Antigone

“Antigone” is based Sophocles Greek tragedy of the same name. This version written by the great French writer Jean Anouilh in 1944 is a more modern telling of the Greek classic.

The young, slender, 17 year old Antigone is representative of the modern day freedom fighter as she resolutely deifies a solemn edict declared by her uncle King Creon, to the point of being put to death.

“Antigone” is an outstanding example of Anouilh’s unerring technical skill. It is a permanent landmark in 20th century French theatre and is regularly performed and studied around the world.

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The Cripple of Inis Maan

The members of Kilrush Drama Group present “The Cripple of Inis Maan”. This outrageous comedy was set on the Island of Inis Maan in 1934 during the making of the film, “The Man of Aran”. Milking the play for every ounce of comedy is Director Mick Byrne backed up by a talented cast. Aunts Eileen and Kate are being played by Anne Sheridan and Cathy Tighe, while Maurice Ruth plays the role of Johnnypateenmike. Young performers, Evan May, Alan O’Neill and Ellie Condren, take on the roles of Cripple Billy, Bartlay and Slippy Helen respectively, while Joe Sinnott and Owen Doyle play Babbybobby and Dr. McSharry, and Josephine Byrne plays “Mammy”.

Davy Donohoe takes on the onerous task of Stage Manager for this year’s production.

The first performances of this production can be seen in “St. Brigid’s Hall” Carnew, on Friday the 15th of February and Sunday the 17th. The group will then travel North and South with their production to Festivals on the Drama Circuit.

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On Raftery’s Hill

On Raftery’s Hill is a strong drama about a dysfunctional family in the midlands. Another generation struggles to escape the cycle of depravity and the rancid atmosphere of Raftery’s Hill.

Marina Carr unmasks a world “so horrible it has to be true”.

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The Playboy of the Western World

Kilrush Drama Group performed The Playboy of the Western World at Kilmuckridge, Rush, Lislea, Rocommon, Gorey, Rathangan and Cavan Drama Festivals on the 2011 Circuit.

Congratulations to all involved who won awards including; Best Supporting Actor for both Alan O’ Neill and Michael Dunbar; Best Comedy Moment; Best Costumes for Jacinta Kavanagh; Best Actress for Ellie Condren; Best Lighting for Kevin McEvoy and Best Set.

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The Lonesome West

Kilrush Drama Group will perform ‘The Lonesome West’ by Martin McDonagh in St. Brigid’s Hall, Carnew on Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd April before their All Ireland performance in Shercock, Co. Cavan on Thursday 26th April.

The group performed at festivals in Lislea, Rush, Kilmuckridge, Roscommon, Wexford, Kildare, Gorey and Cavan. Congratulations to Mick Byrne who won numerous Best Producer awards, Michael Dunbar & Joe Sinnott who won Best Actor awards, Brendan Doyle who won Best Supporting Actor Awards, Ellie Condren who won Best Actress & Best Supporting Actress awards, Stephen Ellis who won a Special Effects award and Kevin McEvoy who won a Best Lighting award. Also well done to all involved on winning the Audience Cup in Gorey, Best Play in the Dioscese and a Best Set award in Wexford. Break a leg to all involved in the Confined All Ireland in Shercock.

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Setting: Leenane, Galway. Period: 1997

Symposis of the Play: Part of the Leenane Triology by Martin McDonagh, The Lonesome West tells of the frustration of a young alcoholic priest to reconcile two middle aged, feuding brothers, and to stop them killing each other. He also has to ward off the romantic advances of the young Girleen, in a parish he calls the crime capital of Europe. Martin McDonagh’s ability to mix hilarious comedy with violence and dark moods makes him one of today’s most popular playwrights.

Photo courtesy of Tom Byrne

Our Town

Kilrush Drama Group performed Our Town by Thornton Wilder at festivals in Lislea, Rush, Kilmuckridge, Wexford, Gorey and Ballyduff in West Waterford getting two wins, a second and a third enabling them to qualify for the Confined All Ireland in Rossmore, Co. Cork which took place from 19^th – 27^th April 2013. Kilrush performed in Rossmore on Tuesday 23rd April 2013.

Congratulations to Ger Byrne who won an All Ireland Award for Best Stage Management and also to Cora Tyrrell who was presented with a special gift of books from the adjudicator, Padraic McIntrye. Congratulations also to Ellie Condron who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Michael Dunbar who was nominated for Best Actor and to Kevin McEvoy, Billy Molloy and Martin Austin who were nominated for a Best Lighting award.

2013 Festival Circuit Awards Success

Congratulations to Mick Byrne who won two Best Producer awards, Michael Dunbar who won Best Actor awards, Seamus Burnell who won a Best Supporting Actor Award, Ellie Condren who won Best Actress & Best Supporting Actress awards, Anne Sheridan & Marie Dunne who won a joint Best Supporting Actress Award, Cora Tyrrell who won an Adjudicator’s Award, Paddy Byrne who won a Best Sound Award, Ger Byrne who won a Best Stage Manager Award, Jacinta Kavanagh who won a Best Costumes Award, Lar Duffy & the choir who won an adjudicator’s award and Kevin McEvoy who won an adjudicator’s award for lighting.

Also well done to all involved on winning the Best Play in the Diocese of Ferns in Gorey, a Best Presentation Award in West Waterford and an Adjudicator’s Award for the logistics of organising our 36 strong cast. Break a leg to all involved in the Confined All Ireland in Rossmore.

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Setting: Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Period: 1901 – 1907

Symposis of the Play:

In Our Town, Thornton Wilder set out to bring realism, and to celebrate the innocent, simple and religious. Yet he tried to endow individual experience with cosmic significance. Our Town is both an affectionate portrait of American Life and ‘an attempt to find a value above all price for the smallest events in our daily life’. The play has become a classic of the American Theatre.

Set at the turn of the 20th century, the play reveals the ordinary lives of the people in the small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, U.S.A. The play focuses particularly on the lives of George Gibbs, a doctor’s son, and Emily Webb, the daughter of a newspaper editor. Act I takes place in 1901 and depicts a typical day in the town. Act II, which takes place in 1904, shows the wedding of George Gibbs and Emily Webb. Act II, which takes place in 1913, depicts the interaction between Grover’s Corners dead townspeople and the living ones.

The Cavalcaders

Kilrush Drama Group’s 2014 Festival of The Cavalcaders by Billy Roche came 3^rd in the All Ireland Drama Finals in Claremorris. Ellie Condren won the Best Supporting Actress Award and Kevin McEvoy won the Best Lighting Award.

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Setting: Small town Ireland.

Brief History of the Group: Kilrush Drama Group was founded in 1964 and are celebrating their 50^th Anniversary in 2014. We have performed 66 plays in the last 50 years, first appearing in an All Ireland in 1972. In 2003 we started to present an annual Autumn production in our local hall in Ballyroebuck. The Group established the South Wicklow Drama Festival in 2005. We performed Our Town by Thornton Wilder in the 2013 Confined All Ireland Final.

Synposis of the Play: The Cavalcaders explores the lives and loves of four barbershop singers and shoe repairmen from small-town Ireland. They spend their days mending shoes and their nights as singers of local legend. Their musical harmonies, however, are not reflected in their private lives.

Poor Beast in The Rain

Dreams came true for Kilrush Drama Group and in particular, for Director, Mick Byrne in 2015 when Kilrush Drama Group were announced as the Winners of the All Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Kilmuckridge with their production of ‘Poor Beast in the Rain’ by Billy Roche. Founding member of Kilrush, Mick Byrne, who had been at the helm of the group since it’s foundation in 1964 was also awarded Best Producer. Ellie Condren also won Best Supporting Actress.

Proud Director, Mick Byrne, with the Claregalway Trophy

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Setting: Betting Shop in Wexford Town. Period: 1980’s

Brief History of the Group: Kilrush Drama Group celebrated their 50^th Anniversary in 2014 and launched a book of photos, facts and stories from down through the years entitled ‘Drama at Kilrush’. Current director Mick Byrne was the founding member and is still at the helm of the group. During the 50 years of Kilrush DG, they have produced 71 plays and have appeared in the 3 Act All Ireland Finals on 16 occasions.

Synopsis of the Play: Eileen works in her father’s betting shop. Molly, Steven and Joe manage to keep their regrets about the past safely locked away and young Georgie is ready to turn his back on the outside world and follow their example, until the return of the legendary Danger Doyle. Having turned his back on the cycle of missed opportunities and thwarted desires to run away to London with Eileen’s mother, Danger Doyle now offers Eileen the possibility of escape.

The Far Off Hills 2016

The Far Off Hills by Lennox Robinson

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Setting: The first and third Acts take place in the Clancy’s dining-room, the second Act in the girls’ – Ducky’s and Pet’s – bedroom. No time lapses between the 1^st and 2^nd Acts but several weeks pass between the 2^nd and 3^rd Acts.

Period: 1930

Brief History of the Group: Kilrush Drama Group celebrated their 50^th Anniversary in 2014 with current director, Mick Byrne who was the founding member of the group still at the helm. During the 51 years of Kilrush DG, they have produced over 70 plays and appeared in the 3 Act Confined All Ireland Finals on 17 occasions. The group finally won the Premier Award in the 2015 Confined All Ireland with their production of ‘Poor Beast in the Rain’. In August 2015, Kilrush DG presented a summer play for the first time, performing ‘Our Day Out’.

Synopsis of the Play: Set in a sleepy town in rural Ireland, where the far off hills are green, everything is set to change in the lives of Patrick Clancy and his three daughters, Marian, Ducky and Pet. The oldest daughter, Marian, feels duty bound to postpone her entry to the convent until her father has his long-awaited cataract operation. Marian rules the household strictly, much to the dismay of Patrick and her more fun-loving younger sisters Pet and Ducky. Harold Mahony, one of the greatest moaners in Ireland has his sights set on the blissfully unaware oldest daughter. All is set to change however, with the arrival of the energetic young and devilishly handsome, Pierce Hegarty. Feeling left out in the cold by Marian’s admirers, the two younger girls hatch a plan to get rid of their older sister which ends with unexpected results.

Hedda Gabler

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