the interpretative work that has to be done before one can even begin to think of playing a role like Antigone. It is very beautiful and exciting play and I really have enjoyed
all the hard work that has gone into this production". Pooosite Marianne in the epic role of Creon is the vastly experienced Manus Shields, who makes a welcome return to the boards. Kieran Hickey who many will remember as the amiable Tevya in "Fiddler on the Roof" plays the wry and cynical Chorus, originally created by Laurence Olivier, while Columb Mc Bride plays the bumptiously comic, yet cunning guard. The part of the "worldly and beautiful
sister" is in the capable hands of Pam Donaghy, and the gentle nurse is played by Kathleen Lindey. Other roles are taken by Mark Rippon, Charles Henry, Imelda Mulligan, Tony Kavanagh, Anton Murphy and Jim Hickey. On this occasion the Circle have opted to perform the play in the more intimate and compact little theatre in Scoil Ursula, Strandhill Road, by kind permission of the Ursuline Sisters. Admission is £1.50, Students £1 and curtain up is at 8.15pm. Booking is at Keohanes, Castle Street. The opening night will be a Gala Performance with supper
at Hotel Innisfree. Tickets £4.50 from members and committee.
from The Sligo Champion, January 2nd, 1981
Sligo Drama Circle announced yesterday that the group will be participating in the new National Theatre Festival and will be travelling to three A.D.L. festivals in the March - April period. This will be the first time in five years that the Circle will become involved in competition and the move is all the more exciting because Sligo audiences will also be able for the first time to view a good deal of the opposition when the Drama Circle also hosts a round of the National Theatre Festival in
April. The local group will not be permitted to participate in its own festival, but it is expected that a number of other leading groups will be involved. Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, leading member of the Sligo group and current President of A.D.L., has been asked to direct the Circle's entry, and he has chosen a masterpiece of the modern French theatre, "Anigone", and the Circle is making no secret of its aim to win the new supreme award in Irish
amateur theatre in the Mullingar grand final next May - particularly in the year of the inception of this new prestige competition. Rehearsals for the play start at 8.30pm next Monday evening, January 5th, in the Columban Club when auditions for parts will take place. Anyone interested in being involved is invited to attend.
from The Western Journal, November 14th, 1980
Sligo Drama Circle will be attempting to lift the winter gloom with its pre-Christmas offering of "Peg O' My Heart". The Circle returns to the City Hall for one week's run from Tuesday November 18th with J. Hartley Manners' famous romantic comedy under the direction of Walter Mc Donagh. "Peg" is an ideal choice for this time of year - a family show that should appeal to theatregoers of all ages. And with a new theatre rising in the Temple Street / Lungy area of town, Sligo audiences have an opportunity
of demonstrating that the city deserves the faith that the Circle, the Arts Council and North-West Tourism has placed in it by turning up in large numbers. "Peg O' My Heart" is a delightful show, a rags-to-riches story of an Irish emigrant girl enraging her stately home English relations before finally winning the hearts of all. Sheila Horan seems an excellent choice to play the title role, the perfect foil for her aunt, played by Joan
Fitzpatrick. Ethel, her cousin, is Pam Donaghy and Alaric, her male cousin, is David Johnston, both of whom are making welcome returns to the Sligo stage. Lionel Gallagher plays "Jerry", a role of complete contrast to his "Clov" in the Beckett play at "The Venue" last summer. Other leading parts are taken by Liam Mc Kinney, and Columb Mc Bride while Robert Burnside and Ann Mc Dermott bring all their craft and expertise to the parts of the Butler and the Maid. Two real live dogs also grace the stage. With tickets still only £1, Peg O' My Heart
should be a must for anyone seeking an entertainment night out. Remember the dates of performance: Tuesday 18th, Wed 19th, Thurs 20th, Fri 21st and Sunday 23rd of November at 8.15pm.
from The Sligo Champion, November 7th, 1980
Sligo Drama Circle will be attempting to lift the winter gloom with its pre-Christmas offering of "Peg O' My Heart". The Circle returns to the City Hall for one week's run from Tuesday November 18th with J. Hartley Manners' famous romantic comedy under the direction of Walter Mc Donagh. "Peg" is an ideal choice for this time of the year - a family show that should appeal to theatre goers of all ages. And with a new theatre rising in the Temple St./Lungy area of town, Sligo audiences have an opportunity
of demonstrating that the city deserves the faith that the Circle, the Arts Council and North West Tourism has placed in it by turning up in large numbers. "Peg O' My Heart" is a delightful show, a rags-to-riches story of an Irish emigrant girl enraging her stately home English relations before finally winning the hearts of all. Sheila Horan seems an excellent choice to play the title role - the perfect foil for her aunt played by Joan
Fitzpatrick. Ethel, her cousin, is Pam Donaghy and Alaric, her male cousin, is David Johnston, both of whom are making welcome returns to the Sligo stage. Lionel Gallagher plays Jerry, a role of complete contrast to his "Clov" in the Beckett play at "The Venue" last summer. Other leading parts are taken by Liam Mc Kinney and Columb Mc Bride while Robert Burnside and Ann Mc Dermott bring all their craft and experience to the parts of the Butler and the Maid. Two real live dogs also grace the stage.
With tickets still only £1, "Peg O' My Heart" should be a must for anyone seeking an entertaining night out. Remember the dates of performance: Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th, Friday 21st and Sunday 23rd November at 8.15pm. (No show on Saturday 22nd November)
from The Western Journal, August 15th, 1980
The thought of a Samuel Beckett play in Sligo
is a rather daunting one. Even the most straight-forward
productions by Sligo Drama Circle in the past have met with very
poor audience response so it is difficult to imagine Beckett
having any more attraction. That is the reality of the situation
in Sligo, although the Drama Circle, who are staging the play
with the hep of visiting Americans, Philip Price and Mary Brecht,
believe that there should be a supporting audience for serious
theatre, and Beckett's "Endgame", to be staged at the Venue in
Strandhill in two weeks time, will be something of a feeler for
similar productions when the new theatre is finished at Temple
Street. The sequence of events leading to the presentation of
"Endgame" is quite co-incidental. Fred Zeserson, an American who
had been living in County Sligo since 1967, met with Philip
Price and Mary Brecht, who were holidaying here recently. Fred
admits to having a twenty year passion for the work of Beckett
so he was delighted to note that Philip and Mary had been
recently working on Beckett material in New York and Paris. Fred
convinced them that the time was now right for Sligo to sample
some of the famous Irishman's work and, within twenty four
hours, they had enlisted the help of Sligo Drama Circle and the
parts were cast.
The play deals with an ongoing theme of
Beckett's - the assessment of the essentials of life through the
approach to death. Philip Price admits that Beckett's work
demands attention and commitment from the audience but he also
points out that, in its essential nature, it is also very
relevant to the present day. "It is a difficult play for
audiences but, by the audience giving it the attention it
deserves, there is a lot to be gained from it. The play contains
a certain amount of comedy - for Beckett is basically a comic
writer - clown elements and vaudeville, and by viewing the story
line as incidental to the condition, it can be a release. That
has always been Beckett's intention", says Philip. Philip has
worked, over the years, on many standard productions, including
Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", but he has been
dealing with "Endgame" for the past year, having worked in Paris
and New York.
"In New York the audience were bored, they
slept and they walked out. It was a difficult opening but
reviews in the New York Times mentioned the play as a worthwhile
production and the audience were more responsive afterwards. In
Paris we received a front page piece in La Monde and the
audience were in a frenzy right from the beginning. The reaction
there was absolutely stunning and we felt that we were the toast
of Paris for the entire week. Sligo is going to be difficult. I
have already said that it is a difficult play but I would hope
fro some commitment from the audience. We want people to come
and see the play and we want it to be a success", he says. The
Sligo actors, for whom this is a major undertaking, realise the
obstacles confronting them. The central character, Hamm (Walter
Mc Donagh), is waited on, as he contemplates life through death,
by Clov (Lionel Gallagher). Supporting roles are played by Joe
Meehan and Joan Fitzpatrick, who have long connections with
drama in Sligo. For both of them, it is something they always
wanted to do. Says Joe: "We believe that there is a built-in
audience in Sligo for Beckett, perhaps a couple of hundred
people, and we would be hoping for response from people who have
a little knowledge of what we are doing. As far as serious
theatre is concerned, 'Endgame will be a beneficial exercise in
that we will have to re-appraise the catalogue of productions
for the new theatre. There will have to be a mix of popular
productions a and serious theatre in a definite artistic
programme, if the new theatre is to be a worthwhile venture".
The fact that
Philip Price and Mary Brecht have thought it worth their while
to devote some of their time to Sligo is enough justification to
go and see the play. We hope that it will help both them and
Sligo. Costumes are designed by Mary Brecht and made by Joan and
Mary Gallagher. Sets are designed by Ken Cordall-Crier and
constructed by Jimmy Farrell of Dromard and the play id directed
by Philip Price, with the assistance of Fred Zeserson. It will
be on for three nights, August 26th, 27th and 28th at "The
Venue" in Strandhill.
from The Western Journal, by Jim Gray, March 28th, 1980
Congregations at weekend masses in Sligo's Holy Cross Church may have felt slightly out of place. For with the days ticking away to the opening night of the eagerly awaited "Triumph of Calvary" production, the church is gradually taking the appearance of a first class theatre. And according to some of the top people connected with the historic production, the Holy Cross Church is exactly that. Says Stage Manager, Joe Meehan, "The church is ideally suited to this type of production. Apart from the fact
that it doesn't have the plush seats one normally associates with theatres, it is as good as any theatre in the country". And the suitability of the venue is just one of the many reasons why those closely involved with the production believe it will be a huge success. The mammoth production is being jointly undertaken by Sligo Choral Society and Sligo Drama Circle, and it is certainly the most elaborate local presentation since the Drama Circle
staged the last Passion Play at the old Holy Cross Church in the early 1970's. The link between the two doesn't end there. Quite a number of the original cast are back, most notably Tom Mullaney in the role of Jesus, and the man who was responsible for the seventies production Walter Mc Donagh is back at the helm. It is interesting to note, too, that some of the original cast had never previously been on stage and some of the present cast haven't acted since that last production. But that does not pose any real problems. Explains Walter: "The fact
that some of the cast haven't acted for ten years only goes to prove the depth of talent that exists in Sligo. We are fortunate to be able to draw from such a talented pool". Nonetheless, the task of producing a play that involves over one hundred people told must be a pretty demanding one. In that regard, Walter's experience with the last Passion Play, when he was greatly assisted by the late Tom Palmer, is now proving invaluable. His most
important role now is to blend the talents of the drama people on the one hand and the choral society on the other. "Both groups are blessed with an abundance of talent. I am mainly concerned with the drama, but I have worked closely with Musical Director, Mrs. Maura Butler, from the Choral Society. We have been in constant consultation since the idea was first promoted and the combination is working extremely well", says Walter. So well, in fact, that the producer, musical director, choir and cast are all looking forward to opening night with
confidence. Dress rehearsals have been taking place all over the weekend, when guest organist, Martin White of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, joined rehearsals for the first time, and the final finishing touches will be added tonight (Tuesday). All will then be set for tomorrow night's opening performance, which is guaranteed a packed house of about seven hundred people. "There is a tremendous air of confidence in both groups. You never know how
close you are to perfection until you actually go out and perform before an audience, because only the paying customer can really judge how successful you've been. But we're confident we've got it just right", says Walter. Being a modest man, Walter goes to great lengths to point out that his is not the only important behind-the-scenes contribution. Everybody from the publicity team to the set designers has played an important role, and all have
done the job magnificently. Stage Manager, Joe Meehan, believes that the lighting system used for the production will be the most elaborate ever employed for a local production. The man responsible for that particular chore is John Mc Gettrick who has had four or five people working with him full time for the past week. "It was a massive operation, because the lighting is probably the most important aspect of the overall production. But John is an absolute wizard in this field, and he's worked wonders", says Joe.
Joe's own job is a hefty undertaking too. As Stage Manager, he is responsible for the co-ordination of the backstage preparations that go into a production of this magnitude. He says modestly: "It's really only a title", but no stage production could ever succeed without a good stage manager and Joe Meehan is as good as you'll find in this corner of the world. And so everything is set for tomorrow night. The work will also be presented on Friday and
Sunday of this week, commencing at 8.30pm each night. Tickets at £1.50 are available at Brodericks, Keohanes and the Yeats Building and there are special reductions for students and senior citizens. All in all, the production represents a tremendous workload for over one hundred people - and all for just three performances. But those involved believe it will be all worth while and by the end of the week we expect the people of Sligo will be
in total agreement.
from The Western Journal, March 28th, 1980
After months of preliminary work and rehearsals the stage is now set for the grand opening of "The Triumph of Calvary" at the Holy Cross Friary on tomorrow night at 8.30pm. In the early part of the last decade Sligo Drama Circle held a Passion Play, also at the Friary, and it was such an overwhelming success that the format has now been modelled on the world famous Oberammagau passion play which is held in Germany every ten years. Coincidentally, this year's Sligo performance coincides with the
Oberammagau play. The society have chosen the work "Seven Last Words" for the passion and crucifixation and this has already proven top be a successful piece for the Choral Society. The Musical Director this year is well known to the people of Sligo, Mrs. Maura Butler, who is making her return after a brief absence. Another well known and experienced personality in Sligo dramatic circles, Walter Mc Donagh, will direct. Mr. Mc Donagh was also
involved in the first Passion Play at the Friary. An example of the type of work which has gone into producing the play can be gauged from the fact that guest organist, Martin White, has been travelling regularly from Armagh to take part in the rehearsals. Mr. White, who trained in music at the Royal Academy and London University and has also performed in England and on the continent, has been present at every rehearsal and has made his way to Sligo each night and returned home again afterwards.
The last Passion Play in Sligo was to mark the closing of the Friary in 1971 and this performance is to herald the coming of the eighties. An interesting feature is that it is a joint collaboration between the Sligo Drama Circle and Sligo Choral Society which is heartening, in view of the fact that the general trend recently has been for individual groups to split apart. The show opens at 8.30pm tomorrow night and will be performed at the same time on Friday night and will close on the Sunday night.
from The Western Journal, March 21st, 1980
In the early 1970's A Passion Play was performed in the Holy Cross Church, Sligo which is still remembered with admiration by those who were privileged to see it. This year, the year of the Oberammagau, at the start of the 1980's, Sligo Choral Society and Sligo Drama Circle will stage a presentation of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord entitled "Triumph of Calvary". This promises to be an outstanding event in the theatrical and musical life of Sligo. The Choral work for the Passion and
Crucifixion is "The Seven Last Words of Christ" by the noted French composer Theodore Dubois who first presented the work in the church of the Madeline in Paris in the early part of this century. The music for the Resurrection is adapted from the works of Schubert and Handel, including the latter's famous chorus "Halelujah Amen " from Judas Macabaeus. Sligo Choral Society is well known for the quality and excellence of its performances. They have
given concerts not alone in Sligo but also in Westport, Ballyshannon, Castlebar, Enniskillen and in Tallaght, Co. Dublin. The soloists, as on previous occasions are all members of the society. They include Deirdre Parle, Deirdre Folan, Brian Crummy, Paddy Somers, Tommy Mc Donagh, Frank Fox, Dermot Mc Dermott, J.J. Finan and Liam Finan. The Musical Director is Mrs. Maura Butler who must take full credit for the whole concept of this joint
performance. Mrs. Butler has resumed her role as conductor after a brief sojourn and the audience will thankfully again relish her expertise with a large choir. The guest organist is Mr. Martin White of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, who by now is a firm favourite with Sligo audiences. Martin White trained in music and organ at the Royal Academy and London University, has broadcast on RTE and BBC and has given organ recitals throughout Ireland, England and the continent.
The dramatic presentation of "Triumph of Calvary" id under the direction of Mr. Walter Mc Donagh who has vast experience in this field and who is so well known to international audiences especially for his fine productions of Yeats plays at the Yeats Summer School. He has assembled a very strong cast which includes Tom Mullaney, Ged Dobson, Eddie Watson, Joe Taylor, Dee Gallagher, Liam Mc Kinney and Robert Burnside among many others. The coming together of these talented and well known groups - Sligo
Choral Society and Sligo Drama Circle - has resulted in what will be a unique performance not to be missed by those who value and appreciate excellent drama and superb choral work.. The total cast of over 100 persons is rehearsing with great enthusiasm which will ensure an experience to be remembered throughout the 1980's. "Triumph of Calvary" will be presented in Holy Cross Church, Sligo on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday of next week, March 26th,
28th and 30th commencing at 8.30pm. Admission is £1.50 with special reductions of £1 for students and 50p for senior citizens. The last passion play to be presented in Sligo was nearly ten years ago and was held to mark the closing of the old Friary. The play, which was held in 1971, was an overwhelming success, is to be staged again to herald the coming of the 1980's. The "Seven Last Words" written by Francis Duvez will be staged in the new Friary, is a joint venture between the Sligo Drama Circle and the Sligo Choral Society and it is noticeable
that all the main parts are being filled by members of either side of the venture. The play, which is a mammoth production, need both the Drama Circle and the Choral Society to stage, and the end production will show that they have been working closely to make the production a success and this marks what must be the beginning of a relationship between both societies and it is hoped that this relationship will bear fruit to Sligo's advantage.
The passion play is to be held in the Friary at the end of this month, that is Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th and tickets will be going on sale very shortly.
from The Western Journal, November 23rd, 1979
Lovers of musicals, and there are many of them in Sligo, are in for a treta from Saturday 24th November to Saturday December 1st. For those eight nights Sligo Drama Circle will be performing "The Boyfriend" by Sandy Wilson in the Town Hall. Set in the roaring twenties with all the glamour of that era, "The Boyfriend" promises to exceed even the previous successes of the Circle in the musical field such as "Oklahoma" and "Fiddler on the Roof". Booking opens in the Yeats Memorial Building, Hyde Bridge,
Sligo(071-2693) on Monday November 19th and continues daily from 11am to 1pm and from 3pm to 5pm. The opening night is being donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Society and special tickets may be obtained from members of that organisation. Patrons are reminded that early booking is advisable - many will remember the scramble for seats last year when "Fiddler on the Roof" had an eleven night run - this year the show only goes on for eight nights! You
have been warned. Patrons are also asked to note the earlier starting time - 8pm which will have everyone out in time so that the festival club will not be required this year. "The Boyfriend" is one of the favourite and most tuneful of musicals featuring such numbers as "Perfect Young Ladies", "Safety in Numbers" and the comedy piece "It's Never Too Late To Fall In Love". The dances are the rollicking ones of the era "The Charleston", "The
Riviera" and "The Continental". Musical Director is Kathleen O' Hara and Liam Mc Kinney directs the show. This talented duo have assembled a very strong cast supported by choruses and dancing troupes that should make the Town Hall a must for anyone interested in music or theatre. Rita Barr, Sheila Horan, Barbara Ennis and Martina Cullen play the female leads with support from Mary Flynn, Deirdre Quinn, Maria Kane, Mary Quigley and June Ruigrok,
while Kieran Hickey, Damien Brennan, Martin Mc Dermottroe, Michael Mc Niffe are their male counterparts with John Gilmore Tom Loftus, Pat Clifford, Anton Murphy, Neil Mc Loughlin and Bill Barr their back up group. Add in the full orchestra, sets by Tommy Lindsay, Tom Loftus and Frank Canning, lighting by Barry Mc Kinney and costumes by Bernadette Forde and Damien Brennan augmented by Burkes and Derry O' Donovan's of Dublin, and we should see a theatrical treat to shorten the dull days to Christmas.
Despite the increased cost of mounting such a lavish production, Sligo Drama Circle has spared nop expense for this show and has still kept the admission charge to £1.50 (adults) and £1 (students) with a special student night (seats for which must be booked in advance) on Monday November 29th.
from The Sligo Champion, January 12th, 1979
There are no shortage of superlatives to describe a fascinating stage show but choosing the right one to fit Sligo Drama Circle's presentation of "Fiddler on the Roof", which begins an eleven night run at the Town Hall on Sunday night is a little difficult. Quite frankly, the show is the most spectacular stage production ever to be presented in Sligo. An exploration of that apparent idle boast reveals months of hard and dedicated work, culminating in a show which is thoroughly family entertainment.
"Fiddler on the Roof" has already enjoyed mammoth success as a film and stage show so the 'plot' will not be totally unfamiliar to Sligo people. Nor will the stamp of class which has become a traditional hallmark of all Sligo Drama Circle presentations. The ingredients then are exciting - an enchanting subject; an experienced production team backed up by an equally capable cast and the bubbling enthusiasm of the many young actors making their
first stage appearance - and added to all that the show contains a fair sprinkling of memorable songs. Sligo Drama Circle ventured into the musical field in a big way for last year's presentation of "Oklahoma" and the outstanding success of that show has set a high standard for this year's presentation. But producer, Liam Mc Kinney, has assembled an even stronger cast for "Fiddler" and the show looks certain to surpass the success of "Oklahoma". Based on the books by Joseph Steun, the "Fiddler" follows the trials and tribulations of a Jewish family
in Imperial Russia, and the music of Sheldon Hernick and Jerry Rock really brings the production to life. Among the many superb song in the show are "If I Were a Rich Man"; "Tradition"; "Sunrise Sunset"; "To Life"; "Sabbath Prayer"; "Miracle of Miracles"; "The Tailor Motel Kamsul"; "Do You Love Me"; "Far From The Home I Love" and "the unforgettable "Matchmaker Matchmaker". The lead role of Tevye, the father of the family, is played by Kieran
Hickey, who was greatly acclaimed for his leading role in "A Man For All Seasons" last year, and the role of "Golde", his wife, is played by Joan Fitzpatrick, who is well known for her many stirring stage performances. Other principal actors are Tony Mc Niffe, Paddy Dooney, Rita Barr, Sheila Horan, Liz Mc Elhone, Mick Kilcoyne, Damien Brennan, Kieran Kelly, Martin Mc Dermottroe, Lionel Gallagher, Kathleen Lindy and Martina Cullen. Choreography is
by Pat O' Connor and the musical director is Kathleen O' Hara who will have the Sligo Orchestra under her control. The costumes are by Derry O' Donovan, Dublin. With a large chorus and dancing team and seventeen scene changes, it was necessary to extend the Town Hall stage so seating will be more limited than usual. There is certain to be heavy demand for tickets so early booking is advisable. Sligo Drama Circle have set up a special booking office at the Yeats Memorial Building, 'phone (071) 2693 and tickets are £1.30 for adults and 80p for
children under twelve years of age. The expense in mounting the show has been enormous and the Drama Circle are grateful to the following sponsors - O' Connor Brothers; Stag and Maura Quinn. This year a special raffle will be held and everybody who purchases a programme will be entitled to participate A Festival Club in the Grand Hotel has also been arranged and this will be open to Town Hall patrons only. The show opens on Sunday night and
continues on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There won't be any presentation on Thursday but "Fiddler" resumes on Friday 19th January and will be stage on Saturday 20th January as well. The show will be presented from Tuesday January 23rd to Saturday January 27th. (inclusive) The curtain rises at 8pm nightly and booking opens on January 8th.
from The Sligo Champion, January 12th, 1979
Sligo Drama Circle's presentation of "Fiddler on the Roof" will be officially opened at the Town hall on Sunday night by the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev. Dr. Edward Daly. Such were the complexities of the show that it was found necessary to increase the size of the stage at the Town Hall to facilitate the mammoth production. Many notable local actors are included in the cast but a feature of the production is the many people who will be making their stage debuts. The Drama Circle scored a massive success
with the same formula with last year's presentation of "Oklahoma" and the indications are that the "Fiddler" will prove even more popular. Kieran Hickey, who gave an outstanding performance in "A Man For All Seasons" last year takes the lead role of "Tevye" in "Fiddler" and Joan Fitzpatrick, who has won the hearts of hundreds with her superb performances over the years, plays the part of his wife "Golde". Also included in the cast are Tony Mc
Niffe, Paddy Dooney, Rita Barr, Sheila Horan, Liz Mc Elhone, Mick Kilcoyne, Damien Brennan, Kieran Kelly, Martin Mc Derrmottroe, Lionel Gallagher, Kathleen Lindy and Martina Cullen. The show, which should provide delightful family entertainment, includes many well known songs, among them "If I Were a Rich Man", "Sunrise Sunset", "Tradition" and "Matchmaker Matchmaker". Liam Mc Kinney, who has masterminded many of the Drama Circle's successes, is again at the helm as far as production is concerned. Choreography is by Pat O' Connor;
Kathleen O' Hara is Musical Director and costumes are by Derry O' Donovan of Dublin. "Fiddle" begins its nine night run on Sunday night and continues every night of the following week, except Thursday. The show will resume on Friday 19th January and will also be held on Saturday 20th January. The production resumes on Tuesday 23rd January and will have an uninterrupted run until 27th January. In conjunction with the "Fiddler" a Festival Club will
operate at the Grand Hotel on January 16th, 19th, 23rd, 25th, 26th, and will be open to all Town Hall patrons only.
from The Sligo Champion, December 8th, 1978
Sligo Drama Circle will strike something of a historic note when the present their lavish production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Town Hall next January. "The Fiddler" will be the first show of its kind to be staged at the Town Hall for many years, and members of the drama group have had to extend the stage to facilitate the production. According to producer, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, everything is going according to plan and the show looks likely to surpass the tremendous success of last year's offering
"Oklahoma". A cast of over sixty, headed by Kieran Hickey in the lead role, has quickly come to terms with the tough script and this is certainly an amazing achievement when one considers that at least forty of them are complete newcomers to the stage. Among the songs in the spectacular two and a half hour production are "If I Were a Rich Man", "Matchmaker", "Tradition" and "Sunrise Sunset". The show begins an eleven night run on Sunday January 14th.
from The Sligo Champion, October 15th, 1978
Sligo Drama Circle are talent searching - and the object of the exercise is to find young local men and women to fill parts in their forthcoming production of "Fiddler on the Roof" which will be staged in January. And the group are also interested to hear from electricians, carpenters and painters who would be willing to helpstage the mammoth production. Yesterday, a spokesman for the Drama Circle said people were afraid to get involved in such ventures because of a false sense of inadequacy.
"People who say they love to go on stage but wouldn't have the nerve or people who say they can't sing usually possess an abundance of talent", he pointed out. "And even if, in fact, people can't act or sing there is so much other interesting work in putting on a show like 'Fiddler on the Roof'", he added. "Being involved in the show will give a great deal of pleasure over the next few months and we would urge people, especially young men, to give it a try". Vocal rehearsals are held in the Grand Hotel, Sligo, on Mondays and Thursdays from 8.30 to
10pm and anybody interested in "getting in on the act" is invited along.
from The Sligo Champion, August 18th, 1978
Over the next few weeks, Sligo Drama Circle changes its venue, it productions and its normal Tuesday/Thursday routine with the advent of the Yeats International Summer School. On Saturday 19th and Monday 21st of August, the Circle will be in Summerhill College theatre with three plays by William Butler Yeats, "The Cat and the Moon", "Purgatory" and "A Full Moon in March". Walter Mc Donagh is producing all three "in the round" and some very interesting theatre is promised. A feature this year is the
presence of Mary Mc Donagh as choreographer and dancer in "A Full Moon in March". Performances are at 8.30pm both nights and admission is 70p. Those who saw the opening play of the 1978 summer season in the Retreat House gardens had but one complaint - the weather. Robert Bolt's "A Man For All Seasons" was a beautifully mounted, acted and presented piece of theatre but the elements kept the attendance small. On Tuesday 22nd and again on Thursday
24th, Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th of August producer Liam Mc Kinney stages Bolt's masterpiece again, but this time indoors in Summerhill College. Nobody interested in an evening with a difference should miss this opportunity of seeing something really worthwhile.
an extract from
The Western Journal, September 29th, 1978, by Tommy
Gorman
Grange Mart is the
brainchild of three locals, Willie Farrell, John Mc Gowan and
Peter Casey. The day of the show Columb Mc Bride from the Ulster
Bank presented Mick Nicholson with £50 and a grand cup. On
seeing Columb, one couldn't but reflect on the time when he, Tom
Mullaney and a younger fella were given the roles of the three
dancing soldiers in "The Death of Cuchulainn", a W. B. Yeats
play which Walter Mc Donagh was producing for those grand
American visitors who swamp the place each summer. Columb was a
great dancer, and Tom Mullaney was as nimble on his feet as he
is with words. But the other youngster was terrible. The trio's
performance on the first night was bad. On the second night,
again due to the rhythmless young fella, it was worse. But on
the closing night it was a downright disaster. However, on
coming off the stage they were confronted by a smiling Walter Mc
Donagh. The guilty youngster stared at him, puzzled by the grin.
"Jesus, you made so many bloody mistakes that it looked right",
exclaimed Walter.
(You've guessed it
- the reporter was the third dancer!)
from The Sligo Champion, July 7th, 1978
Sligo Drama Circle returns to the Town Hall for its Summer Theatre on Tuesday July 11th with a revival of J. B. Keane's famous tragic-comedy "Sive". This All-Ireland winning drama in Athlone in 1959 should prove a popular choice with visitors and locals alike and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout July and into August. Producer Walter Mc Donagh has assembled a strong cast to play the Keane characters - the tinkers, matchmakers and farm folk of a remote, mountainy part of southern Ireland.
Joe Meehan and Ronan Mc Dermott fill the roles of the singing tinker poets, Pats Bocock and Carthalawn. Liam Mc Kinney plays Thomasheen Seán Rua, the matchmaker and Lionel Gallagher takes the part of Seán Dota, the old worn out farmer who ants to marry Sive. Eamon Flanagan is Liam Scuab her young sweetheart while her family is made up of Frances Downey as the Grandmother, Ann Mc Dermott as Mena and Ray Cawley who makes a welcome return to the Sligo
stage as Mike Glavin. In the title role of Sive the Drama Circle introduces Michelle Fitzpatrick to her first major role. With the Fitzpatrick tradition behind her, there is little doubt that Michelle will be a big success on her debut. With the firm hand of Walter Mc Donagh to weld them together, this cast looks certain to have the crowds flocking back to the Quay Street theatre on each Tuesday and Thursday at 8.30pm.
from The Sligo Champion, June 9th, 1978
Sligo Drama
Circle's Summer theatre season opens on a highly unusual note
this year - for the first time in over twenty years audiences
are to be treated to outdoor theatre. The venue for this event
will be the Retreat House Gardens alongside the Cathedral car
park. These grounds have been recently restored and at the
moment are in beautiful condition, thanks to the initiative
shown by his Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Conway. A circular
permanent platform has been erected in the centre of what is a
natural amphi-theatre and the surrounding audience area has been
paved to complete the picture.
Nature, of course,
has richly endowed these grounds with a great number of
beautiful old trees which, linked with the majestic vistas of
the two Cathedrals to one side and the gently sloping ground of
St. Mary's on the other, go towards making an extremely
delightful yet dramatic setting for almost any serious play. The
work the group has chosen to open the season with, "A Man For
All Seasons" by Robert Bolt, is perhaps the mot critically
acclaimed play written in the last twenty years. It deals with
the tribulation and eventual condemnation of one of the most
revered prisoners of conscience in history, viz. Sir Thomas
Moore, now venerated as a canonised saint of the church.
The play opens
against a background of rumblings from the court of Henry VIII
who "wants to change his woman" and moves through a maze of
intrigue and counter intrigue. Two historic acts of the English
Parliament follow - the Act of Succession and the Act of
Supremacy, until finally by a combination of political
expediency and the activities of corrupt power hungry ministers
of state. Moore, the idealist, is confronted with the ultimate
choice - sacrifice or compromise of himself.
For Moore, it is no
choice, for compromise to him on the matters at issue constitute
denial of his own self - his own "I am, therefore I am" and so
the play culminates as he enters on a new and higher plain at
the block on Tower Hill. At the same time, and parallel with the
unfolding of the More epic, the author portrays for us the
ironic contrasts that are life, by showing us the machinations
and survival of the Common Man in black comic relief.
For this
production, the Drama Circle is putting forward one of their
strongest teams ever. The part of Moore is being played by Kieran
Hickey, a newcomer to Sligo audiences, but as a star of the
famous Moate Players, Naas, is certainly no stranger to the
stage. Names like Paddy Dooney as Cardinal Woolsey, Walter Mc
Donagh as the Spanish Ambassador, Cormac Sheridan as Lord
Norfolk, Robert Burnside as Sir Thomas Cromwell, Joan
Fitzpatrick as Lady Alice More and Ita Mc Morrow as the saint's
lovely daughter, tell us straight away that the line-up is
exciting. Even more exciting is the fact that the smaller roles
are filled with the rich talents of John Caheny, Manus Shields,
Martin Mc Dermottroe, Ann Mc Dremott and Eamonn Flanagan. In the
difficult, multi-faceted role of the Common Man, the group are
playing Columb Mc Bride, who made such an impact in the Circle's
1976 production of "My Three Angels".
The mammoth
undertaking involving a vast logistical exercise in planning and
execution, is directed by Liam Mc Kinney whose last production
was the eminently successful "Oklahoma" in Summerhill College,
and who has gained an excellent reputation as a producer,
locally and nationally throughout the 70's. When asked to
comment on the scale of the undertaking, the producer said,
"This is of the essence of good theatre which I humbly hope we
can provide for the people of Sligo on this most beautiful
setting. It proves that Sligo already has its own theatre - all
that remains to be done is to put a roof over it - soon".
"A Man For All
Seasons" opens on Sunday June 18th at 9pm (so that viewing of
the World Cup series will not be interfered with) and continues
each night until Saturday June 24th except Wednesday June 21st.
The proceeds are in aid of the Cathedral restoration and the
Theatre For Sligo funds, which are indeed two very deserving
causes, and it is hoped that Sligo audiences will avail of this
unique opportunity to show their support.
from The Sligo Champion, June 1978
Sligo people have
been without the most important timepiece in town - the clock on
the Cathedral - in recent days because of a play. The Cathedral
clock, which rings out fifteen minute time chimes, has been
silenced because of the play "A Man For All Seasons", on the
life of Thomas Moore is being staged in the open air in the
gardens of the Bishop's palace opposite. It is the latest
exercise in weekend theatre by the energetic Sligo Drama Circle,
who have performances tonight and tomorrow, with an afternoon
performance on Sunday.
Taking the lead
part is Kieran Hickey, brother of RTE actor Tom Hickey,and the
local manager of the Northern Bank Columb Mc Bride, who plays
the "Common Man". One of the cast joked yesterday, "With the
weather we've had, unfortunately what we need is an audience for
all seasons. We are encouraging people to bring rugs and to
become involved in the play. The audience has to go to the
execution to form a crowd and participate in it".
It is here the
Cathedral connection again come in - a watcher in the tower
waits for the execution cue and then the funeral bell is rung.
But for the remainder of the day the bells are silent.
from The Sligo Champion, June 3rd, 1977
Twenty one years at the top is a long time for a theatre company by Sligo Drama Circle has been right up there since its foundation in 1956. To celebrate its coming of age and to open the 1977 Summer Season, the Circle has chosen Brendan Behan's "The Hostage" which goes on in the Town Hall on Thursday 9th June after an official opening by the Mayor of Sligo Mr. John Harrison. "The Hostage" is only two years younger than the Circle itself but Behan's wit is as fresh and funny today as when it took
London's theatreland by storm in 1958. To Frankie Brannigan, making his debut as director falls the task of wielding this rollicking mixture of comedy, tragedy, song, dance and musical hall into an integrated whole. The cast he has assembled is a strong one led by Mick Kilcoyne as "Pat" and Breda Hoban, an exciting newcomer, as "Meg Dillon" his consort. Davis Henry plays the title role of the young English soldier with Sheila Horan as his romantic
counterpart. The gloriously comic part of "Monsewer" is played by Ed Jacob with Pauline Mc Niffe taking the major supporting role of "Miss Gilchrist". Others involved are Fran Hegarty, Billy Teape, Rena Meehan, Nuala O' Driscoll, Ciarán Kelly, Brian Woods, Theo Bourke, Mary Dorman, Kathleen Lyons, Bobby Browne, Jane Jacob and Rose Shannon. The musical score is in the hands of Mairéad Jennings, Dave Meehan and Ivan Pilkington take charge of the lighting, sets are built by Enda Mc Cauley and Áine Meehan stage manages. The show continues each Tuesday
and Thursday at 8.30pm until June 30th. Admission is 60p and is confined to over sixteens.
from The Sligo Champion, October 22nd, 1976
There's no business like show business - and there isn't a musical production that can match Rogers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" in illustrating that point. And that's just one reason why Sligo Drama Circle, celebrating their 20th birthday this year, decided that "Oklahoma" would be their first venture into the full musical field. Another reason, of course, is that the widely acclaimed musical, with its strong character roles, lends itself to a drama company more than most musicals. To add spice to the
occasion, "Oklahoma" marks the Drama Circle's contribution to America's bicentennial celebrations and the US in return is sending Mr. Murtha, First Secretary, United States Embassy, Dublin to Sligo for the opening performance at Fr. O' Flanagan Hall, Summerhill College, on Sunday night next. While in Sligo, Mr Murtha will be accorded a civic reception by the Mayor, Cllr. J. Harrison. Sligo Drama Circle has been presenting plays by authors as diverse as J. B. Keane and Archbald Mc Leish
since 1956 but this is its first venture into the full musical field. However with singers who can act and actors who can sing, the group just couldn't go wrong with what is considered to be the last of the old style and the first of the modern musicals. Everyone knows those most singable of songs. "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'", "The Surrey With The Fringe on the Top", "Kansas City", "Many a New Day", "People Will Say We're in Love", "All or
Nothin'", "Pore Jud is Daid", and that wonderful comedy piece, "I Can't Say No" as well, of course, as the title song. Director Liam Mc Kinney, better known perhaps for his Tennessee Williams and Arthur Millar productions, has also built up quite a reputation for his handling of musicals with his Mercy Convent spectaculars. For "Oklahoma" he has enlisted the help of Musical Directors Kathleen O' Hara and Sheila Crowley and Choreographer Pat Verdon.
Liam has also greatly enlarged the membership of the Drama Circle by tapping the pool of talent that "Tops of the Town" has brought forth in Sligo over the last few years to augment the regulars. Included in the cast are are such well-know Sligo actors/singers Joan Fitzpatrick, Tony Mc Niffe, Frances Regan (Monaghan), Cormac Sheridan, Martina Cullen, Robert Burnside, Catherine Clancy, Mick Kilcoyne, Mary Gantley, Frankie Branigan and Tenor James Mc Golderick, fresh from his success in the recent Swinford Singer of the Year Competition.
With colourful costumes, specially designed settings, a full orchestra, over sixty performers between principals, chorus and dancers, Richard Rogers' music and Oscar Hammerstein's book and lyrics, "Oklahoma" promises to be Sligo's most spectacular theatrical event of the year in Sligo. Booking for the show is at the Yeats Building, Hyde Bridge, Sligo - telephone 2693 - daily from 11am to 1pm and again from 3pm to 5pm. Holders of season tickets can
use their passes to attend "Oklahoma" but are reminded that they must bring their cards to the booking office as soon as possible to ensure the best possible seat on the night of their choice. The Drama Circle is very grateful to the Yeats Society for providing the booking facilities as well as to the Ladies Club for assistance with catering and Summerhill College for the use of the hall and rehearsal facilities. Particular gratitude is expressed
to GWI Ltd., Collooney, for so generously sponsoring the programme for the show. The show, which is presented by arrangement with Chappell & Co. Ltd., opens on Sunday night next and continues nightly until Sunday 31st October. Admission is 80p with a special night for students at 40p on Monday 25th October.
from The Sligo Champion, October 15th, 1976
Sligo Drama Circle is twenty years old this year. The United States of America is just ten times that age, celebrating its 200th birthday in 1976. To mark both anniversaries Sligo's resident Theatre Company has selected Richard Rogers' and Oscar Hammerstein's classic musical "Oklahoma 9by arrangement with Chappell & Co. Ltd.) The US in return is marking the occasion by sending Mr. Murtha, First Secretary, United States Embassy, Dublin to Sligo for the Opening night in Fr. O' Flanagan Hall, Summerhill
College on Saturday 24th October and for whom the Mayor, Cllr. J. Harrison has arranged a Civic Reception. The musical continues nightly at 8.30pm to Sunday, 31st October. Admission is 80p with a special night for students at 40p on Monday, 25th October. Since 1956, Sligo Drama Circle has been presenting plays by authors as diverse as J. B. Keane and Archbald Mc Leish but this is its first venture into the full musical field. Oklahoma, with its
strong character roles lends itself to a drama company more than most musicals and with singers who can act and actors who can sing, the group just couldn't go wrong with what is considered to be the last of the old style and the first of the modern musicals. Everyone knows those most singable of songs. "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'", "The Surrey With The Fringe on the Top", "Kansas City", "Many a New Day", "People Will Say We're in Love", "All or
Nothin'", "Pore Jud is Daid", and that wonderful comedy piece, "I Can't Say No" as well, of course, as the title song. Director Liam Mc Kinney, better known perhaps for his Tennessee Williams and Arthur Millar productions, has also built up quite a reputation for his handling of musicals with his Mercy Convent spectaculars. For "Oklahoma" he has enlisted the help of Musical Directors Kathleen O' Hara and Sheila Crowley and Choreographer Pat Verdon.
Liam has also greatly enlarged the membership of the Drama Circle by tapping the pool of talent that "Tops of the Town" has brought forth in Sligo over the last few years to augment the regulars. With colourful costumes, specially designed settings, a full orchestra, over sixty performers between principals, chorus and dancers, Richard Rogers' music and Oscar Hammerstein's book and lyrics, "Oklahoma" promises to be Sligo's most spectacular theatrical event of 1976.
from The Sligo Champion, June 18th, 1976
Synge's Christy Mahon gets rid of his Da by hitting him with a loy. At least that's what he thinks until the old man turns up again to plague him. Similarly Hugh Leonard's Charlie Tynan thinks he is rid of his Da when he has buried him. But it' snot as simple as that.! The old man lives on in his memory - ignorant and generous, obsequious and self-assertive, vulnerable and indestructible. Charlie
tries to exorcise his memory by destroying the few pathetic mementoes of an insignificant life but as he turns the key in the door for the last time and prepares to return to his successful literary career in London, he realises that the old man will be with him as long as he lives. For better or for worse, Da is a part of him. "Da" was the outstanding success of the 1973 Dublin Theatre Festival. The action of the play takes place during a couple of hours of the afternoon of Da's funeral, but through the skilful use of flashbacks, Hugh Leonard
re-creates a whole lifetime. The play can be enjoyed on many levels. It is richly comic in dialogue and situation. As an essay on nostalgia it brings us back to the war years - the half ounce of tea and the Liverpool boat. But it is primarily a study of Charlie's love-hate relationship with his foster-father. In the end we are left wondering whether the sophisticated middle-aged son will at last come to terms with his past or whether he will spend
the rest of his life trying to get rid of Da. Sligo Drama Circle's production of "Da" will open in the Town Hall on Tuesday night next, 22nd June. "Don't Utter a Note" finishes its three-week run tonight, Thursday, making way for "Da" which will be presented on each Tuesday and Thursday night for the next four weeks.
Unknown Press Source, 1976
Next Tuesday John
Mc Gahern will officially open Sligo Drama Circle's season of
summer theatre in Sligo Town Hall. Although summer theatre is
now only part of the circle's programme of plays, which
stretches from March to November, the summer theatre is still
the shop window of the group's activities, taking in as it does
the tourist season and the Yeats International Summer School,
and it has the blessing, both financial and otherwise, of the
North-West Tourist Board.
This year the
Circle has chosen an ambitious programme of plays. On the
opening night, after a sherry reception, Mr. Mc Gahern will ring
the curtain up on Hugh Leonard's "Da" which will run each
Tuesday and Thursday until July 20th, when a season of Brian
Friel's plays takes over. First of these is "The Freedom of the
City", the controversial work set in the Derry of 1970. This
will be followed in late August by "The Loves of Cass Maguire",
which will run to the end of September. Slotted in during the
Yeats Summer School will be the now traditional Yeats plays, and
this year the choice will include "Cuchulainn".
Sligo Drama Circle
is particularly pleased to have John Mc Gahern to open its
season. The author of "The Barracks" and "The Dark" hails from
Cootehall, Co. Roscommon, almost within commuting distance of
Sligo, and his more recent offering, "Nightlines", has some of
his short stories set in the Sligo suburban resort of Strandhill.
from The Sligo Champion, May 30th, 1975 Sligo Drama Circle continue on their uninterrupted bi-weekly performance schedule at the Town Hall with "The Speckled Shin" which is produced by Eily Kilgannon. This cabaret-style entertainment was first performed in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin, in May 1973 during the second Sligo cultural weekend in Dublin. It was given a rapturous reception by the Dublin audience - and now a new look "Shin" is being
presented for the first time in Sligo as a result of continued demand. Excerpts from the plays of John B. Keane, Brendan Behan and John Murphy's "Country Boy" will be staged by Drama Circle actors and actresses. These will be interspersed among items of Irish music, song, poetry and dance. Proceeds from the show will go into "A Theatre for Sligo" fund, and the Drama Circle are grateful to the artistes and musicians who have co-operated to make
this unique show possible. The singing talents of Jack Martin and Ned Mc Golderick will be there. A mandolin recital will be given by Paddy Cashel and our own "Fiddler of Dooney", Joe O' Dowd, will accompany a troupe of prize-winning local dancers from the McDermott School of Dancing. Sligo's best known folk/ballad singer, Donal Mc Lynn, will also be there. Well known Drama Circle personalities Kay Guinane, Pádraig Foran, Joan Fitzpatrick, Ann Mc
Dermott and Maria Mc Dermottroe are also on the boards. The show will run for four nights only - such a wealth of talent will be difficult to assemble again.
from The Sligo Champion, April 4th, 1975
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" has collected another consignment of awards on the Drama Festival circuit. Sligo Drama Circle won the first prize in the open competition - the Festival Silver Challenge Cup - at Ballyshannon Drama Festival which closed on last Sunday night. The adjudicator, Mr. John Knipe, a well-known figure on the Northern drama scene, praised "a most sophisticated and elegant" production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" by Tennessee Williams.
This, he said, was "a splendid play, very well done". The award for best actress of the week in the open section went to Maria Mc Dermottroe who played "the Cat". The John Stephens Cup for best production went to Liam Mc Kinney. The Drama Circle have already won their way through to the All-Ireland finals to be held in Athlone in April. Their next production "Many Young Men of Twenty" by John B. Keane, is in rehearsal and goes on the boards shortly. At the Scariff, Co. Clare, Festival, the Drama Circle
won the best production award, while Tony Wehrly won the Best Actor award.
from The Sligo Champion, March 21st, 1975
By winning the premier award at Claremorris Drama Festival within days of sweeping the honours at Tubbercurry, Sligo Drama Circle have now qualified for the All-Ireland finals to be held in Athlone in April. The best actress award at Claremorris was won by Deirdre Gallagher for her role as "Big Mamma" in the Drama Circle's production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Maria Mc Dermottroe was runner-up as Best Actress, while Tony Wehrly was runner-up as Best Actor. The Best Presentation award went to Liam Mc
Kinney, the producer. Speaking at the conclusion of the festival, the adjudicator, Mr. Sam Mc Crealy, said the sheer professionalism of the Sligo group was evident in all departments of the play, and the producer had presented his audience with actors from whom he got greater than their best. Commenting on Deirdre Gallagher's performance, he said she displayed a magnificent range of emotions and depth and matched the scale of Williams' writing to
a nice point.
from The Sligo Champion, On the Line, by Seamus Finn, February 21st, 1975
Sligo Drama Circle launch their 1975 Theatre season with a Gala First Night Performance of the famous Tennessee Williams' play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". In this Women's International Year, the season will be officially opened by Housewife of the Year, Mrs Freda Rooney. Next Tuesday night will be a landmark in Sligo's theatre history, as it is the first occasion on which a social function has been combined with an evening at the theatre. The group are vigorously pursuing their aim of building a theatre on
the site provided by the Bishop of Elphin at Temple Street, Sligo, and in this they deserve the support of all. The variety of fare and standard of performance and presentation offered is always of the highest calibre. Its members endeavour to make a valuable contribution to the life of the community and they recently organised an Old Folk's Party. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", produced by Liam Mc Kinney will travel to Drama Festivals on the North
Western circuit in competition for the All-Ireland finals at Athlone and Belfast.
from The Sligo Champion, December 6th, 1974
This month, Sligo Drama Circle commences its biggest ever project with the launching of round-the-year theatre for Sligo. A varied programme of plays by leading writers will be performed over a twelve month span in Sligo Town Hall - in response to overwhelming public demand. Said Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, announcing the project: "The idea is to get as near as possible to all-year theatre in Sligo. There has been a tremendous demand from the public, and all proceeds will go towards our Theatre For Sligo
project". There will be theatre twice a week - Tuesday and Thursday nights and the performances will be spread over a thirty weeks period. The spring season kicks off in February with "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", followed in March by "Tailor and Ansty". April/May sees the Sligo production of J. B. Keane's "Many Young Men of Twenty", and the Circle's Summer Season will start one month earlier - on June 10th - with "Passes in the Night" by Kevin
Grattan. July sees the staging of "The Playboy of the Western World", while in August the usual Yeats selection will be on offer during the Yeats International Summer School. "The Importance of Being Earnest" will be staged during August/September, while in October there will be a three-in-one medley of one-act plays. November/December will see the production of "She Stoops to Conquer". The hectic schedule will put an enormous strain on the
company and a spokesman said new personnel of the Drama Circle, members would be welcome, particularly those interested in back-stage work.
from The Sligo Champion, August 9th, 1974
Sligo audiences have a treat in store for them in the near future when Joe Burns of B & P Productions fame takes the boards again. Thos who have such pleasant memories of the halcyon days of Sligo pantomime will recall with a chuckle Joe's many hilarious performances as "Carabuncle". Sad, indeed, that his "other half" of those days is unhappily no longer with us. In his return to the stage Joe has, in theatre parlance, gone "strictly legit" for the role of the father in "Stephen D" which opens a four
week run on August 18th as part of Sligo Drama Circle's Summer Theatre '74. Many will wish to take a trip down memory lane to see the "old pro" himself in action once more. "Stephen D" is probably one of the most ambitious plays the Drama Circle has come up with in a long time. Its kaleidoscope nature, covering upwards of thirty years of Joyce's life, calls for the most imaginative and skilful of stagings and judging by what I saw the other
evening at rehearsal, Sligo audiences are in for a feast of switches and surprises. Well-rounded characters, witty dramatic scenes and clever theatrical effects pop on and off the scene like magic. At one time one might be excused for thinking that half the population of Sligo was flitting in and out of the wings - all of which is a tribute to the ingenuity of that dedicated man of the Sligo theatre scene, Lionel Gallagher who is directing. Many will recall with pleasure having seen Lionel's production of "Step-in-the-Hollow" last season and his
sensitive performances as "Francis" in "Men Without Shadows" and "Candy" in "Of Mice and Men". In a hard-working team of thirty five it struck me how dedicated these people are and how correctly the director has managed to place the players in their various roles. The cast is headed in the part of "Stephen" by Liam Mc Kinney who has a marathon role "the twentieth century Hamlet of parts" as one of the actors said. Liam is probably better known as
a director of Tennessee Williams' and Arthur Miller's plays at the drama festivals but in 1973 he had an outstanding success as "Eddie" in "The Country Boy" and proved that acting is not second to directing. Deirdre Gallagher whom we recall for the brilliance of her stage debut as "Blanche DuBois" in "A Streetcar Named Desire" takes on the acid role of Dante while Mick Kilcoyne who has impressed so many in the past two years plays the fanatic Parnellite "Mr. Casey. Robert Burnside whose performance as "Lockett" in "Men Without Shadows" will be
remembered, delivers the famous "Hellfire Sermon" with telling effect. But the list of players in the play is so long it would be impossible to mention them all: Joe Meehan as the amusing Conservative Fr. Dillon; Geoff Rose, Seamus Kennelly, Billy Mulvaney as the boisterous students; Francis Conway as the talkative Cranley; Mary Mc Donagh as the out of their depth sophisticate; Jim Houlihan as the "wet-behind-the-ears" Joyce brother; John Caheny
as the unpleasant Jesuit; Maureen Barry as Joyce's mother; Frankie Brannigan playing Stephen as a youth; Nicholas Gallagher as "Johnny Cashman" and Brian Crummy as Bro. Michael. More exciting still is the truly beautiful stage settings designed by K. Cordall Crier, a newcomer to the Sligo theatre scene but by no means new to the world of theatre. Mr. Cordall Crier has worked in theatre and television right across Europe and among his most
favourite sets are those he designed at the Corsao Club Brussels for Maurice Chevalier and at the Brussels State Opera Company for the Flemish language production of "Hamlet". His design for "Stephen D" is a masterpiece of simplicity which delightfully enhances the atmosphere of illusion created by the author as the characters flit in and out of his mind with amazing rapidity. Overall the producer has assembled a strong team for this most
interesting play. Sligo audiences will have a chance to see, too, what the future talent of the town is likely to be with second generation Gallaghers, Mc Kinneys and Donaghys together with Pádraig Waters in the line-up and sharing a lot of the action early on.
from The Sligo Champion, July 5th, 1974
"I become rather blasé when some stranger to Sligo confesses
he is astounded by the wealth of talent and enthusiasm there
exists in the town for the theatre and drama; I point out that
he needn't be surprised, Did he suppose we were Barbarians west
of the Shannon? Had he, after all, not heard of Yeats? Was he
not aware of Sligo Drama Circle's existence?" These remarks were
made by Mr. Brendan O' Brien, Director of the Amateur Drama
Festival Movement in Athlone, when he officially opened Sligo
Drama Circle's Summer Season of plays in Sligo Town Hall last
week.
He spoke of the consistently high standard of the Drama
Circle's performances in All-Ireland finals at Athlone, and he
also paid tribute to Sligo Unknown players, the predecessors of
the present Circle. Mr. O' Brien spoke of the enthusiasm
for drama in Sligo, and added that he felt certain the need for
a comparatively equipped "little theatre" for the town was fully
justified. He praised this ambitious venture and wished it every
success, promising that whatever help he could offer would be
forthcoming. "I gather the project towards the building of a
little theatre is gathering momentum and that public awareness
and support are growing", he added, pointing out that on that
evening Mr. Lionel Gallagher had received a cheque for £100 as a
donation to the fund. The Drama Circle hoped to attract further
patrons by offering special annual season tickets. These were
being offered at £10 for two persons at all shows of the Circle
throughout the year.
from The Sligo Champion, June 14th, 1974
Miss Eily Kilgannon, Chairman of the Publicity sub-committee announced the programme for Summer Theatre '74. This year's season will commence on June 25th with an official opening by Mr. Brendan O' Brien of Athlone, President of the Amateur Council of Ireland, followed by "The Millionairess" by George Bernard Shaw. This is the fourth year in a row plays by Shaw will be presented during summer theatre and "The Millionairess" should prove as popular as the other Shaw plays done in previous years. Mid-July
will see the second play - "Juno and the Paycock" by Seán O' Casey. This tragic comedy has never failed to grip and delight audiences everywhere and the revival of the O' Casey classic should pack in locals and visitors alike. The approach of August and the Yeats International Summer School will bring the Circle once again to Walter Mc Donagh's productions of plays by W. B. Yeats. This year's choice will be "At The Hawk's Well" and "Deirdre". There was a time when many Sligo people were under the impression that these plays were strictly for Summer
School students but over the last few years the Yeats plays were proving more and more popular with a wider section of the public and it was found necessary to extend the run. Mid-August to September introduces one of the most ambitious efforts during Summer Theatre when the Circle will produce "Stephen D", the Hugh Leonard's adaptation of James Joyce's "Stephen Hero" and "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man". The cast of this play is enormous
by most standards and the Circle feels that Sligo audiences will respond to this slice of Joyce's life as vividly as did the audiences from Dublin and London's West End. "We could not let this mention of Summer Theatre go by" said Miss Kilgannon, "without thanking the North West Tourism Organisation for their support each year and Bank of Ireland Group for sponsoring the opening of our Summer Seasons.
from The Sligo Champion, On The Line, by Seamus Finn, February 15th, 1974
The first practical step towards building Sligo's new theatre - on a prime site donated by the Bishop of Elphin, Dr. Conway - will be taken this month when the Circle launches its Spring Season. The first production will be Men Without Shadows, by Frenchman Jean Paul Sartre. The play will be directed by Liam Mc Kinney and it is a new departure for the group as this is the first time they will stage a "European" play.
New talent has again been recruited by Liam Mc Kinney, and making their stage debut will be Tony Wehrly, Martin Doonan and Barney O' Reilly, alongside such familiar names as Lionel Gallagher, Manus Sheilds, Robert Burnside, Mick Kilcoyne, Columb Mc Bride, John Caheny and Eddie O' Reilly. Maria Mc Dermottroe is the only female member of the cast. The Drama Circle are hoping to interest all the people of Sligo Town and surrounding areas in their theatre project, and this Spring, they are full of hope for
the future and are confident of local support. By the way, their next play in the Spring Season will be "The Mother" which will be directed by Eily Kilgannon.
from The Sligo Champion, August 31st, 1973
"Step-in-the-Hollow", Donagh Mc Donagh's much neglected but hilariously funny comedy re-opened for the final run of Sligo Drama Circle's Summer School Theatre '73 in the Town Hall, on Tuesday and continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays until September 6th. All summer since Bria Friel opened the season on June 26th, Sligo Drama Circle has been drawing large crowds to the Town Hall with such varied fare as "The Country Boy" (John Murphy), "Arms and the Man" (George Bernard Shaw) and "The Cat and the Moon" and
"On Baile's Strand" (W. B. Yeats). But the most unbelievable happened on Monday, August 20th when, on the second night of a short two-series run about fifty people were turned away from a packed out "Step-in-the-Hollow". The play had opened to only a slightly larger than average first night audience on the previous Saturday night but Sligo's famous word-of-mouth advertising had spread the word over the weekend and Monday night saw a queue
stretching all he way down the Town Hall stairs and there was a clambering for seats. Add in the Yeats Summer School students and the result was the largest turning away of people in memory. Cormac Sheridan plays "District Justice Redmond O' Hanlon", the lovable rogue is much more guilty than he tries to be. His performance in the court scene during Act 2 is a masterpiece of comedy timing. Pam Donaghy gives a delightful performance as Molly, the
Justice's amorous "maid" who attracts all the men of the village including the Justice himself, his court clerk and the Sergeant, the latter two being played effectively by Frankie Brannigan and John Sherry. Undoubtedly the fourth love scene with Seán O' Fenetic, the Department Inspector, must surely rate as one of the funniest scenes on any stage anywhere and the Circle is indeed fortunate to have an "Inspector" such as Rory Callagy. His performance is excellent.
The part most enjoyed by the audience was that of Julia O'Sullivan played by Anne Mc Dermott. Every time she barged onto the stage the houses erupted into laughter and her "evidence" in the court scene is a cure for all bad weather experienced this summer. As her daughter "Teazie" Sheila Horan gives strong appeal and the minor roles of solicitors, public etc. are ably filled by Geoff Rose, Michael Condon, Denise Smullen and Edmund Henry. Lionel Gallagher's production keeps the pace brisk and the laughter
bubbling at the sparkling wit and humour made one wonder why "Step-in-the-Hollow" was so rarely performed. Now that Sligo Drama Circle have re-discovered it, perhaps it will see a revival of interest in this Mc Donagh work in other centres.
A Letter to the Editor from Lionel Gallagher, The
Evening Herald, August 25th, 1973
Sir, As Chairman of
Sligo Drama Circle I was particularly interested in your second
leader of August 20th when you expressed surprise at the lack of
cultural entertainment for summer visitors by the drama movement
in rural Ireland. I am not certain whether or not the larger
towns such as Sligo are included by you in "rural" Ireland , but
Sligo is one centre where we have endeavoured to provide theatre
for both visitors and locals during the summer months over the
last number of years. This year, under the general title of
"Summer Theatre Seventy-Three", officially opened by Brian Friel
on June 26th, we have been mounting plays at least twice weekly
in Sligo's Town Hall, and will continue to do so until September
6th. Here is our programme for August: (1) "Arms and the Man"
(Shaw) August 2nd, 8th; (2) "On Baile's Strand" and "The Cat and
the Moon" (Yeats) August 7th, 9th, 12th; (3)
"Step-in-the-Hollow" (Donagh Mc Donagh) August 18th, 20th, 28th,
30th; and (4) "The Country Boy" (John Murphy) August 22nd, 24th.
In addition to the variety of plays we offer, we also pride
ourselves on the standard achieved. As you can see from the
enclosed brochure, whatever profits are made from our summer
theatre go into a fund to provide Sligo with a permanent,
well-equipped theatre. The difficulties you list in your
editorial are all very real ones and are not easily surmounted.
We believe, however, that we have done so, and hope that we will
be able to increase our programme from year to year. Our major
difficulty at the moment is to attract local people in
sufficient numbers as we estimate that almost 80% of our
audiences are visitors to the town. This year we had our best
season ever from the point of view of numbers attending our
shows. We would like to record that one centre, at least, is not
guilty of the lack of theatrical entertainment for summer
visitors you so rightly highlight in your editorial.
from The Sligo
Champion, August 24th, 1973
"The Country Boy" returned to Summer Theatre today, Wednesday, due to unprecedented public demand. It is a play by John Murphy and deals with the classic Irish themes of father-son relationships and emigration. Eddie Maher has returned home, the first time in fifteen years, with his American-born wife, to discover his younger brother Curly intending to emigrate. Eddie attempts to dissuade his brother from taking the step, and in doing so is brought face to face with himself for the first time. This play
can also be seen next Friday (Tomorrow). The Summer Theatre has been a huge success this year with the Drama Circle playing to packed houses. At one showing of "Step-in-the-Hollow" people had to be turned away. They will have another chance to see the play, however, starting on Tuesday 28th August and continuing for four nights, until 6th September. This hilarious play is well worth seeing. It enumerates the activities of a less than scrupulous
District Justice who somehow succeeds in getting involved in situations as tangled and humorous as you could hope to find. "Step-in-the-Hollow" is going to Manorhamilton on Saturday, and the Drama Circle will take "The Country Boy" to Dublin in October.
from The Sligo
Champion, "On the Line", by Seamus Finn, June 15th, 1973
Sligo Drama Circle's "Summer Theatre" is now well established in the north-west, thanks to considerable hard work by a dedicated band of people. Thus, it is good to report that the programme announced for 1973 promises to be the best to date. It's interesting to note the development of the group over the years. In 1966 the Drama Circle was invited to performed plays by Yeats as part of the Yeats International Summer School, and arising out of this commitment, the group embarked on a programme of short
summer season plays. Then, in 1970, it was decided to extend the summer season and this proved so successful that in the following year, the group presented plays twice weekly at Sligo's Town Hall from the end of June until September. The Circle has, of course, continued to provide the drama for the Yeats School, and this year is no exception - "On Baile's Strand" and "The Cat and the Moon" have been chosen as its Yeatsian offerings. All of this
background information is by way of announcing that the 1973 Summer Season of Theatre in Sligo commences on June 26th when Dr. Conor Cruise O' Brien, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, will perform the official opening. The minister, of course, has more than a passing interest in the theatre - his play "Murderous Angels", based on his experiences with the United Nations in the Congo, has been presented on Broadway and in most European capitals. In addition, Cruise O' Brien is the author of other theatrical works, including those on the King Herod
theme which Hilton Edwards has so successfully presented. Apart from this work, Dr. O' Brien is an internationally-acknowledged scholar, historian and author, and it speaks highly of the prestige of Sligo Drama Circle that such distinguished personalities as the Minister (and Micheál Mac Liammóir who opened the 1972 Summer Season in association with theatre critic Des Rushe) are prepared to support and encourage the group's activities. Following
the official opening, the company will present the first of its 1973 choices, "The Country Boy" by John Murphy and later in the season, "Arms and the Man" by George Bernard Shaw, and "Step-in-the-Hollow" by Donagh mc Donagh. There will be performances each Tuesday and Thursday night from June 26th to September 6th inclusive. By the way, any profits arising from this venture will go towards providing a permanent, well-equipped Little Theatre in Sligo - a project which has received support from the North Western Tourism Organisation, the Sligo
Association in Dublin and the Yeats Society.
from The Sligo
Champion, February 23rd, 1973
Members of Sligo Drama Circle, already in rehearsals for their Summer Season 1973 have a particularly busy few weeks ahead of them just now. On Thursday of this week (May 17th) the group plays host to the Ballina Players who present "The Patrick Pearse Motel" in Summerhill College, Sligo. This modern satirical comedy of the Ireland of the 1970's, written by Hugh Leonard (of "Me Mammy" fame) is brought to Sligo by the efforts of Bro. Columban, who in his days in St. John's School in Sligo brought many
awards to that school. Anyone interested in theatre in Sligo should support this venture. On Saturday, May 19th, Sligo Drama Circle goes to Ballina in return to perform Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" which the group performed for festivals earlier in the year. On the following weekend the Circle take part in the annual Sligo Cultural weekend in Dublin. Initiated last year by the Sligo Association, Dublin, the purpose of the project is to give
Dublin audiences an opportunity to experience some aspects of Sligo culture and to draw attention to the progress being achieved in his field by Sligo Drama Circle and the Yeats Society. It is sponsored by North West Tourism. On Saturday, May 26th, at 7.45pm, Sligo Drama Circle presents "Of Mice and Men" at the O' Connell School Hall, North Richmond Street following the Official Opening of the weekend by Christopher Fitzsimon, Head of
Entertainment, Bord Fáilte. On Sunday, May 27th, again at 7.45pm, the Circle present "A Speckled Shin" - a miscellany of entertainment from the Yeats Country, in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin. This will feature Yeats poetry, dramatic extracts, traditional music, Irish dancing and song and a very strong array of talent has been assembled to provide what should prove to be a most varied and interesting evening. Also in the Gresham Hotel will be an exhibition of paintings by Bernard Mc Donagh. the "Weekend" will be officially closed by Senator Michael
Yeats. Meanwhile, the Circle has commenced work on the Summer Season Programme. Producer Padraig Foran has rehearsals well under way for his production of "The Country Boy" by John Murphy which opens the season on June 26th. Productions to follow include Shaw's "Arms and the Man" and Donagh Mc Donagh's "Step-in-the-Hollow" directed by Joe Meehan and Lionel Gallagher respectively. Walter Mc Donagh, as usual, will be in charge of the presentation of
Yeats plays in conjunction with the Summer School and this year has chosen "The Cat and the Moon" and "On Baile's Strand".
from The Sligo
Champion, February 23rd, 1973
Sligo Drama Circle was founded in 1956. Since then, it has presented plays by major Irish, European and American playwrights. Drama Circle productions have won the premier awards at all the major drama festivals in the west and North West, while Summer Theatre has become an established part of Sligo's tourist season. For it's 50th production the Drama Circle will present John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" at Sligo Town Hall. The play will run from Saturday next February 24th until Tuesday February 27th.
"Of Mice and Men" is set in the farmlands of California. It deals with the lives of the "poor whites" - the mule skinners and the grain buckers on a grain farm. In particular, it tells the story of two men, Lennie and George - their hopes and dreams and their almost inevitable tragedy. John Steinbeck was the son of an Irish mother and a half-German father. After leaving university he led a roving life until he achieved success as a writer with the
publication of "Tortilla Flat" in 1935. After that he wrote a number of novels, stories and plays including "The Grapes of Wrath" and "East of Eden", both of which were successfully filmed. In 1962, John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He died in 1971.
from The Sligo
Champion, February 2nd, 1973
Sligo Drama Circle go into action again on February 24th when, at Sligo Town Hall, they will give Sligo audiences a preview of this year's festival production. The choice this season is John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men", which has been adapted for the stage from the original short story. "Of Mice and Men" is in sharp contrast with the Circle's festival plays of the past few seasons in that this play takes a very gentle, if somewhat controversial, look at man's condition. Rehearsals are already at an
advanced stage and the high standard of previous festival offerings promises to be maintained. The Circle won the All-Ireland Trophy in 1970 and have filled second spot in the competition in the last two years. This year they will be going all out to bring the Esso trophy back to Sligo. A number of new faces will be appearing in the production. Michael Kilcoyne takes the part of George and Columb Mc Bride and John Caheny will also make their first
appearances in Sligo. There are also a number of well-known players such as Cormac Sheridan, who made a tremendous impact in "The Crucible" and "Philadelphia, Here I Come" and Deirdre Gallagher, who had a memorable performance as Blanche in "A Streetcar Named Desire". Also in the cast are George Molloy, Manus Shields and Lionel Gallagher who plays what is possibly Steinbeck'e loveliest character creation, Candy. Padraig Foran and Frank Brannigan play out a pathetic father-son relationship and generally the production achieves a nice blend of old
and new faces. Direction is again in the hands of Liam Mc Kinney who won the award for best director at the All-Ireland final in 1970 and '71 and other regional awards over the past five years. He regards this play as one of the most delicate he has handled and feels confident the Circle can bring back All-Ireland honours to Sligo, particularly in view of their innovations with settings.
from The Sligo
Champion, September 1st, 1972
Bernard Shaw's "Candida" is a somewhat sophisticated play to be attempted by an amateur group, English in format that is difficult needing an extremely polished presentation. It is also so essentially for Irish actors to carry off the characters. Sligo Drama Circle's presentation of the play, somehow got over most of these problems, though there were occasions when an actor obviously had trouble interpreting a line that seemed to be unnecessary in the first place. "Candida", written by Shaw in 1895,
deals humorously with the problems encountered by a politically active Leftist clergyman, his vivacious wife (Candida) and a despairing poet. Following some hilarious scenes during which Candida's mercenary father gets more and more confused, the poet and the Reverend sort out their differences and all live happily ever after. This play, one in a series by Sligo Drama Circle to illustrate the progression of Irish writers over the years, can be seen again tonight (Thursday) and Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th September.
from The Sligo
Champion, May 12th, 1972
The success of Martin Dempsey's one-man variety show "Sing-Hilarity-Plus", staged in Jury's Hotel, Sligo, last week, should be encouraging to Sligo Drama Circle. Sponsored by them it was the first of what the Circle hope will be a series of professional visits over the winter, providing year-round theatre in Sligo. Dempsey pulls no punches, and the lively ridiculing of Mr. Ian Paisley was only equalled by unapologetic mimicry of the "Mission" priest. Other items that live in the memory are a very
pertinent take-off of agricultural programmes on television and the various operatic excerpts with which he laced his presentation. The show was produced by Gerry Sullivan.
from The Sligo
Champion, May 12th, 1972
Paying tribute to Dr. Micheál Mac Liammóir, guest of honour at a sherry reception launching Sligo Drama Circle's Summer Theatre 1972, Mr. Desmond Rushe, of the "Irish Independent", whop officially opened the season, said that interest in the theatre in the Irish countryside had been created and nurtured by the touring companies of the late Anew MacMaster. It was with Mc Master that so many had first encountered the magic of the theatre, the magic that was MacMaster and the magic that was Mac Liammóir.
What a pity that the Abbey Company, the National Theatre, did so little in comparison with MacMaster to bring theatre to the provinces. He urged the Drama Circle to press ahead with their plans to build a suitable theatre in the town and asked that its provision be sooner rather than later. Mr. Rushe suggested to the group that when they did realise their dream that Micheál Mac Liammóir be invited to open it, a suggestion that was greeted with warm applause.
The Mayor of Sligo, Cllr. Michael Carroll, congratulated the Circle on the success of the group in the past, particularly the one-act victory at Naas which almost led to a double victory. The Mayor appealed to RTE to show more interest in the activities of voluntary groups such as Sligo Drama Circle, instead of its concentration on canned programmes from Britain and America. The Mayor welcomed the visitors to the town and wished the Circle every success in its summer venture. Mr. Lionel Gallagher, who
presided, thanked Mr. Rushe for honouring them in accepting the invitation to open the season. He praised both Mr. Rushe and his paper, the "Irish Independent" for giving the Amateur Theatre Movement the serious and consistent coverage it did throughout the year, especially Mr. Rushe's Prompter Column, a type of feature no other national paper provided. Mr. Gallagher thanked Mr. Rushe particularly for bringing Dr. Mac Liammóir to Sligo for the
occasion as it was an honour and an inspiration to the Circle to have such a great man of the theatre in their midst. Mr. Gallagher went on to thank North-West Regional Tourism Organisation for its generous support of summer theatre again this year. He also thanked the Yeats Society and the local press for the co-operation they had always given them and the Ursuline Sisters and Summerhill College who so generously gave the group rehearsal facilities. A very special word of thanks was due to the Bank of Ireland Group who had sponsored the reception
and the official opening, Mr. Gallagher continued, and he was delighted that Mr. George Molloy, a founder member and a leading actor with the Drama Circle was there to represent the bank together with Mr. O' Neill. It was encouraging to have the confidence of the Bank of Ireland when undertaking the task of building a theatre. Mr. Molloy, replying, stated that the bank was aware of all the good Sligo Drama Circle was doing in the community and was
very glad to be associated with the summer season. He wished the company well with its ambitious ventures and promised that the Bank of Ireland Group would continue to assist in the future. After the opening ceremony the Circle presented "All Souls' Night" by Joseph Tomelty. The season continues every Wednesday and Thursday night in the Town Hall until September. Other plays in this Summer Rep. are "Philadelphia, Here I Come" by Brian Friel, "Candida" by Shaw and one act plays by W. B. Yeats. Members of the cast of "All Souls' Night" which has been
produced by Pádraig Foran, are Ann Mc Dermott, Sheila Horan, Liam Mc Kinney, Jim Stanley, Eamonn Martin, Manus Shields and Geoff Rose. For the Summer Season, the members of the backstage team are: Lighting Aidan Sexton and John Mc Gettrick; settings, Joe Meehan, John Burns John Mc Gettrick, Peter Hughes, Walter Mc Donagh, Liam Mc Kinney, and Rev, Bro. Columban; Stage Managers are Seán Scanlon, John Burns, Peter Hughes, Michael Condon, Geoff Rose and Maria Mc Dermottroe. Music will be by Joe O' Dowd with effects by Rory Callagy, Trevor Johnson and
Aidan Sexton. The art posters are the work of Francis Conway. The season will run until September 7th, and this year, in deference to a locally voiced demand, Sligo Drama Circle are introducing a system of group rates for clubs and others and it is felt that many organisations might wish to avail of this concession. The reduced rate will apply to groups booking ten seats or more and and the rate applying to these will be 25p per ticket instead of
the usual 35p. This concession may be availed of only through the Booking Office at Keohanes, Castle St., Sligo (telephone Sligo 2597) and will apply throughout the season except during the period of the Yeats International Summer School. A spokesman for the Drama Circle said this week, "It is hoped in this way to encourage more group outings. We will be very glad to see members of the audience backstage after the shows and people interested are invited to drop in for a chat as the members of the Circle will be glad to have the benefit of different
views".
from The Sligo
Champion, May 12th, 1972
After winning the All-Ireland one-act play section in Naas with "The Pot of Broth", the Sligo Drama Circle proved once again that they rank with the best in Irish amateur drama by finishing runners-up in the Drama Finals in Athlone with "The Crucible". The premier award, the Esso Trophy, was won by the Strand Players of Dublin, with "Marat Sade" but they were pushed all the way by the Drama Circle and in the end, only one mark separated both groups. Commenting on the Circle's production, the adjudicator,
Miss Iris Ballard of London, said that the demands of the play were fully grasped and fulfilled by the producer and his team. She had praise for most aspects of production and the groupings and movement were particularly to her liking. She found the pace of the play satisfactory and was impressed with the advantageous use made of pauses and stillness to highlight important moments. Regarding this aspect, she pointed out that all too often the use of the long pause was overlooked by amateur companies and the Sligo players were the first at the
festival to use it effectively. All the other major issues in the play were forcefully put across, especially the sense of mass hysteria and she found that the use of different ground levels worked extremely well. One quibble she had was that the witchcraft link between Salem and the Barbados could have been more firmly established. The costumes were consistent with the period as was the Puritanical outlook of the Salemites except in one case,
where she would have preferred brown to maroon. In relation to acting, Miss Ballard was pleased with the all-round balance of the cast. All performances met the requirements of Miller's characters. She was lavish in her praise of Joan Fitzpatrick's portrayal of Elizabeth Proctor, which she found extremely moving and sensitive. This was greeted enthusiastically by a capacity audience and eyebrows were raised all round the auditorium on the final night when the best actress award was given to Shelagh Jones of Greystones.
from The Sligo
Champion, February 18th, 1972
Now that Lent is at hand and amateur drama festival season is just around the corner, Sligo Drama Circle are preparing once again their festival play. After last year's successful run with Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the Circle is again relying on the same author. This year's play, "The Crucible", retells the story of the famous trials in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 where a large number of people were convicted and hanged on witchcraft charges. These trials have been the subject of careful
scrutiny by historians over the years and it is now generally accepted that the majority, if not all, of the accused were innocent of the crimes of which they were convicted. Miller saw in the trials similarities to the contemporary McCarthy hearings, when a "Red Scare" re-echoed throughout the length and breadth of America. Indeed, it was contempt for McCarthyism that prompted him to write the play in 1949. The political message of the play may not be relevant to the America of today but attitudes adopted at present in the North of Ireland could
well find a parallel with it. This is a point worth bearing in mind for those who hope to witness the Drama Circle's production. Rehearsal of the play is at an advanced stage and it is hoped to present it in the Town Hall at the end of this month. Production again is in the capable hands of Liam Mc Kinney who gives his usual blend of old and new faces. Those in the cast of twenty-one who have already appeared with the Circle are Cormac Sheridan,
Joan and Eddie Fitzpatrick, Lionel Gallagher, Eily Kilgannon, George Molloy, Anne Mc Dermott, Geoff Rose, Catherine Clancy, Liam Gunning, Sheila Horan and Manus Shields. The new faces are O' Gara, Bernadette Barrett, Ann Conlon, Cora Feely, Mary Murphy, Jim Stanley, Eddie O' Reilly, Eamonn Tolan and Barbara Maguire. Costuming and setting are being taken care of by Joan Gallagher and John mc Gettrick and their respective committees. All in all an impressive presentation of "The Crucible" should emerge.
from The Sligo
Champion, July 9th, 1971
"Performances laid on specially for tourists achieve a spurious or phoney air, and are usually very bleak affairs, culturally speaking", said Mr. Christopher Fitz-Simon, Bord Fáilte Éireann, at the opening of "Summer Theatre '71" in Sligo Town Hall. He was speaking on the opening night of the season at a reception given by Sligo Drama Circle, members of which presented "Lovers" by Brian Friel, later in the evening. Few invitations could give him more pleasure in accepting than one to open a new season of
plays by members of Sligo Drama Circle, Mr. Fitz-Simon continued. He had followed the progress of this versatile group for many years and now found them taking on a repertory which could hardly be matched by any other group in Ireland. One of the aims of the company was to build up a theatre for themselves where they could rehearse and experiment and give public performances, and those who supported the season would be helping towards the
realisation of this project. It was believed in the Tourist Board that the entertainment offered visitors from overseas should be the kind attended and enjoyed by our own people. Ireland had a reputation for drama and folk music and it was these our visitors ought to be encouraged to see on the one hand and our talented performers to present on the other. He hoped the standard of these performances would always be as high as those expected from the Sligo Drama Circle.
People on summer vacation sought entertainment of a reasonably light nature, he added, and it was encouraging to see that while the Drama Circle had included a number of comedies in their programme, they were, from a literary point of view , good comedies which revealed the social preoccupations of the Irish people. While they would make an audience laugh, they would also give some further insight into the character of our people. He recommended these comedies to visitors. It was also fitting that the
members of the Circle had enveloped themselves in the mantle of Yeats and he was glad to see they would be presenting a selection of his verse plays once again at the Yeats International Summer School, he said in conclusion.
from The Sligo
Champion, June 18th, 1971
Rehearsals for Sligo Drama Circle's season of Summer Theatre have now reached an advanced stage and the first play of the season will be Brian Friel's "Lovers" which will be presented in Sligo Town Hall on Wednesday night, June 30th. I learned yesterday afternoon hat it is planned to have a gala opening night to the season - sherry reception - and that it is hoped to have Bord Fáilte's Entertainment Officer, Christopher Fitz-Simon, along to get the season formally and officially under way. This year the
Drama Circle will present seven plays in all - two full length plays and five one-acts. The combined casts of the plays number more than thirty players and they are being directed by a team of six producers. The plays will be performed each Wednesday and Thursday night during July and August. Besides "Lovers", the programme for Summer Theatre includes "All the King's Horses", a comedy by John Mc Donnell; two one-act plays by Synge, "Riders to the
Sea" and "The Shadow of the Glen"; and a one-act comedy by George Fitzmaurice, "The Magic Glasses". The two Yeats plays chosen for performance this year are "The Land of Heart's Desire" and "Full Moon in March". Last year's Summer Season by the Drama Circle was in the nature of an experiment, but the plays were so well received that the Circle was encouraged to extend the programme this year. As this is the centenary year of the birth of John Millington Synge, it was decided to present two of his plays together with a one-act comedy by his
contemporary, George Fitzmaurice. To date, this has been one of the busiest and most successful years in the history of the Drama Circle. "Death of a Salesman" played to full houses in Sligo and had a very successful run on the festival circuit, finally missing the premier award at the All-Ireland finals in Athlone by a narrow margin. "The Man Born to be King", which was presented in Holy Cross Church before Easter, was the biggest production
seen in Sligo for many years and artistically and financially was a great success. The profits from the Summer Theatre Season at the Town Hall will be added to the Drama Circle's Little Theatre Fund. For some time past a sub-committee has been considering the question of providing Sligo with a permanent theatre and a report from this sub-committee will be available in the near future.
from The Sligo
Champion, May 7th, 1971
Members of Sligo Drama Circle were photographed with some of their trophies before they travelled to Athlone last week to stage "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller at this year's All-Ireland Drama Festival where, last year, the group won the premier award, the Esso Trophy. And this year, they were again in the award lists taking the Sportex Trophy in the Two Act and More Open Section, while producer, Liam Mc Kinney, Temple Street, Sligo, won the production award and Seán Scanlon, also of the Drama
Circle, was awarded the Moore Trophy for the best Stage Manager at the festival. After they presented "Death of a Salesman" at the Festival towards the end of last week, the Drama Circle were told by the adjudicator, Mr. Raymond Edwards, that their production was true to the quality of the author, Arthur Miller. Recalling that this team won the major award at last year's festival, he said, "I am glad to say they did not disappoint tonight". Mr.
Edwards said that whilst there was a swiftness and precision about the production, more vehemence and more awareness of individual characterisation were necessary. Mr. Edwards added that Shane Cleary, as Willie, was the king-pin of the whole production, although he might have given a better word image of the character. The foundations were well laid in the early stages. The group was fortunate in having such contrasts between Cormac Sheridan and Brian Mc Hugh who played the brothers. Eily Kilgannon as Linda came over very well. Manus Shields was
solid and authoritative whilst Lionel Gallagher had a very good sense of the whole character of Charley. He added that the minor characters played their parts unobtrusively.
from The Sligo
Champion, April 9th, 1971
The Passion Play, "The Man Born to be King", by Dorothy Sayers, ended its week-long run in Sligo's Holy Cross Dominican Church last night and I am happy to report that my first night prediction that people would be turned away owing to full houses on the closing night was completely true. His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Dominic Conway, Bishop of Elphin, was among the audience last Friday night and he told me afterwards that he considered the production as "a meditation on the Passion". Certainly it was the
greatest stage success ever presented in Sligo and from all sections of the community who had the experience of seeing the play have come tributes of praise and commendation. It was definitely an intensely moving, sincerely acted, magnificently staged production, truly inspiring in its portrayal and dramatisation of those Eastertide events in the life of Christ. For my part, I wish to pay a personal tribute to all those who were associated with me in my end of the production and thank them for their co-operation, without which the measure of
success achieved could never have been attained.
from The Sligo
Champion, March 19th, 1971
It was Sligo's night at the Western Drama Festival in St. Brigid's Hall, Tubbercurry, last Sunday when Sligo Drama Circle carried off the top three-act award with Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman", and Liam Mc Kinney was awarded the Jim Wynne Trophy for the Premier Production of the festival. The group secured twelve points in their quest for All-Ireland nomination. In the one-act section, Sligo Ladies Circle were the winners with "One Hour to Dusk" by Anthony Booth and Joan Fitzpatrick was awarded a
silver medal for production. The group were nominated to the All-Ireland One Act Competition at Naas. Added to this, Shane Cleary won the Owen B. Hunt Gold Medal for his performance of "Willy Loman" in "Death of a Salesman" - a performance described by the adjudicator, Mr. Robert Armstrong, London, as a deeply intelligent one. And it was Sligo night in Roscommon, too, because the Drama Circle figured prominently among the prizewinners when
adjudicator, Gerda Redich, announced the results on Sunday. The Sligo group won the premier award, the Guinness Trophy, and the vital nomination to the All-Ireland finals in Athlone while Producer, Liam Mc Kinney, took the Festival Cup for the best production as well as the producer's Gold Medal. The play was also awarded the Irish Mosaics Cup for the best lighting. Commenting on Sligo's performance, the adjudicator said she was glad the group had obviously gone for a difficult play instead of resting on their laurels. The show had the three C's ,
Clarity, Conviction and Compassion as well as the three V's Variety, Veracity and Vitality. She was greatly taken by what she described as the ingenious division of the stage and she also remarked on the beautiful sound effects which were blended into the overall production. She added that the technical back-up to the team was extremely efficient. Referring to the individual performances, she warmly praised Shane Cleary. The Drama Circle will do a
special repeat run of the production in Sligo prior to their appearance at the Athlone Festival towards the end of April and all those who have not yet had the opportunity of seeing the show will be on the look-out for further details of this three-night run.
from The Sligo
Champion, by A Special Correspondent, July 10th, 1970
Alderman Seán Mc Manus, Mayor, formally opened Sligo Drama Circle's Summer Theatre in Sligo Town Hall on Thursday night last. He spoke of the need for visitor entertainment in the town and reminded the audience of Sligo's long tradition in drama. He hoped this Summer Season was a first step towards establishing a Little Theatre in the town and he promised to do everything in the town he could to hep to achieve this.
Thursday night's plays were "Shadow of a Gunman" and "The Pot of Broth". The O'Casey play was uncomfortably topical, having listened to the radio and TV news over the previous weekend and it was difficult to watch the arms raid and listen to the talk of ambushes and killing without thinking of Derry and Belfast. "The Pot of Broth" was exactly right from the old show business maxim - send them home laughing. It was extremely funny. The plays were very well received by the audience who were mostly
visitors. It was encouraging to see so many holiday-makers present and to feel their obvious enjoyment of the night's entertainment. It is to be hoped, however, that local people will support the venture. While the provision of worthwhile entertainment for visitors is a major object of Summer Theatre, the Drama Circle hopes that it will become a valuable part of the cultural life of the town. The members of the Drama Circle are excited about
the extended season. It is the biggest thing they have undertaken since the Circle was founded and if this season is a success it could be the beginning of all the year round theatre in Sligo. With almost thirty players and two producers involved, the resources of the Drama Circle are by no means exhausted. A number of parts have been double cast as some of the players were unable to play for the whole season. There is no reason, then, why the Circle should not consider a long winter season.
A feature of Thursday night's show was the assured, confident playing of the younger members of the cast. A number of these young people are graduates of the Innisfree Players, which grew, I think, out of the Youth Clubs in the town. There are worse ways of spending a long, hot summer than learning lines and attending rehearsals. One final word. The backstage people got the show started in fairly good time and more important, ,maybe, the final curtain came down to give ample time for a quick pint! "Sive"
gets its first showing tonight (Thursday) and for the next five or six weeks the plays will run each Wednesday and Thursday nights. And finally, look out for some striking art posters on display around the town. The artist is Misha O' Reilly.
from The Sligo
Champion, June 26th, 1970, by T.P.
For some years past, the Sligo Drama Circle has presented a short season of plays during the Yeats Summer School. The plays have been enthusiastically received by the Summer School students and by other visitors to the town as well as by local playgoers. This has encouraged he Drama Circle to extend the season and, this year, starting on Thursday 2nd July and continuing on every Wednesday and Thursday until the end of August, they will appear at the Town Hall in John B. Keane's Sive, Seán O'
Casey's Shadow of a Gunman and Pot of Broth by W.B. Yeats. A major reason for the decision to present Summer Theatre in Sligo is to provide entertainment for visitors. Bord Fáilte and others engaged in the tourist business have, on many occasions, requested the co-operation of local individuals and societies in attracting tourists and making their stay more pleasant. The members of the Drama Circle hope that this new venture will make a significant contribution to tourism in Sligo.
Special publicity material is being provided for the convenience of holiday makers and the management of hotels and proprietors of guest houses will be asked to bring this to the notice of their guests. Sligo has a long tradition in amateur drama. Down the years those engaged in it have felt the need for a Little Theatre. The Drama Circle hopes that the profits from this season of plays will form the nucleus of a fund for the building of a permanent theatre in the town. While the Circle is extremely
grateful for the facilities that have been provided both for the rehearsal and performance of plays, it is felt that with a properly equipped theatre, much more could be achieved. In recent years, very many young people have become actively interested in drama, and a permanent theatre is essential if they are to be catered for. The plays have been in rehearsal for a number of weeks past. The combined casts number about thirty. Many of those taking
part were in the cast of A Streetcar Named Desire which won the Esso Trophy his year at the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone. The producer is Walter Mc Donagh who has directed many of the Drama Circle's recent successes. The set designer is Liam Mc Kinney who directed and designed the sets for both A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie. The plays chosen should provide ideal Summer entertainment. Sive was
J. B. Keane's first big success and since its first presentation in 1959, it has remained one of his most popular plays. Shadow of a Gunman is the first of O' Casey's great trilogy of plays of Dublin life. Since it first appeared in the Abbey Theatre in 1923, it has been played all over the world and it still ranks as one of the dozen or so classics of the Irish Theatre. Pot of Broth, which will be played on the same nights as Shadow of a Gunman, is a one act comedy by W. B. Yeats. It is an extremely funny playlet and should be an ideal contrast to
O' Casey's tragedy.
from The Sligo
Champion, June 12th, 1970
The Sligo Drama Circle, 1970 winners of the All-Ireland Amateur Drama Festival, were entertained at a dinner given by the Directors of Esso Petroleum Company (Ireland) Limited, at the Sligo Jury's Hotel. Mr. J. H. Donovan, Chairman and Chief Executive of Esso Petroleum (Ireland) Limited, in welcoming the guests said: "We are delighted to pay tribute to the Sligo Drama Circle and to present them with the Esso Supreme Trophy. Sligo, since the days of the Unknown Players, have, over the years, played an
exceptional part in fostering amateur drama in the West. They are a well organised group and their presentation of "A Streetcar Named Desire" under the leadership of Liam Mc Kinney, was in keeping with their long tradition of amateur drama. Their success at Athlone was indeed well deserved. "Amateur drama has certainly made great progress in recent years and we in Esso are glad to have been associated with the movement. As usual we will again
award 15 scholarships for the Drama League Course in producing and acting, at Gormanstown College in July and we look forward to seeing the standard continue to improve as it has in the past". Mrs. J. H. Donovan wife of the Chairman of Esso Petroleum Company (Ireland) Limited, then formally presented the Esso Supreme Trophy to Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, producer of the winning play, "A Streetcar Named Desire".
from The Sligo
Champion, April 24th, 1970
The hope that one day Sligo would have its own drama theatre was expressed by the Mayor of Sligo , Alderman Seán Mc Manus, at a civic reception in the Mayor's Parlour, Sligo Town Hall, on Monday to mark Sligo Drama Circle's great achievement in winning the All-Ireland Amateur Drama Festival at Athlone last week. The reception was attended by the members of the group as well as many others who have been associated with the amateur drama movement in Sligo down the years. Ald. Mc Manus said it gave him
great pleasure to welcome the members of the Drama Circle because they had brought great credit to Sligo and to its people On their behalf, he wished to thank all those associated with the production for putting Sligo on the map. The Mayor went on to say he hoped the people of Sligo appreciated the great work being done by the Drama Circle and particularly their magnificent achievement in winning the All-Ireland. He understood the Drama Circle had
reached the final nine times, had been second on three occasions and third twice. "They have done Sligo well in their performances", Ald. Mc Manus said, "and I want to say how proud I ma of them. I hope it is only the start of their success". The Mayor went on to refer to the Drama Circle's efforts to get a place of their own and said if they were so successful with just a small room in the Market Yard, he wondered what they could achieve if they had a proper drama hall in the town. "I would be the first to stand up and propose it", the Mayor
continued, "and I would be willing to give any aid, financial or otherwise. You have proved that this would be worthwhile. You have proved your part and I think we, as a Corporation, should now do our part. Let us get together and talk about it". Ald. Mc Manus then referred to other cultural groups which had brought great success to Sligo. Many of them, he said, were no longer in existence but he hoped the Drama Circle's achievement would bring
about a renewal of spirit so that Sligo would once again take its place as the cultural headquarters of the North West. There was no doubt but they had the talent and the people and he hoped his appeal would not fall on deaf ears. Mr. Joe Meehan, Chairman of Sligo Drama Circle, thanked the Mayor for his kind remarks. He said it had always been the ambition of the group since its foundation to win the All-Ireland and it gave him great pleasure to
see so many of the founder members present. He hoped the, too, felt their aims achieved. He added his personal congratulations to the producer, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, for the tremendous amount of work he had put into the show over the months. Replying on behalf of the members of the production team and cast, Mr. Mc Kinney said he felt a deep sense of gratitude to all who had helped in every way and the people of Sligo who had supported him so gallantly throughout the show. He thought it showed that the living theatre was coming back into its own.
Mr. Mc Kinney went on to say he was very impressed by the Mayor's remarks about a permanent theatre in Sligo and he hoped to see this dream come true in the near future. Looking around him, said Mr. Mc Kinney, he was reminded of the great tradition of the Drama Circle and people like the Unknown Players, whose fame was long in Sligo before he was heard of; the Bernadette Players and B. and P. Productions. He felt very proud and very happy that
perhaps a little of their mantle had fallen on the shoulders of the members of the Drama Circle.
from The Sligo
Champion, April 24th, 1970
Sligo Drama Circle carried off the major prize at the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone at the weekend with their production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. It was the Drama Circle's first-ever victory in the competition after nine appearances in the final, on three of which hey were beaten into second place. At the conclusion of the week-long festival, the producer of the prize-winning play, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, Temple St., Sligo, was presented with the Esso Perpetual Trophy
as well as the Producer's Cup while Stage Manageress, Miss Marion Reidy, was awarded the Moore Cup for Stage Management. The members of the cast will receive replicas of the Esso Trophy at a special celebration banquet given by Esso Petroleum Ltd., sponsors of the festival, in Sligo next month. The adjudicator at the Athlone festival, Dublin-born professor of speech and drama. Mr. Robert T. Armstrong, said he had been waiting all week to be swept
off his feet by some production and the Drama Circle's had come closest to doing that. Mr. Armstrong described the teamwork as "superb" and said the lighting and stage setting would have done justice to any professional performance he had seen. The production had some masterly touches and had set the right atmosphere with an absolutely splendid opening. For the first time during the festival, he had been taken away from the hall and into the setting of the performance. Mr. Armstrong went on to say the play had succeeded most in its explosive
moments but he would have preferred further development of its sensuality. Referring to the individual performances, he said he did not think there was an actress in the world who could completely explore the character of Blanche but Deirdre O' Connor had gone very close and had given a deeply satisfying performance. He said Joan Fitzpatrick was one of the most splendid supporting actresses he had ever seen while Shane Cleary had never doubted his
own strength. Mr. Armstrong described the part played by Cormac Sheridan as one of the most difficult in the play but said it was handled with great confidence and sincerity. The adjudicator said one of the strongest points of the play was the great balance of the casting. Even the smallest parts were of great significance in the overall effect. The walk-ons, though purely the invention of the producer, had added tremendously to the atmosphere.
Sligo Drama Circle were placed fourth in the festival last year with another Williams play The Glass Menagerie. They were runners-up in 1962 with My Three Angels and prior to that with God's Gentry and Thy Dear Father. They took third prizes with The Money Doesn't Matter and The Curious Savage. The cast was as follows: Dee O' Connor (Blanche), Joan Fitzpatrick (Stella), Shane Cleary (Stanley), Cormac Sheridan (Mitch), Eily Kilgannon (Eunice), Brian Bohan (Steve), Padraig Foran (Pablo), Maura Doherty (Negro Woman), Robert Folan (Doctor), Irene Conlon (Nurse), Lionel Gallagher (Young Man), Maura Nangle (Mexican Woman). Extras: Carol Kelly, Seán Gallagher, Corina Gilbride, Frank
Brannigan, Mary Harrison, Seán Foley, Margaret Mc Nulty, Liam Rooney, Seán Scanlon. Stage assistants: Betty Keogh, Frank Brannigan, M. Mc Donagh, Imelda Mulligan, Margaret Mc Nulty. Settings: Seán Gallagher, Aidan Sexton, Joe Burns, Liam Costello, Walter Mc Donagh. Design and Programme: Liam Mc Kinney. Sound Effects: Seán Tighe. Special Effects: Seán Breslin. Tape: Liam Canning. Lighting: Aidan Sexton, Ray Caulfield. Assistant Stage Managers:
Carol Kelly and Una Lappin. Stage Manager: Marion Reidy.
from The Sligo
Champion, April 10th, 1970
Sligo Drama Circle will give local theatre-goers another opportunity to see their prize-winning production of "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams when they present the play in Sligo Town Hall on Wednesday & Thursday of next week prior to their bid for national honours at the Eighteenth All-Ireland Amateur Drama Festival in Athlone. The Drama Circle have high hopes of taking the All-Ireland trophy because they have nominations from Tubbercurry and Cavan Festivals to their credit and they have
received high praise for their brilliant interpretation of the Williams' classic. The Sligo group will appear in the Dean Crowe Memorial Hall in Athlone on Saturday, April 18th, and they will be the last of the ten companies from all over the country to stage their production before the adjudicator, Mr. Robert T. Armstrong, Dublin-born professor of speech and drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. The Drama Circle have a
formidable list of successes from festivals in Tubbercurry, Cavan, Carrickmore and Ballyshannon. In Tubbercurry, where the adjudicator, Mr. Alan Vaughn Williams, commended the producer, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, for knowing what he wanted from his players and getting it, the group took the overall and production awards as well as a production medal and the gold medal for the best actor, Shane Cleary. Mr. Williams said he admired the group for taking on such a play. This was the type of work amateurs should do because it was all so rare that professionals
would attempt a show of this size. He commended Shane Cleary for the strength and conviction of his performance and had both Joan Fitzpatrick and Deirdre O' Connor in his last three for the best actress award. At Cavan, where the Drama Circle won the open award, from an entry which included last year's All-Ireland Champions, Strand Players, Dublin, and the previous year's winners, Sundrive Players, Dublin, the adjudicator, Mr. Martin Dempsey said
he didn't believe an amateur company would be capable of attempting the play. It was the first time in his experience he had seen professional standards on an amateur stage. He described Joan Fitzpatrick, winner of the gold medal for best actress, as the most natural, pleasant and real person he had ever seen on stage in his life and complimented Shane Cleary, recipient of the best actor award, for the sincerity and strength of his playing.
Referring to the part of Blanche, played by Deirdre O' Connor, he said he doubted if there were three people in the world who could play Blanche completely. Although the group did not carry off any of the major prizes at either Carrickmore or Ballyshannon, Joan Fitzpatrick picked up her second gold medal for the best actress at the latter festival. Another member of the cast, Cormac Sheridan, also figured prominently in the running for best actor award.
It is hoped the Sligo drama fans will come out in numbers next week to give their support to the Drama Circle's bid for the national title as financial assistance at this stage will greatly alleviate the burden on their resources apart from the fact hat the show is one of the best productions from a Sligo group in many years.
Unknown Press Source, 1970
The Sligo Drama
Circle made a clean sweep at Cavan Drama Festival last night by
winning the premier award with "A Streetcar Named Desire" by
Tennessee Williams, while two members of the cast, Joan
Fitzpatrick and Shane Cleary, were awarded more medals for best
performances. The producer was Liam Mc Kinney and 92 marks were
awarded by the adjudicator, Martin Dempsey.
Unknown Press Source, Date Unknown
The Circle were doing work of national importance in
promoting the Irish language or drama, said the Mayor of Sligo,
Mr. Norbert Ferguson, when he attended the annual dinner of the
Sligo Drama Circle in the Sancta Maria Hotel, Strandhill. He
said although people such as they, close to the national
movement which started fifty or sixty years ago with the
foundation of the National Theatre and the Gaelic League, might
sometimes feel their enthusiasm was not shared by the majority,
he would like to assure them that the people appreciated all
that they were doing. Mr. Ferguson was speaking on behalf of the
guests in reply to a toast proposed, on behalf of the Circle, by
Mr. Liam Mc Kinney.
Opening his speech in Irish, Mr. Ferguson thanked the Circle
for inviting himself and Mrs. Ferguson to their annual dinner.
It was an honour for him to be present as he had a great
interest in, and a real love for, the language and drama of the
country. Mr. Ferguson said even if the Sligo Drama Circle never
produced a play, their presence in the town was more than
justifiable because the members individually had lent their
experience and skill to every production in the town. On behalf
of all the groups in the town he would like to thank the Circle
most sincerely.
Mr. F. J. Wynne, President of the Sligo Yeats Society, in
proposing a toast to the Circle, paid tribute to the high
standard they achieved in all their productions, and on behalf
of the Yeats Society, thanked them for putting on plays for the
benefit of the students of the Summer School. Yeats' plays had
become a part of the school and for the last two years the Sligo
Drama Circle had presented them to the students. He felt sure
the Circle, too, had benefited from playing to an international
audience, conversant with Yeats' plays and stage technique. "The
students", said Mr. Wynne, "were fully behind them and were
completely carried away". It gave him great pleasure to propose
a toast to Sligo Drama Circle.
Mr. Lionel Gallagher thanked Mr. Wynne for the toast and
thanked the Yeats Society for the support they had given the
Circle. Most important to him was that the Circle had the
confidence of the Yeats Society. This was a greater commendation
than any drama award. Mr. Gallagher traced the year of the
Circle, the highlight of which was the winning of the premier
award at Belfast. He thanked the Mayor of Sligo and the Boys'
Club Band for the fine reception they were given on their return
to Sligo. It was a very full and successful year for the Sligo
Drama Circle, he said. Mr. Seán Reilly, Chairman, thanked the
guests for attending the dinner and went on to speak of the
policy of the Circle which for the past three years had been
building up the organisation so that in years to come there
would be a nucleus of skilled personnel from which the drama
movement would grow.
from The Sligo
Champion, March 21st, 1969
Sligo Drama Circle won the major awards at the 26th annual Western Drama Festival which concluded in St. Brigid's Hall, Tubbercurry, on Sunday night last. They were awarded the Festival's premier award, presented by the late Very Rev. D. Canon Gildea, P.P. for their presentation of "The Glass Menagerie" (Tennessee Williams) while the producer, Liam Mc Kinney, received the J.J. Henry Cup for the most imaginative production at the Festival and Shane Cleary, a member of the cast, received a silver medal for
acting. For their presentation of "Purgatory" (W. B. Yeats) the Drama Circle won the Ria Mooney Cup for Verse play and its producer, Mr. Walter Mc Donagh, received a silver medal for production.
from The Sligo
Champion, January 26th, 1968
The Circle were doing work of National importance in promoting the Irish language or drama, said the Mayor of Sligo, Mr. Norbert Ferguson, when he attended the annual dinner of the Sligo Drama Circle, in the Sancta Maria Hotel, Strandhill. He said although people such as they, close to the national movement which started fifty or sixty years ago with the foundation of the national theatre and the Gaelic League, might sometimes feel their enthusiasm was not shared by the majority, he would like to assure
them that the people appreciated all that they were doing. Mr. Ferguson was speaking on behalf of the guests in reply to a toast proposed, on behalf of the Circle, by Mr. Liam Mc Kinney. Opening his speech in Irish, Mr. Ferguson thanked the Circle for inviting himself and Mrs. Ferguson to their annual dinner. It was an honour for him to be present as he had a great interest in, and a real love for, the language and drama of the country. Mr.
Ferguson said even if the Sligo Drama Circle never produced a play, their presence in the town was more than justifiable because the members individually had lent their experience and skill to every production in the town. On behalf of all the groups in the town he would like to thank the Circle most sincerely. Mr. F.J. Wynne, President of Sligo Yeats Society, in proposing a toast to the Circle, paid tribute to the high standard they achieved in
all their productions, and on behalf of the Yeats Society, thanked them for putting on plays for the benefit of the students of the Summer School. Yeats' Plays had become a part of the School and for the last two years the Sligo Drama Circle had presented them to the students. He felt sure the Circle, too, had benefited from playing to an international audience, conversant with Yeats' plays and stage technique. "The students", said Mr. Wynne, "were fully behind them and were completely carried away". It gave him great pleasure to propose a toast to
Sligo Drama Circle. Mr. Lionel Gallagher thanked Mr. Wynne for the toast and thanked the Yeats Society for the support they had given the Circle. Most important to him was that the Circle had the confidence of the Yeats Society. This was a greater commendation than any drama award. Mr. Gallagher traced the year of the Circle, the highlight of which was the winning of the premier award at Belfast. He thanked the Mayor of Sligo and the Boys' Club
Band for the fine reception they were given on their return to Sligo. It was a very full and successful year for the Sligo Drama Circle, he said. Mr. Seán O' Reilly, Chairman, thanked the guests for attending the dinner and went on to speak of the policy of the Circle which for the past three years had been building up the organisation so that in years to come there would be a nucleus of skilled personnel from which the drama movement would grow.
from The Sligo Champion, Rehearsals for the Sligo Drama Circle presentation of "The Man Who Came to Dinner" are now entering their final stages in the group's new headquarters in the Market Yard. Under the eye of the producer Dolores Corr, the cast is putting the final polish on the seasonal and very funny comedy by the American authors, Hart and Kaufman.
The large cast features Vivian Francis in the title role and with support from a cast too numerous to mention here, Sligo will have a very ready-made cure for post-Christmas depressions when the show goes on in the Gillooly Hall on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 4th, 5th and 6th January 1967 at 8pm nightly. Tickets 5/- each (bookable) and 3/6. Booking at Keohanes, Castle Street, Sligo.
from The Sligo
Champion, by T.P., May 26th, 1967
For the first time ever since it was offered for competition in 1953, the Grand Opera House Perpetual Challenge Cup came south of the border from the Opera House, Belfast, when it was won by the Sligo Drama Circle last Saturday night. Their presentation of "The Playboy of the Western World" at the Ulster Drama Festival won the top award and in addition the group received the Friers Cup for the best decor at the Festival. This was a tremendous achievement for the Sligo group so heartiest congratulations
go to the cast, producer Walter Mc Donagh and all connected with the play. The Drama Circle received their nomination to Belfast from the Carrickmore (Omagh) Drama Festival and it was the first time a prize-winning group from this festival went forward to the Ulster Festival in the Northern Capital. What intrigued me most about the Drama Circle's success was that they failed to obtain a nomination to the All-Ireland Festival in Athlone, yet were
able to go to the Belfast Festival and there, in competition against all the top amateur groups in Ulster, they carried off the major award. Certainly a system which can keep the Sligo group out of Athlone when quite obviously they had a top-class, prize-winning play seems to me to be a bit crazy. I am not the only one who holds this view and already the opinion has been expressed that if the rules governing the All-Ireland Festival in Athlone are framed in such a way that they kept out such a leading amateur group as Sligo possesses then their
rules should be changed.
from The Sligo
Champion, by T.P., May 26th, 1967
But there is no resting of their laurels for the members of the Drama Circle. And no off-season for drama in Sligo either. Immediately the members of the group commence rehearsals on the three Yeats one-act plays they will stage in Sligo Town Hall during the Yeats International Summer School next August. In previous years professional and semi-professional companies from Dublin, Belfast and Cork were invited by the sponsors of the School to stage the Yeats plays for the benefit and entertainment of
visiting students. This year for the first time Sligo's leading amateur group have been invited to stage Yeats plays. It seems, therefore, that a prophet can be recognised in his own country after all. The members of Sligo Drama Circle deserve the honour; I know it will not be misplaced, that they will give performances of outstanding quality and now that they had such a fine success in Belfast last weekend their prestige increases. With such a
full programme it is indeed fortunate that the group have now found a permanent headquarters. Situated in Sligo Market Yard the building which the players now call "home" is still far from prepossessing but it has its advantages. It is rehearsal room, store room, paint shop, the place where scenery is made. But it has definite possibilities - and a future - both of which I am confident will be fully exploited by the hard-working and enthusiastic group who are now keeping Sligo's name to the forefront in the world of amateur theatre in this country.
from The Sligo
Champion, April 7th, 1967
The Sligo Drama Circle monthly newsletter discloses that the Circle has qualified for the Northern Ireland Festival finals at the Opera House, Belfast, in May, "but seems unlikely to squeeze into the All-Ireland Finals in Athlone next month". The Circle competed at five festivals gaining one first place and four seconds. The surprising thing is that we beat each group which gained a first over us - some of them more than once - but the system of qualification for Athlone this year is such that, without
some miracle, our Playboy will not be representing the Western World against plays it has beaten, and beaten well, when the Esso Trophy is at stake.
from The Sligo
Champion, November 12th, 1965
"The Sligo Drama Circle was missed on the Western Festival Circuit during the last two seasons", stated Mr. Eddie Fitzpatrick, the newly elected Chairman, speaking at the annual general meeting of the Circle in the Imperial Hotel, Sligo. The All-Ireland winners, Tuam Theatre Guild and other leading dramatic groups had told him that the absence of the Drama Circle left a big gap in the North-Western Festival Programmes and they hoped that the Circle, which they recognised as a yardstick by which they
measured their own success, would be a strong competitor in the field in the coming season. Mr. Fitzpatrick stated that he would like it to go out from the meeting that it was the intention of Sligo Drama Circle to do all in its power to become a leading force in the Western theatre world once again. While the past year had not been an unqualified success as regards productions the entire report of the year's activities was not on the debit side.
A great effort had been made by Mrs. Dolores Corr to get "Dinny and the Witches" on the boards but, unfortunately, circumstances had rendered this impossible. Tribute was paid to the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, for his success in keeping interest in the Circle alive after this setback and for his production of "Drama at Inish" which had given acting experience to some of the lesser lights of the group and had unearthed some promising and indeed some exciting new talent.
The highlight of the season from the point of view of the more established members of the Circle was Their taking part in the Yeats Festival production of "The Playboy of the Western World" under the direction of Mr. Walter Mc Donagh. The Drama Circle owes a deep debt of gratitude to Mr Mc Donagh and all those associated with him in this venture. The annual dinner at the Bonne Chere was an outstanding success. During the season the Circle sent representatives to a meeting which formed a new Drama League
for the control of Amateur League in Ireland. Sligo Drama Circle was enthusiastically behind this League and had great hopes for its success. The loss of Joe and Marie Flood would be keenly felt in the Circle. Tribute was paid to the hard work and efficiency of Mr. Jimmy Gilmartin (outgoing Secretary) and Mr. Joe Meehan (outgoing Treasurer) and both were re-elected unanimously. Officers elected for the coming season were: Mr. Eddie Fitzpatrick
(Chairman); Mr. Lionel Gallagher (Vice-Chairman); Mr. Jimmy Gilmartin (Secretary); Mr. Joe Meehan (Treasurer); Mrs. Dolores Corr, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, Mr. Seán O' Reilly, Mr. Dennis Barrett, Mr. Walter Mc Donagh (Committee).
from The Sligo
Champion, March 19th, 1965
Sligo Drama Circle are presenting "Drama at Inish", a comedy in three acts by Lennox Robinson, in the Town Hall, Sligo from Sunday 28th March to Wednesday 31st March. This is one of the late Dr. Robinson's best comedies and one that has been very popular both on the professional and amateur stage. The play is set in a small seaside town called Inish, a nice quiet tow of nice, quiet, decent people - or so they seem on the surface. Like most seaside towns today, the people of Inish are anxious to attract
tourists, and to improve the "tone" of the place the "De La Mare Repertory Company" is invited to Inish for the tourist season. But the "De La Mare Repertory Company" is no ordinary group of touring play-actors. They only present "high-class" plays, plays that stimulate the intellect and the imagination. And what an effect these plays have on the people of Inish! These quiet, decent people are found to be anything but quiet and some are far from
decent. Things begin to happen in Inish and Inish becomes news. There is crisis after crisis there, culminating in a national disaster; Mr. Peter Hurley, the meek and docile local T.D. and "a sound party man", went to one of the plays. As a result he did the unforgivable for a Party man. In a crucial vote in the Dáil he disobeyed the whip, voted against the Party and brought down the Government! Inish was at last on the tourist map. The Drama
Circle presentation of this play promises to be good fun for audiences and actors alike. Some of the old reliable Drama Circle members are taking part and there are some promising new faces. Like the people of Inish, Sligo is making a massive drive to improve its tourist trade, a drive which id worthy of the support of every organisation in Sligo. As a token of its support for that work, the Sligo Drama Circle are donating the proceeds of "Drama at Inish" to the Festival of Sligo Committee.
from The Sligo
Champion, October 23rd, 1964
Sligo Drama Circle will this year produce "Dinney and the Witches" which has been described as "a frolic of grave matters", and it is planned to stage the play at a number of drama festivals. This was announced by Mrs. L. Corr at the annual dinner of the Circle which was held in the Bonne Chere Restaurant, High St., Sligo, on Wednesday night of last week. The function was most successful and was thoroughly enjoyable and during the evening a presentation was made to Comdt. Eric Gregan, a member of the
Circle for the past five years, who has recently been transferred from the Sligo F.C.A. Unit to Custume Barracks, Athlone. In addition, Comdt. Gregan was made an honorary life-member of the Circle. Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, who presided, proposed the toast of the President of Ireland and then welcomed all present to the annual dinner. He said the good spirit which has always been associated with the Circle was as much in evidence as ever and this
would ensure Sligo audiences of the best show they could mount. Mr. Vivian Francis proposed the toast of the guests, welcoming particularly the Mayor of Sligo, Mr. J. Mc Goldrick P.C., and Mrs. Mc Goldrick; Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Hughes; Mr. and Mrs John Keohane and Mr. Tom Plamer, Editor, "Sligo Champion" and Mrs. Palmer. He had a special welcome for Comdt. Gregan and expressed regret on behalf of the Circle on his leaving Sligo. The Mayor replied
and appealed for wholehearted support and active co-operation of the members of the Drama Circle for next year's Festival of Sligo, which, he said, could be of such benefit to the town, particularly from the tourist aspect. He said that Sligo had always been very happy with the presentations of the Drama Circle, which had earned for itself such a high and well-deserved reputation in the sphere of amateur drama in this country. Mr. Tom Palmer proposed the toast of the Drama Circle and said over the years the amateur drama movement in Sligo had been
constantly struggling, mainly due, he felt, to the fact that the town lacked any suitable headquarters which could be used by groups interested in the presentation of plays. While some years ago an effort had been made to lay the foundation for the establishment of a little theatre in the town, these had not been successful, but now that an alteration had been made in the constitution of the rules governing membership of the Gillooly Hall he thought the time was opportune for some move to be made to establish this building as headquarters for
drama in the town. Mrs. L. Corr replied to the toast of the Circle. Making the presentation of a wristlet watch and life membership certificate to Comdt. Gregan, Mr. Mc Kinney said for five years past the Circle had been very fortunate to have as a member a man of such outstanding ability, with artistic feeling and a tremendous sense of devotion coupled with an enormous capacity for hard work. The departure of Comdt. Gregan from Sligo meant a very
great loss indeed to the Drama Circle. Replying, Comdt. Gregan said he valued very highly the action which had made him a life membership of the Circle and he expressed his very sincere thanks for the presentation.
from The Sligo
Champion, December 14th, 1963
At next year's drama festivals, Sligo Drama Circle will stage "The Crucible", an intensely interesting and thought-provoking drama by the American dramatist Arthur Miller. This was announced by this year's producer to the group, Mrs. Monica Toher, speaking at the annual dinner of the Circle which was held in the Bonne Chere Restaurant, High St., Sligo on Sunday night last. There was a large attendance at the function, which was thoroughly enjoyable. Comdt. E. Gregan, this year's Chairman of the Circle,
presided and proposed the toast to the President of Ireland. Mr. D. Mc Govern, in proposing the toast of the guests, had a specially warm welcome, he said, for the Mayor, Mr. James Mc Goldrick and Mrs. Mc Goldrick, who could be said to be representing Sligo and its citizens at their function. He also welcomed particularly Very Rev. T. Moran, Adm., St. Mary's and Rev. N. Murray, O.P., Holy Cross, and said the Circle were always heartened by the support, encouragement and co-operation they always received from the clergy in Sligo.
In welcoming Mr. and Mrs. J. Keohane, Castle St., Sligo, Mr. Mc Govern said the Circle were deeply indebted to them for always so capably handling the booking arrangements for their plays. In welcoming Mr. Tom Palmer, Editor, "Sligo Champion", and Mrs. Palmer, Mr. Mc Govern said they appreciated the publicity they always received from the press. He also welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Hughes and paid tribute to them for their continued unfailing
interest in amateur drama in Sligo and for the fine work they had done over a period of years. Replying to the toast, the Mayor said with his wife he was very pleased to be asked to attend their function that night and he was gratified to see that it was so well attended. He congratulated the members of the Sligo Drama Circle on their wonderful performances over the years and said these had been staged for the enjoyment and entertainment of others and their presentations were always appreciated. In short, he felt that the members of the Circle were
doing a really good job. Sligo had been associated with amateur drama for many years and had built up a fine tradition in this sphere. That tradition was now being well maintained by the Drama Circle, whose members believed in presenting good, clean, honest entertainment and in their efforts they were carrying on the history of successful amateur play production in the town. In paying tribute to the members of the Drama Circle, it afforded him
pleasure to say that he knew most of the members both on and off the stage and appreciated them and their work both as citizens of Sligo and as amateur actors and actresses. Another aspect of their endeavours which also appealed to him very much, added the Mayor, was the fact that through the efforts of the Drama Circle some of Sligo's charities benefited and this was a very fine and noble action on the part of the members of the Circle. Concluding, the Mayor paid a special tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, who, he said, had won the esteem and
affection of the people of Sligo through their long and close association with the amateur drama movement in the town. Very Rev. Fr. Moran proposed the toast of the Drama Circle, and said since it was established, the Circle had brought credit and renown to Sligo. Over the years there had been other amateur groups in the town but now they seemed to have all faded out and it was left to the Drama Circle to carry on the good work. They were doing
that with a very great degree of success and, in fact, they had achieved something which no other groups in Sligo ever achieved by their remarkable performance at the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone. While so fart the premier award at that festival had eluded the Drama Circle, still they had come very close to being rated as the country's leading amateur group. They were, in fact, a strong force to be reckoned with in the drama world and he knew that he was expressing the aim of all when he said they hoped they may, perhaps, attain complete
victory in the coming year. Mrs. Monica Toher, replying, said the Circle had asked her to produce their festival play for the coming season and they had selected a very fine piece "The Crucible", by Arthur Miller. They would certainly all do their best with this play and perhaps they might ultimately achieve the success which Fr. Moran had hoped for by coming out on top at Athlone. Comdt. Gregan, in paying tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mc Donagh
and the members of their staff for the excellent meal and the fine service provided, said that entertaining the members of the Drama Circle at their annual dinner, was, he felt, a labour of love for Mr. and Mrs. Mc Donagh.
from The Sligo
Champion, January 19th, 1963
The Sligo Drama Circle have gone into rehearsal of "The Curious Savage", a gentle American comedy by John Patrick, better known as author of "Teahouse of the August Moons". As far as the group members are aware, this play has not been performed by amateurs in this country before and so far they have been unable to ascertain definitely whether it has been done professionally or not. The play, which will be presented in Sligo Town hall from March 10th to March 14th, and at the local festivals, has a cast
of eleven. All the old students of the Circle will be appearing, and Sligo audiences are assured of top entertainment in the best tradition of the group. The Drama Circle would like to avail of this opportunity to wish all their patrons the best of everything for 1963.
from The Sligo
Champion, December 8th, 1962
From Sunday, December 9th, to Wednesday December 12th, "Court" will be held nightly in he Gillooly Hall, Sligo, at 8.30pm. The list for hearing on December 9th before District Justice Mc Henry, a new Justice to Sligo, is as follows: Sinnott Vs O' Connell (Assault and Battery) Mother Cecilia, Superioress of St. Malabar's Orphanage Vs Margaret Raffigan, a young person. (Application to commit to a Reformatory for Girls) Mary O'
Connor Vs Jeremiah Brown. (Application to commit to jail for failure to pay maintenance in respect of child) Attorney General Vs Jean Omer, a Breton Fisherman. (Violation of Territorial Fishing Rights) Sergt. Bornican Vs J. Maguire Do. Vs P. Coyle Do. Vs Maureen Nic Laoic, et alia (Summary Offences) The public are invited to be present at hearings of "The Evidence I Shall Give" as presented
by Sligo Drama Circle.
from The Sligo
Champion, October 16th, 1962
Four members of the German Amateur Theatre Association were entertained by the Sligo Drama Circle at a reception held in their honour in the Sancta Maria Hotel, Strandhill. During the evening Herr Lindner, the leader of the German party, made recorded interviews with a number of the Circle. Herr Lindner, a school teacher by profession, and who also is Chief Officer of the International Drama Festival Organisation in Hamburg was of the opinion that the amateur movement in Ireland is up to the same
standard as that of any of the other European countries at present. So much so that before leaving Sligo he extended an invitation to the Circle to play in the Hamburg Festival in either next May or October. Accompanying Herr Lindner, were Herr Bucholz, Herr Messner, and Herr Routenberg, all of who were representing various aspects of the Amateur Drama Movement in Germany. Among others present at the function were representatives of the recently
formed Sligo-German Society and a number of the German community in town. On the following morning the party were received by the Mayor of Sligo in the Mayor's Parlour and signed the Distinguished Visitor's Book. Welcoming the group, Ald. J. Gannon spoke in glowing terms of the German people and of the great part German technicians were playing in the industrial expansion of this country. "Your people", he said, "are giving us the k now-how in the industrial field and perhaps we here in Sligo can go to our country and give you some of our know-how
in the world of drama". Herr Lindner, in his reply, said that he and the members of his party were overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome they had received in Ireland. "We all hope to return to Ireland again in the near future for a much longer stay. I hope that the Sligo Drama Circle will come to my country next year, and we would be very honoured, Mr. Mayor, if you would come with them". Following the reception in the Mayor's Parlour, the
German group inspected the stage facilities in the Town Hall and were very favourably impressed by the equipment there. The Drama Circle are actively considering the prospect of playing in the German Festival and it is expected that the decision will be to go. "The Evidence I Shall Give" would seem the likely choice of play owing to its Irish character.
from The Sligo
Champion, October 6th, 1962
Following the suggestion made by the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, at the annual general meeting of the Sligo Drama Circle this year, arrangements have been made by the Circle for the staging of the play, "The Evidence I Shall Give" in the first week of December as the first play on their programme for this season. "The Evidence I Shall Give" which will definitely not be for festival presentation, will blend a few very talented newcomers to the Sligo stage with all the old stars of recent past, and
production is in the hands of Comdt. Eric Gregan, who created the wonderful setting for "My Three Angels" last year. Rehearsals for "The Evidence I Shall Give" have already commenced with a cast of twenty five and initial work-outs are giving promise of a first-class show.
from The Sligo
Champion, July 7th, 1962
The year had been for the group everything he had hoped it would be, said Mr. J.J. Mc Morrow, outgoing Chairman, at the opening of the annual general meeting of the Sligo Drama Circle, held in the Bonne Chere recently. "It has been a most satisfactory term of office for me and has fulfilled every wish I expressed this time last year", he said. The Hon. secretary, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, in presenting his report of the year's activities to the large attendance present, said the record of achievements for the
season past was one of which any society might be justly proud. The Drama Circle last year had scored the highest marks in its history at the premier festival in Athlone, where the group only missed All-Ireland honours by the narrowest of margins - one mark. Artistically and otherwise the group had reached a new high, and there was in the society now a healthy atmosphere of confidence and good fellowship which was both rewarding and promising of even greater things for the year to come.
Mr. Mc Kinney, commenting on what he felt the society might strive for in the future said that the acquiring of a Little Theatre and the further development of such a centre was one item which the Circle might seriously consider next year. He further felt that it was now up to the group to give the theatre-going public of Sligo more than one show per annum. "If television is going to be a threat to the live theatre", he said, "I feel that that threat will be met best by more intimate presentations in a
well-equipped and comfortable Little Theatre". Concluding, he returned thanks to all who had helped the society in any way during the year past. The report was adopted unanimously. Mr. Joseph Meehan, Treasurer, presented a very detailed finance statement, which showed a good credit balance. It was gratifying to note, he said, that this was the first time the society could look forward to the coming season without undue financial worries. Referring
to the balance sheet, he said it was significant to not that the takings from running a show in the town of Sligo alone was not sufficient to meet the cost of presenting adequately a play at festivals. This report was also unanimously adopted. The election of officers for the 1962-63 season was as follows: Chairman, Mr. Patrick F. Dooney; Vice-Chairman, Comdt. E. Gregan; Hon. Secretary, Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, re-elected; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Joseph
Meehan (re-elected). Committee - Mr. Eamon Brasil, Mr. Brian Bohan, Mr. Eddie Fitzpatrick, Mr. Michael O' Rourke, Mrs. Monica Toher and Mrs. Lottie Bourke.
from The Sligo
Champion, May 19th, 1962
Sligo Drama Circle were within one mark of winning the Esso Trophy - he Premier Award - at the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone on Sunday night last. Their production, "My Three Angels", also entered in the two or more act open section, was only one mark behind the winners, The Newpoint Players, Newry, with Thornton Wilder's "Our Town". The Sligo group captured the cup for the two or more act open section and this is the third time they have won this trophy. Another award was won by Paddy Dooney,
Brian Bohan and Eddie Fitzpatrick for their performance as the three convicts. This was the Gold Medal for the Best Actor and was awarded to these three players for "their great team work". The adjudicators were Mr. Ray Mc Anally and Mr. James Stack, and the former, said when deciding the final placings they had taken into consideration "the subtlest shades of meaning and the tiniest nuances of interpretation". Continuing, he said that Lionel
Gallagher, Sligo; Terence O' Doherty and Maurice Sweeney, Lifford, and Seamus Mallon, Newry, had set a standard of production which was as high as one could desire in the Amateur Theatre.
from The Sligo
Champion, March 31st, 1962
The most successful Ballyshannon Drama Festival ever concluded in the Abbey Ballroom, Ballyshannon, on Sunday night when the Premier Award, The Four Masters Cup, was won by Sligo Drama Circle with "My Three Angels" with 91 marks out of 100. Close runners-up and winning the Rural Cup were Lifford Players in "The Black Stranger" with a total of 90 marks. Never before did the festival attract such large crowds and on Friday night over 100 people were turned away when Lifford, who came with a great
reputation, staged their prize-winning play. The standard reached was also the highest ever and the close marking was an indication of the tension on Sunday night when Mr. Norman Rodway, the adjudicator, was announcing the awards. Up to the last figure he quoted, the issue was in doubt. He said his verdicts were given because he thought those who should win, did win, and it would not be what anyone else thought. He referred to the Sligo set and
said it was the best he had ever seen on an amateur stage. He said Sligo and Lifford were level up to the last five marks available for dramatic achievement. To him, these marks were for the overall effect of the show. "My Three Angels" was splendidly done and he was carried along on the crest of the wave of laughter. All he could say was that on the nights he saw these shows he thought the Sligo one better by that one point. He had never seen an amateur show which so very nearly approached professional standard as Sligo Drama Circle in "My Three
Angels".
from The Sligo
Champion, November 18th, 1961
Nearly sixty people attended the Annual Dinner of the Sligo Drama Circle, Held in the Bonne Chere Restaurant, High Street, on Wednesday night of last week, and the function was a thoroughly enjoyable one. An enjoyable meal was provided by the proprietor, Mr Walter Mc Donagh and served by his highly efficient staff, and subsequently there was dancing and many novel concert items presented by the members of this most talented amateur drama group. Mr J. Mc Morrow presided, and in extending a welcome to all
present, mentioned particularly the attendance of the Mayor, Alderman James Gannon and Mrs. Gannon. Alderman Gannon, he said, was a man who worked unceasingly for Sligo in all its aspects and took a particular interest in the cultural life of the town, being a wonderful ambassador for Sligo wherever he went. Mr. Lionel Gallagher proposed the toasts of the guests, mentioning particularly the Mayor and Mrs. Gannon, Very Rev. I. M. Mc Ardle, O.P.,
Prior, Holy Cross, Sligo; Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Hughes; Mr. Tom Palmer, Editor, "Sligo Champion" and Mrs. Palmer, and Mr. J. Larkin "Evening Press", Sligo. Replying, the Mayor spoke of the important part being played in Sligo's cultural life by the Drama Circle and its members, and said they were fully maintaining the very high reputation which Sligo had in the field of amateur dramatics in this country. He wished them continued success and prosperity. Rev. Fr. Mc Ardle also praised the work of the group and, referring to the importance which drama
can play in the life of a community, spoke of the recent pronouncement made by the Bishop of Galway when he condemned the use of coarse and vulgar language in modern plays. Mr. Tom Palmer proposed the toast of the Drama Circle, and in doing so appealed to the leading drama groups in the provinces to perform worthwhile works by young playwrights who might not otherwise have an opportunity of having their plays presented to the public. He mentioned
that about 200 new plays are submitted to the Abbey Theatre each year and about 100 plays are submitted to the Pike Theatre Company. Only very few of these are staged, yet he felt many of those which are rejected had sufficient merit to have them performed, and here was an opportunity being presented to the top amateur groups to give support and co-operation to the country's budding playwrights. He praised the Drama Circle for their record of continuing success at drama festivals where, he said, they were keeping the good name of Sligo in the drama
world well to the forefront. Comdt. E. Gregan proposed a toast to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hayes, who, he said, they were very glad to have with them for their annual dinner. Tom Hayes had left a wonderful impression on the amateur stage in Sligo when he played the name part in "Montserrat" with the Drama Circle, and while they all regretted his illness they were very glad to see him so well recovered now and they joined in welcoming him and Mrs. Hayes back to the Drama Circle for the occasion of their annual dinner. Mr. Hayes, replying, said both Mrs.
Hayes and he were very happy to be back among so many of the Sligo friends again.
from The Sligo
Champion, May 13th, 1961
Ernest Daly,
Strandhill, for whom Mr. F. P. Howley, solicitor, appeared, was
charged at Sligo Court on Friday last before District Justice
Barry, with carrying stage props on a lorry at Quay St. Sligo,
on 9th March last while not having the required merchandise
licence, and with failing to produce his insurance on the
occasion. Gda. Mc Menamin said when he stopped the lorry, which
was owned and being driven by the defendant, he examined it and
found it was loaded with stage props. When he questioned
defendant about these, Daly said they were the property of Sligo
Drama Circle and he had taken them back from Roscommon Town
where the Drama Circle had competed at a drama festival the
previous night.
Defendant, who said
he had neither asked for, nor received payment for carrying the
props, told witness he was a member of the Sligo Drama Circle's
stage staff and he produced to witness a card showing he was a
member of the Sligo Drama Circle. The Guard added that defendant
failed to produce insurance when stopped. He had also failed to
produce it within the five days allowed and he had not done so
since. In cross examination, the Guard said defendant told him
he had done the run for the Drama Circle completely voluntarily
and without payment of any kind.
Mr. Howley said his
case was that his client had received not payment whatever for
carrying the stage props for the Drama Circle. It was absolutely
a voluntary undertaking as far as his client was concerned. He
did the run to Roscommon to take the Drama Circle out of a
difficulty they had run into due to their failure to get the
props taken to Roscommon by other means. Defendant in evidence
said the lorry was his own property and he was a member of the
Sligo Drama Circle. On Tuesday, 7th March, defendant went on, Mr
Mc Dermottroe, Chairman of the Sligo Drama Circle, asked him to
take him out of trouble by bringing the set to Roscommon
on the following day in preparation for the Drama Circle's
participation in the drama festival there that night. He told
witness that the transport arrangements he had already made had
broken down. At the time, witness was not particularly busy and
on the following day he did the run to Roscommon. He brought the
props back home to Strandhill that night as it was too late to
bring them to Sligo. The following day he brought them to Sligo.
He did the run absolutely voluntarily and got no payment
whatever for doing so.
With regard to the
charge relating to the insurance, defendant produced a cover not
issued to him by the Hibernian Insurance Company in respect of
the period 2nd February to 1st March which, he agreed, did not
cover him on the date in question. After he had explained that
there had been correspondence between the Century Insurance
Company with which he said he had formerly done business and the
Hibernian Insurance Company with regard to the policy. The
Justice said he would adjourn the charge relating to the
insurance to enable defendant to produce evidence as to whether
he was covered on 9th March.
IN reply to Supt.
P. Mahony prosecuting, who asked who paid for the petrol used on
the run to Roscommon and back, defendant said he paid for it
himself. The petrol for the run would have cost him about £2.
The Drama Circle had given him nothing for the run, not even a
contribution towards the cost of the run.
Edward A. Mc
Dermottroe, Chairman of the Sligo Drama Circle, said about three
days previous to Wednesday 7th March, he had arrangements made
with a licensed haulier to convey the set to Roscommon but at
the last minute the arrangement fell through, as the other
haulier was engaged hauling coal from the quays, and that left
witness in an awkward situation. He met defendant in the street,
told him of the difficulty he was in and asked him to do the run
to Roscommon. Defendant agreed and he took the props to
Roscommon on 8th March and brought them back that night but he
did the run voluntarily and received no payment whatever. IN
cross-examination, witness said he did not offer defendant any
money for doing the run because he knew perfectly well he would
be in trouble immediately if he accepted any money. Asked did he
not approach CIE to do the run, witness said he made an enquiry
but the company's price was absolutely unreasonable. The
carrying charge was dismissed.
from The Sligo
Champion, November 19th, 1960
The annual dinner of the Sligo Drama Circle was held in the Bonne Chere Restaurant, High St., Sligo, on Wednesday night of last week and was largely attended and proved to be a most enjoyable function. Mr. E. A. Mc Dermottroe, Chairman of the Drama Circle, presided and at the end of a most excellent meal welcomed all those present.
Mr. Tom Palmer, Editor, "The Sligo Champion", proposing the toast of the Drama Circle, said on an occasion such as that it was pleasant to recall hat the Circle had brought fame to Sligo and fortune to themselves, judging by the wonderful array of trophies they had already won. During the few years the group had been in existence, they had contributed much to the amateur drama movement in Ireland and they had achieved for themselves a magnificent reputation. By their continued success at drama festivals throughout the country, they had established
themselves as one of the leading groups performing in the North-West. Their work carried with it the hallmark of perfection and indicated the painstaking and serious fashion in which the members of the company approached their productions.
Last year, it would be recalled, the Drama Circle scored a wonderful success with their presentation of "God's Gentry", which had already been described most fittingly as an excellent piece of frolic and fun. This year, however, they set their target towards much sterner stuff and in presenting "Montserrat" they gave Sligo one of the finest performances the amateur stage had seen in the town for many years, while providing their audiences with a deeply moving piece of theatre which was worthy of the acting ability of the players. In congratulating
the Drama Circle most heartily on its successes, Mr. Palmer said their achievements fully maintained the high standard they had set themselves and that they had added further to their already fine reputation was a matter in which all Sligo people must take justifiable pride. He knew, he added, that he was expressing the wish of all present when he said he hoped that next year and in the future the Drama Circle would continue to prosper and win further fame, not alone for themselves, but also for Sligo.
Mr. Joe Flood, who is this year's producer to the Drama Circle replied. Mr. Paddy Dooney proposed the toast to the guests, mentioning particularly Very Rev. I. M. Mc Ardle, O. P., Prior, Holy Cross Church; Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Flynn, Strokestown; Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Hughes, Sligo; Mr. Paddy Tynan, and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Palmer. Mr. P. J. Flynn, County Registrar for Roscommon and producer of the Strokestown Players, responded. Mr. Mc Dermottroe said the Drama Circle was under a deep debt of gratitude to Mr. Paddy Tynan, producer of the Rathangan
Players and to the members of his group. When the Drama Circle found that through illness a member of their cast of "Montserrat" was unable to perform, Mr. John Walsh, of the Rathangan Players, stepped into the part - a gesture which was deeply appreciated.
On behalf of the Drama Circle he presented to Mr. Tynan on behalf of Mr. Walsh, a Walsh family plaque as a token of their gratitude and appreciation. Mr. Tynan, replying, said the Drama Circle had honoured the Rathangan Players by asking a member of the group to take part in their production.
from The Sligo
Champion, October 29th, 1960
The Circle is reading "The Night of the Moon" by James White, at present and have decided to ply it this season. Mr. White is a journalist with the "Irish Press" and normally writes under the Irish version of his name - Seamus de Faoite. Mr. Joe Flood will produce the play, but casting has not yet been dealt with.
The annual dinner will be held in the Bonne Chere restaurant, High St., Sligo on Wednesday 2nd November, and members are being circularised. Those anxious to join the Circle either as acting or non-acting members, should write to the Hon. Secretary, Mrs. M. L. Raftery, "Alma", Finisklin, Sligo.
from The Sligo
Champion, April 2nd, 1960
Sligo Drama Circle presented "Montserrat" before a large audience at Meath Drama Festival in Navan and the adjudicator, Mr. Harold Goldblatt, said the group was an excellent company, which, with a very effective setting, had the right atmosphere for this play. He commended the producers on their eye for detail and was particularly impressed by the playing of Tom Hayes, Eddie Mc Dermottroe and Paddy Dooney in the roles of Montserrat, Izquierdo and Salas Ina.
from The Sligo
Champion, February 13th, 1960
This powerfully gripping play by Emmanuel Robles (adapted from the French by Lillian Hellman) turns back the pages of history by almost a century and a half, and brings the scene to the town of Valencia in the South American state of Venezuela, then under Spanish domination. The central figure is a young Spanish officer (Captain Montserrat) whose sympathies lie with the leader of an uprising against the Spaniards - Simon Bolivar. Warning of the plans made for the capture of Bolivar are conveyed to him, and the sinister scheme evolved by the local
Spanish army Commander to establish the guilt of Montserrat - whom he suspects of the leakage - and its execution highlight this dynamic production. The atmosphere id supercharged with suspense all through as thrill follows thrill until the action reaches its climax.
No-one can afford to miss the opportunity of seeing this forceful play which will be staged by Sligo Drama Circle (first prize-winners in 1959 Athlone All-Ireland Drama Festival) at Sligo Town Hall nightly at 8.30pm sharp from Sunday 21st to Thursday 25th February (five performances). The hall will be heated. Booking at Keohane's, Castle St. (3/6). Proceeds in aid of "Little Willie". This play was "on the air" twice last year from Radio Éireann; it previously had a record breaking run in Dun Laoghaire when presented by the Globe Theatre Company.
from The Sligo
Champion, October 24th, 1959
The annual dinner and reunion of members of the Sligo Drama Circle and their friends, held in the Bonne Chere Restaurant, Market Street, Sligo, on Wednesday night of last week was a most enjoyable function and was attended by about fifty people. Following an excellent meal, Mr. E. A. Mc Dermottroe, who presided, welcomed all present and said they were opening their drama season and looking forward to a season of healthy competition and enjoyment, which was really the important matter. Last year was a year of definite achievement and not only did
they keep the banners flying at the regional drama festivals, but they also got to the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone and this was in no small way due to their producer, Dr. Timothy Mc Keogh, aided by a number of people, including their Chairman, Mr. Paddy Dooney. Mr. Dooney did some tremendous work behind the scenes last year and there was a great deal of credit due to him because he helped the group in many ways.
That the society had gone from strength to strength was also due to the capable and efficient work of their Hon. Secretary, Ms. Una Lappin, and their Hon. Treasurer Ms. Marie Mulvihill, both of whom had been a wonderful help. Mr. Mc Dermottroe thanked each member of the cast of last year's production of "God's Gentry" and said they had certainly put on a tremendous show, which had proved itself great box office. Each member of the cast and and all those others associated with the production deserved praise for their work and helpfulness. They were
starting the present season on a very high note carried over from last year and he hoped that the good work would continue and that they would achieve further successes in the future.
Proposing the toast of the guests, Mr. Paddy Dooney extended a special welcome to the Mayor Mr. Eamon Tolan and Mrs. Dolan, and said they all knew the deep interest they took in the cultural life of Sligo. They were also mindful of their first show when the Mayor saw fit to attend in his official capacity and afterwards graciously received the cast in the Mayor's Parlour. They wished to thank the Mayor and Mrs. Tolan for their kindness and encouragement to the Drama Circle. Mr. Dooney also welcomed Comdt. J. Garvey and Mrs. Garvey; Comdt. E. Gregan
and Mrs. Gregan; and Mr. Tom Palmer, Editor, the Sligo Champion and Mrs. Palmer.Comdt. J. Garvey, replying on behalf of the guests, said the Drama Circle had won an enormous amount of acclaim because they had a wonderful amount of talent and they worked hard in close co-operation with each other. He felt sure that in the future they would win far more honours and achieve greater success. The Mayor said the best indication of how the Drama Circle had progressed was by the number of trophies which it had won and it was his fervent hope that the group
would go from success to success and from strength to strength.
Mr. Tom Palmer also spoke. Mr. Mc Dermottroe, on behalf of the Drama Circle, presented a Waterford Glass vase to Comdt. and Mrs. Garvey and to mark Comdt. Garvey's transfer from Sligo to Boyle and said the Drama Circle were indebted to them for many kindnesses and much co-operation. Subsequently, a most enjoyable social evening was spent.
from The Sligo
Champion, May 9th, 1959
The revival of a Drama Week in Sligo received the full support
of members at a meeting of Sligo Corporation, on Monday, when
the Mayor, Ald. J. Gannon, proposed a vote of congratulation to
the Sligo Drama Circle on their recent successes at the
All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone and at the Cavan Drama
Festival. The Mayor said it gave him great pleasure to
congratulate the members of Sligo Drama Circle. A special
tribute should be paid to their producer, Dr. T. Mc Keogh, and
to Paddy Dooney, who received a special award for his acting in
Athlone. The Drama Circle was doing wonderful work in the town
as the people involved had both drama and art forever in their
minds. He hoped they would keep up the good work as those
connected with drama in Sligo had excellent capabilities.
"We are on the threshold of a season of drama in the town. The
revival is in the right hands as the people concerned have been
praised by adjudicators at the top, and by rival drama groups
all over Ireland. They are deserving of our congratulations and
encouragement from a body like this may have the proper effect",
said the Mayor. Continuing, Ald. Gannon said their thanks were
due to the other people of the town who were concerned with the
revival of drama, and their congratulations could even extend
outside the town, to Ballymote, as the members of that drama
group also received a prize in Athlone.
Ald. G. Foley said the tribute paid to the Drama Circle was a
well deserved one, because by winning the award in Athlone they
had done something concrete and wonderful. The standard of
acting was commented on by qualified people, and he thought
that, as a group, they deserved the highest praise from the
people of Sligo. They had set a standard, and it was up to them
to maintain that standard. He hoped the successes would lead to
a season of drama in the town as such a venture would be a
wonderful tourist attraction and could put Sligo on the map. He
congratulated the Drama Circle sincerely on their efforts and
also extended his congratulations to the Ballymote Dramatic
Society. Concluding, he paid a special tribute to Dr. Mc Keogh
and Mr. P. Dooney.
Cllr. J. Dolan said the Drama Circle were worthy successors of
the Sligo Unknown Players. In congratulating the group he would
like to refer to the revival of a drama week in Sligo Town.
Under the auspices of Feis Shligigh they had a drama festival in
the town about ten years ago, but it did not receive the support
it should have received. He hoped the merited victories of the
group would give Sligo its worthy place in the drama wrld of
Ireland. The vote of congratulation was unanimously supported by
all the members.
from The Sligo
Champion, November 17th, 1956
Sligo Drama Circle will make its bow to the public on Sunday night next 18th November, with its presentation of "Thy Dear Father", a three act play, by Gerard Healy. For weeks past the cast taking part have been actively rehearsing, and a really high class performance may be confidently expected. This play has an Irish background and the interest of the audience is sustained to the final moment. Further performances will be given on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the 19th, 20 and 21st November. The play will commence each night at 8.30pm sharp.
Seats may be booked at Keohane's Newsagency, Castle Street. Charges of admission are 3s (reserved) and 2s. Profits will be devoted to St. Anne's Church Building Fund. Production is by Walter Mc Donagh, and the members of the cast are Joe Mc Morrow, Eddie Mc Dermottroe, George Molloy, Patrick Dooney, Adelaide Hay, Mary Mc Givern, Sadie Maguire, Marie Mulvihill and Jo Lappin. Most of these are well known to Sligo audiences from previous stage appearances.
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