DOCTOR Brum Henderson, President of the Association of Ulster Drama Festivals will open the 44th All Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone next Tuesday. During the following 12 evenings, groups from all over Ireland will compete for the Esso Trophy, under Irene Rostron's adjudication. Of Scottish birth, Irene has wide experience in all areas of theatre. This year, the winning work in a new competition for playwrights will be performed at the close of the festival. Despite a late announcement, the innovation attracted 24 entries, most of them from Dublin. There was drama at this year's draw when Clarence Players withdrew because of an unsuitable date, allowing Club Players through.
Sundrive Players in Marina Carr's The Mai will get the Festival off to a fine start.
In 1994, there were four productions of Brien Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa. This year there are two. Kilmeen (Cork) and Thurles Drama Groups invite us to the Mundy home at Ballyheg on Wednesday 8th and Tuesday 14th respectively.
Dalkey Players present Heno Magee's Hatchet on Thursday 9th. On Friday 10th, Lifford Players perform in Athlone for the 22nd time. They won the Esso Trophy in 1982 with Macook's Corner. This year they perform Graham Reid's Remembrance. Omagh Players have chosen Bernard Farrell's original hit, I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell for their first visit to Athlone.
Billy Roche is serving Enniscorthy Theatre Group well. His Belfry won them the award for best set in 1994. A group who knock at Esso's door regularly, they could achieve more with Poor Beast in the Rain on Sunday 12th. Club Players, Dublin won the All Ireland in 1978 with How the Other Half Loves. Jim. Cartwright's Road is their choice this year. On Monday 13th, they will conduct us on this tour down a derelict inner city street on the evening and night of a wild weekend.
Breffni Players, Carrick on Shannon present the amusing and moving Educating Rita by Willie Russell on Wednesday 15th. John McDwyer, who plays Frank, is author of the following Saturday's play, so he will have a double interest in the outcome of the Festival. Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge turns up regularly in the All Ireland Finals. Torch Players, Limerick, populate the Italian American colony in Brooklyn for their Athlone visit on Tuesday 16th. The recent winners of the All Ireland Confined Finals at Tralee take the stage of the Dean Crowe Hall on Friday 18th. Corcaghan Players, Co. Tyrone, will stage Bernard Farrell's All In Favour Said No.
A new play is always popular at Athlone. When it is about Leitrim and performed by that county's excellent Corn Mill Theatre, it becomes an exciting event. Breffni Player's John McDwyer wrote Lovely Leitrim, about the trauma of enforced emigration for Leitrim families.
