This years RTE All-Ireland Drama Finals in Athlone will see three of the Plays presented at this year’s 63rd Newry Drama Festival competing for the top prize. The Finals will take place in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone from Thursday 30th April to Friday 8th May 2015 with the results will be announced and the Presentation of Awards will be held at a Gala Banquet in the Radisson Blu Hotel Athlone on Saturday 9th May 2015.
This year’s Newry Festival, held in association with the Quays Shopping Centre Newry, was a huge success, presenting a feast of both new and some well-known plays.
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The Event lived up to its usual high standard, with plays and performances attracting large audiences every night. The nine-night Festival provided experiences which will live long in the memories of the many Newry Theatre-goers.
The climax came on the final night of the Festival, when “Stolen Child” performed by Bunclody Drama Group from Co. Wexford, won the Premier Award. The Group got a standing ovation and also won the Audience Award.
The adjudicator, Scott Marshall, expressed delight at the extremely high standard of performances.
Furthermore, he had found it difficult to decide about many of the awards due to the wealth of super presentations.
He had high praise for the set designs which he said were of a very high standard.
The Plays which won their way to Athlone are: “Stolen Child” Bunclody Drama Group, “The 39 Steps” Letterkenny Music and Drama Group and “Takin’Over the Asylum”Ballyduff Drama Group Co Wexford.
This was a terrific year for Newry Drama Festival and the planning now begins for Festival 2016
