The West Waterford Drama Festival 2013Award winners and officers pictured with the adjudicator at the Awards Ceremony in St Michael's HallAdjudicator, David Vince, a member of the British Guild of Drama Adjudicators, in his summary of this year's West Waterford Drama Festival, said that the standard throughout was never less than very good and was, at times, outstanding. In particular he said that the standards of production and acting were excellent and were comparable with what one might expect from the professional theatre. However, he did feel that lack of attention to detail in aspects of presentation - especially sets, lighting and costume - took a little from the positive overall impact. Many of the shows were memorable pieces of theatre and would remain in his memory and indeed that of the audience long after the Festival was over. He was full of praise for the Ballyduff venue and the organising committee as well as for the audiences who filled the venue each night and gave wonderful support to the stagecraft being displayed.

 
The competition was fierce, especially in the Open section, but it was no surprise when the first two places were taken in that competition by Silken Thomas from Kildare and Kilmeen from West Cork and indeed when Kilrush from Wexford won the Confined section. The Open competition was dominated by two of the current big hitters on the amateur drama scene and with totally different pieces from the theatrical spectrum. Silken Thomas were winning their fifth festival of the year with Philip Ridley's "Mercury Fur" a modern tale of post-apocalyptic London and current All-Ireland champions, Kilmeen, were taking the points for second place with Synge's Irish classic "The Playboy of the Western World". They will battle it out again in the All-Ireland finals in Athlone. In the Confined section, Kilrush had a great win with "Our Town" and this win should see then through to the Confined All-Ireland finals in April.
 
Open Competition Results
 
Best Play: Mercury Fur (Philip Ridley) - Silken Thomas Players
Best Producer: Sean Judge - Silken Thomas Players
Best Actor: Paul Walsh as Michael in Wexford's "Moonshine"
Best Actress: Nora Scannell as the Widow Quinn in Kilmeen's "Playboy"
Best Supporting Actor: Donie Walsh as Shawn Keogh in Kilmeen's "Playboy"
Best Supporting Actress: Ellen Quirke as Tara/Sharon/Junkie in Brideview's "From These Green Heights"
 
Confined Competition Results
 
Best Play: Our Town (Thornton Wilder) - Kilrush Drama Group
Best Producer: Michael Byrne - Kilrush Drama Group
Best Actor: Michael Dunbar as the Narrator in Kilrush's "Our Town"
Best Actress: Carmel O'Driscoll in Skibbereen's "Hen Night Epiphany"
Best Supporting Actor: Seamus Burnell as Constable Warren in Kilrush's "Our Town"
Best Supporting Actress: Caitriona Howard as Girleen in Conna's "The Lonesome West"
 
Eithne Coleman being presented with the Seamus Ahern Memorial Award. Included are officers of the Festival and members of the Ahern family.General Results
 
Best Set: Kilmeen (Playboy)
Best Presentation: Kilrush (Our Town)
Best Lighting: Wexford (Moonshine)
Most Entertaining Play: Haulbowline (Not Now, Darling)
Golden Moment of Theatre: Conna (for the Exploding Stove)
Adjudicator's Awards: Ballyduff for ensemble playing and Ellen Quirke for the playing of multiple awards
Seamus Aherne Memorial Award: Eithne Coleman, for her contribution to West Waterford Drama Festival over more than thirty years

41st West Waterford Drama Festival
3rd March to 11th March 2023

Bookings: On 058 60456 from 22nd February 2023 - 2pm - 8pm

If using Sat Nav, be careful when inputting. There are at least three Ballyduffs in County Waterford. In particular, there is a village called Ballyduff about five miles from Waterford City. This is not us! Coordinates 52° 08' 51" N, 8° 03' 06" W will get you pretty near the correct Ballyduff! more

 

Since 1981, West Waterford Drama Festival is held in Ballyduff during March. Over three decades of dramatic excitement, community endeavour, investment in friendship and sheer good fun. All driven by an ethos of volunteerism, community and good humour. more

Supported by Waterford City &
County Council's Arts Festivals Grants