Longford Drama: Bog Lane hosts sell out one act festival

Ballymahon One Act Festival was deemed a great success as the Bog Lane Theatre recently played host to three fantastic nights of drama.

The theatre was sold out for all three nights, with nine one act plays performed over the weekend.

A social media post from the festival read: “We want to thank the casts and crews of the nine visiting groups, our adjudicator Paul Brennan, everyone who minded groups, booking office, box office, lighting, sound all who helped in the kitchen our supporters Kepak, Longford County Council, Michael and Josephine Cooney and John Nally Circle K.

“Thanks to every business who displayed our poster's the news media for promoting our festival over the past few weeks, and the local parishes who promoted our festival in their newsletter.”

It concluded: “To our Festival Director Michele Doran for all the time and work that you devoted in making the festival another success.”

Edgeworthstown's Mostrim Plauyers was the only local drama group on the programme. The well regarded group secured a second place in the confined section with a one act written by Wicklow man Mattie Lennon

In the Open section the first place went to Prosperous Dramatic Society, with The Same. Second spot to Balally Players for their production of Salome. The third place went to Corn Mill Theatre Group, with Clarity at Last.

In the Confined section The Ray Leonard Players got first spot with A Night Without Stars. The second place went to Mostrim Players with A Wolf by the Ears and the PIC Players scooped third place with Three Lives Three.

The festival is part of the annual circuit that sees theatre groups compete in open and confined sections for the coveted All Ireland Drama title.

This year the All Ireland One Act Finals will be taking place in Castleblayney, Monaghan.

All around the country festivals are taking place and the nine best plays, all of them multi award winners, will progress to Castleblayney for the finals.

Ballymahon is a popular festival as the intimate surroundings of Bog Lane lend to audience engagement.

The adjudicator for this year’s One Act Festival in the Bog Lane is Paul Brennan. This one act festival featured some of the top drama groups in the country.