A chance to see Ballyshannon Drama Society’s new circuit production for 2023

Ballyshannon Drama Society has announced details of its new circuit production for 2023.

The society will stage 'A Delicate Balance' by Edward Albee in the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon on February 16, 17 and 18 before hitting the All Ireland Amateur Drama Festival circuit.

Tickets for the show will be available from the Abbey Arts Box Office, www.abbeycentre.ie, tel: 0719851375, priced at €14/€11 + €1 booking fee.

First performed in New York in 1966, the play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play in 1967. 

The show focuses on Agnes and Tobias, a wealthy middle-aged couple, who have their complacency shattered when their longtime friends Harry and Edna appear at their doorstep. Claiming an encroaching, nameless fear has forced them from their own home, these neighbours bring a firestorm of doubt, recrimination and ultimately solace, upsetting the delicate balance of Agnes and Tobias’s household.

‘A Delicate Balance’ is directed by Rachel O’Connor, who also performs in the show as Claire, and she will be assisted by Carl Duggan. 

A spokesperson said: “Well-known as the award-winning star of many of our past festival productions such as All My Sons and The Importance of Being Earnest, Rachel has also been an in-house director for a number of Ballyshannon Drama Society shows, directed hit musicals with the Abbey Vocational School and recently played the Iron Lady herself in the one-woman show ‘Margaret’ in a tour-de-force performance. 

“This is Rachel’s first turn at the helm of a circuit production, but she has been heavily involved in all aspects of our past circuit shows, from costumes to lighting and everything in between, and we look forward to seeing her wealth of dramatic experience brought to bear on Albee’s classic text.”

The cast features a group of highly talented, multi-award winning actors: Trish Keane and Richard Hurst as Agnes and Tobias, Rachel O’Connor as Claire, last year’s newcomers Deirdre Ferguson and Troy Devaney as Julia and Harry, and Kay O’Dea as Edna, who is no stranger to the circuit, in her first role for the Ballyshannon Drama Society.

Following the local performances at home in Ballyshannon, the group will have a short breather before they head out on the road to perform in eight festivals around the north west taking part of the All Ireland Amateur Drama Festival, including one more show in Ballyshannon on March 18.

Festival Programme

Friday, March 3 - St. Eugene’s Hall, Newtownstewart

Sunday, March 5- The Iontas Centre, Castleblaney

Tuesday, March 7 - St. Brigid’s Hall Theatre, Tubbercurry

Thursday, March 9  - The Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen

Friday, March 10 - The Community Centre, Kiltyclogher

Saturday, March 18 - Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon

Thursday, March 23 - Town Hall Theatre, Claremorris

Thursday, March 30 - The Patrician, Carrickmore

Cast in order of appearance:

Agnes - Trish Keane

Tobias - Richard Hurst

Claire - Rachel O'Connor

Julia - Deirdre Ferguson

Harry - Troy Devaney

Edna - Kay O'Dea

Director: Rachel O'Connor

Assistant Director: Carl Duggan.

Crew:

Set Design - Seán O'Connor

Set Construction - Seán O'Connor, Paul McGonigle, John Travers, Carl Duggan, Aidan McGuinness, Sean McLoone, Keith Robinson.

Set Dressing & Décor - Trish Keane

Sound and Lighting - Seán O'Connor, Shane Patterson, Mark Fearon.

Continuity - Linda Ritchie.

Costumes - Rachel O'Connor.

The spokesperson added: “We'd like to give a special mention to the very talented Lauren O'Connor who produced the fantastic original artwork in the poster.”