Amateur Drama Circuit 2010

poteen

Its that time of year again guys. There are lots of amateur groups in rehearsals at the minute in both the Open and confined section. Im in rehearsals myself for a production in the Confined section. The drama council have recently posted some of the festival lineups http://www.adci.ie/

How many of ye are in productions. Any ideas about which groups are strong this year etc etc etc.

brianw25

hey,

I was wondering does anyone no any cork based drama/acting groups in around the city...anywhere that you wouldnt need transport basically!

any info would be well appreciated

thanks

poteen

Im not really sure of what Cork city groups there are because I dont know of any of them on the festival circuit though Im sure theree are groups in existence.
Cork county though has some very strong groups. Kilmeen and Shoestring from Charleville spring to mind straight away.

jorg

We're rehearsing a new American play called "Mauritius" and certainly in the open section, there are plenty of strong plays and strong groups. No doubt, Myra Maguire and Estuary will be going for 3 in a row in Athlone!

poteen

jorg wrote: »

We're rehearsing a new American play called "Mauritius" and certainly in the open section, there are plenty of strong plays and strong groups. No doubt, Myra Maguire and Estuary will be going for 3 in a row in Athlone!

Good to hear ye are back in rehearsals again. Congrats on your 1 act success in Longford. The competition was vey strong. Whats "Mauritius" about ? Big cast? From looking at The ADCI site, the open section looks very competitive again this year.
Only a few weeks to go until the circuit begins!

jorg

poteen wrote: »

Good to hear ye are back in rehearsals again. Congrats on your 1 act success in Longford. The competition was vey strong. Whats "Mauritius" about ? Big cast? From looking at The ADCI site, the open section looks very competitive again this year.
Only a few weeks to go until the circuit begins!

Thanks, we had a great time in Longford.
Mauritius is a suspense / thriller about of all things - stamp collecting. Not the sort of topic associated with the thriller genre! It has 3M & 2F.
We'll be performing in 8 festivals; Derry, Enniskillen, Kildare,Carnew, Ballyshannon, Cavan, Rathangan and scariff.
What are you guys doing?

poteen

sounds good. Nice size cast also. We are doing a Jim Nolan play . Very Busy in Rehearsals at the minute. Are ye far off dress rehearsal with your play? Confident of making Athlone?

jorg

poteen wrote: »

sounds good. Nice size cast also. We are doing a Jim Nolan play . Very Busy in Rehearsals at the minute. Are ye far off dress rehearsal with your play? Confident of making Athlone?

We're a bit away from dress rehearsal. We're performing locally in Leixlip the first week in March. As for Athlone? we live in hope!!
Are you guys performing at any of the festivals we're at?

brianw25

Hey,

Does anyone know of any drama groups/clubs etc in the cork area, as im really looking to join up with one. I am an adult in my tweenties.


Thanks

poteen

So Who's ready for the Circuit?? Opening night of the first 3 act festival of the year takes place tonight in Rush . Let the fun begin!

wexican

poteen wrote: »

So Who's ready for the Circuit?? Opening night of the first 3 act festival of the year takes place tonight in Rush . Let the fun begin!

We begin our Circuit trek tomorrow night. Looking forward to it

Best of luck everyone!

poteen

wexican wrote: »

We begin our Circuit trek tomorrow night. Looking forward to it

Best of luck everyone!

Well?! How did ye get on with your festival? Who was adjudicating and where was it? Its in full flow now. First festival results are out on Friday from Newtownstewart and Rush

Dagon

Cool to see a thread about the circuit!

I've been involved in acting with various groups since 2003 or so. This year I'm with KATS in Galway and we're doing Hedda Gabler by Ibsen. We've just done our initial run at the town hall theatre in Galway and it went well, so we're really looking forward to hitting the circuit!

I'm quite looking forward to seeing Mauritius actually, Faith Healer and Extremeties were both really cool.

poteen

Dagon wrote: »

Cool to see a thread about the circuit!

I've been involved in acting with various groups since 2003 or so. This year I'm with KATS in Galway and we're doing Hedda Gabler by Ibsen. We've just done our initial run at the town hall theatre in Galway and it went well, so we're really looking forward to hitting the circuit!

I'm quite looking forward to seeing Mauritius actually, Faith Healer and Extremeties were both really cool.

I really like any of KATS work i have seen. All my sons was good but I loved The Glass Menagerie. Thats a tough challenge ye have taken on this year. Best of Luck with it. Bradan are a great group for sure. They should do well after winning the 1Act i December. Any word on what productions are going well this year on the circuit so far (early stages I Know). How are your neighbours 'Compantas Lir Claregalway' getting on?

jorg

We had our first local performance last night. Off to Enniskillen and Derry for Sat and Sun

poteen

jorg wrote: »

We had our first local performance last night. Off to Enniskillen and Derry for Sat and Sun

Best of luck with the first of your festivals. They will all be coming thick and fast now. How do you think your show rates against your previous efforts ?

jorg

Our play is definitely different to our winning one act and to "Faith Healer" last year. We always strive not to be predictible! We'll know better with a few festivals under our belt. Check our our website for updates www.bradan.org

Dagon

poteen wrote: »

I really like any of KATS work i have seen. All my sons was good but I loved The Glass Menagerie.

Ah thanks man! I played the gentleman caller in Glass Menagerie and it was a lot of fun. We had a very good director and worked a lot on the show, so it was nice getting to the finals. The competition that year was very stiff! I think Estuary with "The Price" won it that year?

Thats a tough challenge ye have taken on this year. Best of Luck with it. Bradan are a great group for sure. They should do well after winning the 1Act i December. Any word on what productions are going well this year on the circuit so far (early stages I Know). How are your neighbours 'Compantas Lir Claregalway' getting on?

Compantas lir are doing "I do not like thee Dr.Fell" by Bernard Farrell. One of the guys from that group works in the same company as me and he says they are doing fine. They really are going from strength to strength every year, and it's great to see it.

Dagon

jorg wrote: »

Our play is definitely different to our winning one act and to "Faith Healer" last year. We always strive not to be predictible! We'll know better with a few festivals under our belt. Check our our website for updates www.bradan.org

That's for sure, the group is very unpredictable and that keeps things really fresh. As much as I admired "The price", I have to say that I thought "Frozen" was one of the best shows I've seen in Athlone in the last few years, and it stood head and shoulers above much of the competition. Really seemed underrated at the time IMO.

poteen

A good few results coming in tonight from the first of the festivals. Update this page with any info ye hear from them. Great to see who is making the early moves in the open an confined sections

wexican

First results were posted on adci.ie this morning.#

Leading the Confined on joint first are Ferns Dramatic Society and Kilrush Drama Group.
Leading the Open on joint first are Estuary Players and Silken Thomas.

Well done all so far.

http://adci.ie/2010confinedleague.htm
http://adci.ie/2010openleague.htm

poteen

Silken Thomas and Estuary looking sharp again it seems in the open section. The confined seems to be putting Ferns to the fore. Two wexford groups doing translations. Interesting to see will Wexford DG be able to match Ferns. How have people found the adjudications so far? Any tougher than previous years?

Dagon

I've been to see a few shows at the Western drama festival, and I have to say Tom McArdle was a really entertaining and very astute adjudicator. Because of the high standard at this festival, he was being very tough on the players. He wasn't letting anything slide, and I thought he was a little too harsh on Nenagh tbh, as they had a truly breathtaking show IMHO.

In the open I saw "Agnes of God" by Nenagh, and "Pied a Terre" by Brideview; both were excellent.

Safe to say we won't be getting to Athlone this year with Hedda Gabler But it was a very fun and enjoyable year nonetheless, and an interesting piece to study. The adjuduications were pretty tough, but that is to be expected having seen the competition. It's really great to see so many groups raising the bar and putting so much work into their rehearsal process and performance.

jorg

We've a win and 2 thirds so we're keeping our fingers crossed. Haven't had a chance to see any of the others but the Silkies seem to be hot this year.

We'll be against you guys in Ballyshannon which is shaping up to be a tough one with 4 of the 6 open groups with at least one win behind them!

http://www.bradan.org/news.html

wexican

Come on the Ferns!

poteen

wexican wrote: »

Come on the Ferns!

Ferns are doing very well it must be said! Well Done! Are ye all set for the All Ireland? A few more groups are also qualified . A few spaces still up for grabs? What other Confined shows have you seen that are good or who else is supposed to be in the mix? have ye many festivals left?

poteen

Dagon wrote: »

I've been to see a few shows at the Western drama festival, and I have to say Tom McArdle was a really entertaining and very astute adjudicator. Because of the high standard at this festival, he was being very tough on the players. He wasn't letting anything slide, and I thought he was a little too harsh on Nenagh tbh, as they had a truly breathtaking show IMHO.

In the open I saw "Agnes of God" by Nenagh, and "Pied a Terre" by Brideview; both were excellent. Marina Carr's play "The Mai" was done by Phoenix players in the confined and it was also very good.

.

A few people told me that The Phoenix players were crap at the Mai and dont know how they won a festival with it ?

Dagon

poteen wrote: »

A few people told me that The Phoenix players were crap at the Mai and dont know how they won a festival with it ?

I wouldn't go so far as to say crap, but there are some things in that show that need a lot more work, and the group are aware of that. It was certainly a surprise win to be sure, especially given the high standard in the confined at this festival...

wexican

poteen wrote: »

Ferns are doing very well it must be said! Well Done! Are ye all set for the All Ireland? A few more groups are also qualified . A few spaces still up for grabs? What other Confined shows have you seen that are good or who else is supposed to be in the mix? have ye many festivals left?

Thanks! We're not set just yet, but we'll get there.

I've only seen Kilrush so far - very very good. I've heard good things about Compántas Lir and Kilmuckridge too.

poteen

wexican wrote: »

Thanks! We're not set just yet, but we'll get there.

I've only seen Kilrush so far - very very good. I've heard good things about Compántas Lir and Kilmuckridge too.

Its a great show (translations) . A big challenge for any group , not to mention a confined group. The spots for the all Ireland are been quickly snapped up at this stage and the patern is forming. I have heard good reports on Kilrush but mixed reports on the other two you mentioned
Im hearing great reports on Cornmill & Shoestring in the open section.

Dagon

I'm also hearing great reports about Cornmill - the adjudicator in Ballyshannon told me they were doing an amazing job with "Shining City". But that's no surprise, I've been majorly impressed with Cornmill over the past few years, and they've been very consistent. Seamus O'Rourke is a mighty man

Did any of you see Dig a few years back? Here is a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J7sHYWg1zo

sumoward

It seems that Cornmill have won in Portadown, which should qualify them for Athlone. They have wins in Killtyclougher and Balinamore as well as far as I am aware and a second in Shercock.

poteen

So With the vast majority of festivals completed and the patterns clearly forming, what do people think now? While the Open section is looking like bringing some plays to Athlone that have not appeared in a long time or at all, I think its fair to say that so far the Confined section is looking far from been a vintage year. Alot of the same plays have been trawled up again and reproduced. Dr Fell, rafterys Hill, Canaries etc etc. I really do believe that the marking system needs adjusting. More marks should be allocated for choice of play. More incentives need to be there for groups to take on new plays. Sometimes I feel That adjudicators are punishing new groups for taking on to big of challenges and sayinmg they are coming up short. the easiest thing to do is Keep producing John B Keane plays.
Also another point I feel needs to be made. 8 festrivals is too many for a group to compete in. The smaller groups are finding it hard to get a place in festivals . in my opinion a cap of 6 should be put in place.

allentown

emurf1 wrote: »

Call into the CAT club and they'll help you out

I'm a member of Blue Hat Players who are based in Whitechurch which is approx 5 miles north of Cork city.

poteen

The festival circuit is over for 2010. Congrats to all the groups who have qualified for both the All Ireland Confined Finals in Glenamaddy and the Open Finals in Athlone. Bradan players Caused a last minute shock in Cavan last night with a win that knocked Estuary out . The three in a row dream is over for them.
The Athlone line up is very interesting this year. Some great new plays. As I have said in previous posts, the Confined secton is rather bland with the same plays been sent forward by adjudicators for the All Ireland.

jorg

Yeah!! That was a bit too close for comfort - nail biting stuff. We've had an interesting journey and are delighted to have qualified. As you say, theres a very strong line up for Athlone. Its all to play for.

Agree that theres a strange mix of plays in the confined - 3 Bernard Farrells!! and a few old reliables. Met up with the Ferns gang at the final night in Scarriff and they seem to have a very strong show.

poteen

jorg wrote: »

Yeah!! That was a bit too close for comfort - nail biting stuff. We've had an interesting journey and are delighted to have qualified. As you say, theres a very strong line up for Athlone. Its all to play for.

Agree that theres a strange mix of plays in the confined - 3 Bernard Farrells!! and a few old reliables. Met up with the Ferns gang at the final night in Scarriff and they seem to have a very strong show.

Yeah, 3 Bernard farrells hardly makes for vintage stuff. It really was a close call for ye but well done. You could tell by the girl collecting the awards for ye that it meant alot and judging by the reaction in the hall it was a popular winner.I havnt seen the show yet but I am looking forward to doing so in Athlone. Best of Luck with it & Enjoy the night! Ferns show seems to be strong for sure if the confined table is anything to go by . But as we all know, the show with a pile of preliminary festival wins might not even feature come all ireland night.

wexican

jorg wrote: »

Yeah!! That was a bit too close for comfort - nail biting stuff. We've had an interesting journey and are delighted to have qualified. As you say, theres a very strong line up for Athlone. Its all to play for.

Agree that theres a strange mix of plays in the confined - 3 Bernard Farrells!! and a few old reliables. Met up with the Ferns gang at the final night in Scarriff and they seem to have a very strong show.

Twas great to meet ye guys from Bradan in McNamara's there on Saturday and congrats on getting the last win in Cavan too - well done, ye have a great show.

Thrilled about topping the Confined section, but it means nothing now - a clean slate, 9 plays and 1 adjudicator! Not long to go either so really have to make sure we're on the top of our game in Glenamaddy.

Kilrush, Kilmuckridge, DADS, Lislea, Compántas Lir et al are going to put up some serious competition!

jorg

wexican wrote: »

Twas great to meet ye guys from Bradan in McNamara's there on Saturday and congrats on getting the last win in Cavan too - well done, ye have a great show.

Thrilled about topping the Confined section, but it means nothing now - a clean slate, 9 plays and 1 adjudicator! Not long to go either so really have to make sure we're on the top of our game in Glenamaddy.

Kilrush, Kilmuckridge, DADS, Lislea, Compántas Lir et al are going to put up some serious competition!

Cavan was sweet - picked up best actress and best director too. Will definitely try to get down to see you guys in Gorey on the 16th

wexican

jorg wrote: »

Cavan was sweet - picked up best actress and best director too. Will definitely try to get down to see you guys in Gorey on the 16th

Well done on the awards too - such relief at qualifying i'd expect too.

We're on in Ferns on Good Friday night too if anyone can make it.

8 o'clock in the community centre

poteen

wexican wrote: »

Well done on the awards too - such relief at qualifying i'd expect too.

We're on in Ferns on Good Friday night too if anyone can make it.

8 o'clock in the community centre

Think Im going to hold off on seeing your show until the All Ireland in Glenamaddy. Thats gonna be the big one for ye and a long drive up from wexford. Have ye much support recruited for the night? We have competed in that festival in the past. It is a one of the best in the country - Very Good hosts so id expect they will put on a great all ireland finals festival. I see the Confined draw is on this Saturday and the Open draw is on Monday. For more information on the finals, check out the links below.

http://www.glenamaddydrama.com/

http://www.dramafestival.ie/

wexican

poteen wrote: »

Think Im going to hold off on seeing your show until the All Ireland in Glenamaddy. Thats gonna be the big one for ye and a long drive up from wexford. Have ye much support recruited for the night? We have competed in that festival in the past. It is a one of the best in the country - Very Good hosts so id expect they will put on a great all ireland finals festival. I see the Confined draw is on this Saturday and the Open draw is on Monday. For more information on the finals, check out the links below.

http://www.glenamaddydrama.com/

http://www.dramafestival.ie/

Pretty long trek alright - but nothing which we didn't do already for the circuit; Scariff, Newtownstewart, Ballinamore, Carrickmore were our 4 longest trips. Great craic, but mighty drives!

Did you manage to qualify? Confined as well right?

wexican

So the draw for the All-Ireland was made yesterday and is as follows:

Fri 16th April Ardagh Drama Group 'Thy Will Be Done' Michael Carey
Sat 17th April Kilmuckridge Drama Group 'Canaries' Bernard Farrell
Sun 18th April Ferns Dramatic Society 'Translations' Brian Friel
Mon 19th April Conna Dramatic Society 'Sive' John B. Keane
Tues 20th April Compántas Lir 'I Do Not Like Thee, Dr. Fell' Bernard Farrell
Wed 21st April Lislea Dramatic Players 'The Freedom of the City' Brian Friel
Thurs 22nd April D.A.D.S., Dunmore 'The Last Apache Reunion' Bernard Farrell
Fri 23rd April Phoenix Players, Tubbercurry 'The Mai' Marina Carr
Sat 24th April Kilrush Drama Group 'On Raftery's Hill' Marina Carr

Go n-éirí an bóthar le chuile grúpa!

jorg

... and the line up for the Open competition in Athlone.


DATE GROUP PLAY AUTHOR
Fri 30th April Nenagh Players 'Agnes of God' John Pielmeier
Sat 1st May Ballyduff Drama Group 'Of Mice and Men' John Steinbeck
Sun 2nd May Corn Mill Theatre Group 'Shining City' Conor McPherson
Mon 3rd* May Lifford Players 'Philadelphia, Here I Come' Brian Friel
Tues 4th May Bradán Players 'Mauritius' Theresa Rebeck
Wed 5th May Silken Thomas Players 'The History Boys' Alan Bennett
Thurs 6th May Ennis Players 'The Playboy of the Western World' J. M. Synge
Fri 7th May Shoestring Theatre Company 'The Salvage Shop' Jim Nolan
Sat 8th May Dundalk Theatre Workshop 'Copenhagen' Michael Frayn


Here's to a good one!

poteen

jorg wrote: »

... and the line up for the Open competition in Athlone.


DATE GROUP PLAY AUTHOR
Fri 30th April Nenagh Players 'Agnes of God' John Pielmeier
Sat 1st May Ballyduff Drama Group 'Of Mice and Men' John Steinbeck
Sun 2nd May Corn Mill Theatre Group 'Shining City' Conor McPherson
Mon 3rd* May Lifford Players 'Philadelphia, Here I Come' Brian Friel
Tues 4th May Bradán Players 'Mauritius' Theresa Rebeck
Wed 5th May Silken Thomas Players 'The History Boys' Alan Bennett
Thurs 6th May Ennis Players 'The Playboy of the Western World' J. M. Synge
Fri 7th May Shoestring Theatre Company 'The Salvage Shop' Jim Nolan
Sat 8th May Dundalk Theatre Workshop 'Copenhagen' Michael Frayn


Here's to a good one!

Heres to a good one is right! I think its a great lineup and one of the most open years ever. I have just been looking at booking on the Dean Crowe website. It has been very heavily booked already. great to see the interest though I do feel that the prices are on the high side. The booking fee thing always annoys me. Anyway, Im looking forward to It. Best of luck to all the groups.

same goes for the Confined finals. Best of Luck in Glenamaddy. As I said before, I am a bit spectacle of the overlaps with writers.We have 9 different writers in the open but the confined is very safe. Should be a good few weeks ahead though.

poteen

wexican wrote: »

So the draw for the All-Ireland was made yesterday and is as follows:

Fri 16th April Ardagh Drama Group 'Thy Will Be Done' Michael Carey
Sat 17th April Kilmuckridge Drama Group 'Canaries' Bernard Farrell
Sun 18th April Ferns Dramatic Society 'Translations' Brian Friel
Mon 19th April Conna Dramatic Society 'Sive' John B. Keane
Tues 20th April Compántas Lir 'I Do Not Like Thee, Dr. Fell' Bernard Farrell
Wed 21st April Lislea Dramatic Players 'The Freedom of the City' Brian Friel
Thurs 22nd April D.A.D.S., Dunmore 'The Last Apache Reunion' Bernard Farrell
Fri 23rd April Phoenix Players, Tubbercurry 'The Mai' Marina Carr
Sat 24th April Kilrush Drama Group 'On Raftery's Hill' Marina Carr

Go n-éirí an bóthar le chuile grúpa!

Best of Luck in Glenamaddy. Some tough competition but Im sure ye are well in the mix. Were you happy with the Sunday night draw?

jorg

poteen wrote: »

same goes for the Confined finals. Best of Luck in Glenamaddy. As I said before, I am a bit spectacle of the overlaps with writers.We have 9 different writers in the open but the confined is very safe. Should be a good few weeks ahead though.

I suppose groups pick plays based on the talent available. Penalising a group for picking "an old reliable" or rewarding a group for doing something new would be unfair too and difficult to manage.
The risk in picking a well known play is twofold. Firstly, it may be difficult to get into festivals because festivals will want to keep things fresh for their local audiences. More importantly, in picking a well known play, a group will have to make sure that they do an excellent job on it as the adjudicators will have seen 100s of different versions and will have their own opinions of how the play should be presented.

poteen

jorg wrote: »

I suppose groups pick plays based on the talent available. Penalising a group for picking "an old reliable" or rewarding a group for doing something new would be unfair too and difficult to manage.
The risk in picking a well known play is twofold. Firstly, it may be difficult to get into festivals because festivals will want to keep things fresh for their local audiences. More importantly, in picking a well known play, a group will have to make sure that they do an excellent job on it as the adjudicators will have seen 100s of different versions and will have their own opinions of how the play should be presented.

I def think your right.. There is a two fold risk. Taking on The Murphys and Millers and Friels leaves you open to criticisms. I just think that maybe groups underestimate the appetite of the audience for new plays. maybe the marking system needs a revamp?? Im not trying to say the whole circuit is in dissarray but we should always be trying to improve it . i do think that presentation at 15 marks is not enough. too Much work goes into sets and lighting etc etc to only warrant 15 marks. The visual side of a production is importantant to an audience. From looking at Marking sheets acroos the years- Shabby sets with poor lighting still mange to get 10 marks most times where as the very best presentations seem to be capped at a max of 13 marks. It doesnt really seem fair.

On a positive note in my mind, the ADCI look like capping the max number of festivals a group is allowed to enter at 6. this will stop the overlap between festivals and give new groups a chance to get on circuit.

How are Bradans rehearsals going for Athlone?

brightspark

The presentation used to attract a higher mark (25 I think).

It was reduced to give more emphasis on acting/directing etc, as it was felt that otherwise groups with less money to spend on elaborate sets/lighting were unfairly disadvantaged.

With a certain variation due to good design a group with plenty of money can simply pay for a great set/lighting set up.

Does anyone know if some of the groups are paying for their technical expertise?

(I did meet a guy a few years ago who was doing the lighting for at least two different groups)


Also what is the opinion on venues with very basic lighting rigs? I heard in one venue that the adjudicator had been criticising the lighting all week in a venue that has a rig that barely meets minimum requirements.

Should every group that visits that venue have to hire extra lighting?

poteen

brightspark wrote: »

The presentation used to attract a higher mark (25 I think).

It was reduced to give more emphasis on acting/directing etc, as it was felt that otherwise groups with less money to spend on elaborate sets/lighting were unfairly disadvantaged.

With a certain variation due to good design a group with plenty of money can simply pay for a great set/lighting set up.

Does anyone know if some of the groups are paying for their technical expertise?

(I did meet a guy a few years ago who was doing the lighting for at least two different groups)


Also what is the opinion on venues with very basic lighting rigs? I heard in one venue that the adjudicator had been criticising the lighting all week in a venue that has a rig that barely meets minimum requirements.

Should every group that visits that venue have to hire extra lighting?

Your correct in what you say. the points for presentation were reduced for that reason. But the adjudicators still expect very high qualities in this regard and I think that presentation helps create an overall impression of a play (Direction & Acting Aside).
There is no doubt that money is been passed around by groups for expert advice. Lighting designs and set designs are been paid for by alot of groups. Professionals are been hired for the circuit to set up lighting at venues. Money is also been spent on sonsulation in direction as well. I think that this is much more common place in the Open section. It goes on for sure.Not in all groups but alot. Anyone that says otherwise is in denial or just talking crap.

In regard to the venues issue , yeah your right. There is a big difference in some venues . Obviously venues like the Alley in Strabane are miles ahead of small community halls but for the survival of the circuit its important to keep these small halls going too. A small bit of investment each year may help to continue the upgrade

poteen

Best of Luck to All the Participants in The All Ireland Confined Finals in Glenamaddy. The finals are starting this Friday for Nine Nights (April 16th - 24th)