Footlights

The National Association For Youth Drama is hosting a Youth Theatre Symposium tomorrow and Saturday at Dublin Castle: information on 01-8781301 . . . The novelist Patrick Skene Catling's short story, "The Right Spot", will be read by David Kelly on BBC Northern Ireland on Monday at 4.45 p.m . . . Greeting The Critic, an afternoon seminar on newspaper theatre criticism, will run at UCD Drama Studies Centre in Carysfort, Co Dublin, and will be addressed by freelance critic Luke Clancy, Lynda Henderson of the University of Ulster, Redmond O'Hanlon of UCD and Siobhan Bourke of Rough Magic, among others: phone 7068048 for details . . . Dublin Fifteen, a CD/cassette featuring poets of contemporary Dublin, including Thomas Kinsella, Eavan Boland, Theo Dorgan, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Paul Durcan and Michael Hartnett, will be launched on October 20th by the Lord Mayor of Dublin - further information from Peter Sirr on 01-8721302 or Pat Boran on 01-8722799 . . . Omagh Arts Festival is running until October 18th, with highlights including The Reel Fiddlers Of Scotland Orchestra (tonight), and Mary Coughlan (Saturday week): phone Omagh 247831 . . . Michael Poynor is giving three workshops on writing for the stage at the Ti Chulainn Cultural Activity Centre in Co Armagh on three successive Saturdays from October 18th: information on 08 01693 888828.

Front Row can now be contacted by e-mail: frontrow@irishtimes.ie