St Catherine's Killybegs take top award at Secondary Schools Drama Festival

The Balor Theatre, Ballybofey was the venue for the Secondary Schools Drama Festival last week.

Welcoming schools from the length and breadth of the county, the Butt Drama Circle hosted three wonderful evenings of drama culminating in a nail-biting award ceremony on Thursday, February 22.

The festival, which has been running for over forty years, provides a unique opportunity for young people to experience performing in a professional theatre in front of a live audience. Maura Logue, adjudicator for the festival, gave insightful commentary and feedback to the schools after each performance. She was impressed by the variety and standard of the plays and by the confident delivery and sincere performances of the talented young actors.

In the final adjudication and prize-giving ceremony, St. Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs took First Place and the Ben Duffy Memorial Award with Once Upon A Rhyme. This accomplished production was directed by Tracey Faulkner. The play, written by two of the students, is a parody of our traditional fairy tales.

In Second Place was Errigal College, Letterkenny with a slick production of Trapped. Directed by Caitríona Hasson, this comedic and entertaining play was an audience favourite.

Third Place was awarded to Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon for Spreading the News directed by Ann Marie Garvey, Áine Cronin and Rachel Mc Laughlin. This play by Lady Gregory involved a large cast of Transition Year students and explored the effects of gossip.

Carndonagh Community School took home the Harry Mc Gowan Memorial Award for Technical Achievement for their production of Teechers directed by Andrea Sellick and Fiona Mc Laughlin.

There was stiff competition among the schools with a high standard of productions across the festival. Coláiste Áiligh, Letterkenny presented an extract from the JB Keane classic The Field, directed by Avril Carr. St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny entertained the audience with a large cast presenting The Outsiders directed by Daniel Nelis with Rachael Mc Shane, Fiona Mc Daid and Tommy Mc Intyre.

An hilarious comedy, The Dog Sitters was presented by First Year students from Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon and directed by Ann Marie Garvey. As well as the overall trophies, prizes and certificates were awarded to individuals and groups for acting, script-writing, comedy, special effects, set and costume. Congratulations to all of the young thespians, their teachers and schools on their fantastic achievements.