Corn Mill One-Act Festival brings drama talent from across Ireland

The Corn Mill Theatre & Arts Centre in Carrigallen is set for a vibrant weekend of live theatre as it hosts its 19th Annual One Act Drama Festival from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th November. The much-loved event will see nine drama groups from across the country bring a mix of comedy, tragedy and powerful storytelling to the Leitrim stage.

Festival director Philip McIntyre says groups are travelling from all over Ireland to take part. “We have nine groups this year from places like Kildare, Longford, Wicklow, Cork and Dublin,” he says. The event is part of the Drama League of Ireland’s one-act circuit, which features around 30 festivals nationwide. “Each group can take part in up to five festivals,” McIntyre explains. “There are two categories — open, for the more experienced groups, and confined, for those newer to the circuit.”

Although called a festival, it’s very much a competition. “Carrigallen is one of around 30 festivals where roughly 35 groups compete nationally,” McIntyre says. Tickets are €10 a night for three shows or €25 for a weekend pass covering all nine. “It’s great value, and even the newer groups bring a high standard of acting and storytelling.”

Each evening ends with a public adjudication, where Evelyn O’Sullivan gives five minutes of feedback to each group, followed by optional private adjudications held in local pubs — adding a lively social element to the weekend. “We all know each other from travelling the festival circuit,” McIntyre says. “It’s as much a reunion as it is a competition.”

Amateur drama is thriving in Ireland, he adds. “It’s the second biggest voluntary organisation after the GAA, with more than 40 active drama groups nationwide. But unlike sport, we don’t get much funding. Our theatre was built by the community, and it’s still run entirely by volunteers.” A small committee manages the venue, and locals staff the box office and coffee dock for every show.

The Corn Mill Theatre remains busy year-round with a packed programme of plays, concerts and fundraisers, from Seamus O’Rourke’s Poems and Qualms to country music nights and school Christmas shows. “We’re always active,” McIntyre says. “This year we toured with Bristol in the Dark on the three-act circuit. We didn’t make the All-Ireland finals, so next year we’re focusing on a home show before returning to the circuit the following year. One of our plays, Charity at Last, even won the P.G. O’Connor Award for playwriting.”

With three days of theatre, nine diverse plays, expert adjudication and a welcoming community spirit, the One Act Drama Festival promises a weekend full of creativity and storytelling. “It’s top-class drama and a great weekend for anyone who loves the stage,” says McIntyre. “Most importantly, it keeps the spirit of community theatre alive.”

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