Ballyduff's "Dancing at Lughnasa" pre-Athlone Performances 4th - 6th May 2013On Wednesday 8th May, Ballyduff Drama Group will take to the stage in the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone to participate in the All Ireland Open Drama Finals when they perform Brian Friel's "Dancing at Lughnasa". The group has qualified for the finals for the fourth year in a row - the only group in the country other than Silken Thomas Players to so do. This is the level of consistency of production and performance that patrons have come to now expect from the group. In advance of their Athlone All-Ireland performance, the group has three final performances at their home venue of St Michael's Hall in Ballyduff on Saturday 4th May and Sunday 5th May at 8.15 p.m. and with a matinee performance at 2.00 p.m. on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May.

 
Friel is recognised as Ireland's greatest living playwright and "Dancing at Lughnasa" is regarded as his finest work. Its tale, in many ways, is one of gentle simplicity, with the story of a basic Irish family in 1936 at its core and set in an ordinary Irish village. But intertwined with this basic story is the influence of ancient pagan influences which still pervade local rural communities and the conflict of these elements of rural life with the current dominant influences of a conservative and controlling Catholic Church. The girls of the Mundy Family, a returning-from-Africa Father Jack and a loving-tongued visitor from Wales all combine to create the eternal conflicts that exist between family and outsiders, between nature and civilisation and between instinct and authority.
 
Producer Geraldine Canning has brought together a great cast to drive forward this Friel masterpiece which is led by such as Valerie O'Leary, Kate Canning and Dolores Dermody and ably supported by Laura Griseto and Laura Kennedy as the other members of the Mundy sisterhood. Add in Brendan Dunlea as Father Jack and Lochlainn McKenna and Courtney Canning in the roles of Gerry Evans and Michael respectively and you have the makings of a group which can bring this Friel classic to full and true life. It is a cast which has won a multiplicity of awards on the Festival Circuit up to now and has now full concentration on the Athlone job at hand. Expect then no less than excellent and professional performances for the Ballyduff venue on its last base-camp surge before the final assault on the theatrical Everest which is the All-Ireland title. Bookings are at (058) 60456 2-8 p.m. from Monday 29th April 2013.

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