Bunclody - Kilmyshall win Newry Drama Festival with 'Stolen Child'

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: Columba O'Hare; Category: Arts, TV and Entertainment; Published: 30 March 2015

Drama festival

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The results from the 63rd Newry Drama Festival were announced on Saturday night in Newry Town Hall after nine entertaining nights of drama encompassing something for everyone.

Chris Kent 30 October and Blondie Tribute 28 December @ Canal Court Hotel

Adjudicator Scott Marshall had a difficult task selecting the winners but in the end the Premier Award taking the Canavan Cup and a presentation from The Quays Shopping Centre was the production of Stolen Child by Bunclody/ Kilmyshall Drama Group. The group founded in 1998 hail all the way from County Wexford and it was their first time to take to the stage at Newry Drama Festival.

Gerry Kinsella, Rory Kinsella and Liam Farrell from Bunclody/ Kilmyshall Drama Group, Stolen Child, the Premier Award winner, Audience Award and Best Lighting recipients. Also included front is Charlie Smyth, President, Newry Drama Festival. Back: Eileen Mooney, Hon Secretary, NDF; Brendan McGowan, Chairman, ADCI and Christine Farrelly, Hon Treasurer, NDF; Scott Marshall, Adjudicator; Maureen Grant, Publicity Officer, NDF and Gerry McNulty, Chairman, NDF. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Full list of winners

Premier Award: Stolen Child, Bunclody/ Kilmyshall Drama Group.

Runners Up: Metamorphosis, Newpoint Players

3rd: The 39 Steps, Letterkenny Music and Drama Club

Neil Heaney, Niamh Smyth Hagan and Kilian Foy, Newport Players with their trophies for their production of Metamorphosis at Newry Drama Festival. Also included are, front, Charlie Smyth, President, Newry Drama Festival. Back: Christine Farrelly, Hon Treasurer, NDF; MacPollock, Chairman, AUDF; Maureen Grant, Publicity Officer, NDF; Scott Marshall, Adjudicator; Gerry McNulty, Chairman, NDF and Eileen Mooney, Hon Secretary, NDF. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

4th: A month in the country, Holywood Players

Most Ambitious Choice: Metamorphosis, Newpoint Players

Best Director: David Cullinane, Hedda Gabler

Neil Heaney, Niamh Smyth Hagan and Kilian Foy, Newpoint Players with their trophies for their production of Metamorphosis at Newry Drama Festival. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Best Actor: Kieran Kelly (Richard Hannay) The 39 Steps

Best Actress: Mairead Connaughton (Angela) Stolen Child

Best Actor in a supporting role: Peter LaGrue (Ignaty Shpichelsky) A month in the country

Best Actress in a supporting role: Cathy Lawlor (Juliane Tesman) Hedda Gabler

Terry Stewart and Carol Stewart, Holywood Players with their trophies for their play A month in the country at Newry Drama Festival. Also included front is Scott Marshall, Adjudicator and Gerry McNulty, Chairman, Newry Drama Festival. Back: Back: Eileen Mooney, Hon Secretary, NDF; Art Magennis, Vice Chairman; Charlie Smyth, President, NDF; Mac Pollock, Chairman, AUDF; Brendan McGowan, Chairman, ADCI; Christine Farrelly, Hon Treasurer, NDF and Maureen Grant, Press Officer, NDF. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Best Young Actor: Neil Heaney (Gregor Samsa) Metamorphosis

Audience Award: Stolen Child

Best Stage Manager: Fiona McDaid, The 39 Steps

Best Decor: A month in the country

Best Lighting: Stolen Child

Anne Flannery and Plunkett Ferry from Letterkenny Music and Drama Club with their trophies for their production of The 39 Steps at Newry Drama Festival. Also included front are Charlie Smyth, President, Newry Drama Festival and Brendan McGowan, Chairman, ADCI. Back: Eileen Mooney, Hon Secretary, NDF; Art Magennis, Vice Chairman; Mac Pollock, Chairman, AUDF; Scott Marshall, Adjudicator; Gerry McNulty, Chairman, NDF and Christine Farrelly, Hon Treasurer, NDF. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Best Moment of Theatre: Hedda Gabler

Best Music and Sound: Takin over the Asylum

Andrew McCarthy, Ballyduff Drama Group, Takin over the Asylum with the Gerard Murphy Cup for Best Music and Sound pictured with, back: Charlie Smyth, President, Newry Drama Festival; Maureen Grant, Publicity Officer; Brendan McGowan, Chairman, ADCI and Christine Farrelly, Hon Treasurer, Newry Drama Festival. Front: Eileen Mooney, Hon Secretary; Scott Marshall, Adjudicator and Gerry McNulty, Chairman. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Best Costumes: A month in the country

Best Technical Production: The 39 Steps

Scholarship: Naoimh Smyth Hagan, Newpoint Players

Commenting on the festival Scott Marshall, Adjudicator said “This has been a delightful Festival and I want to thank the committee for their invitation for me to return to Newry and I want to thank them for their outstanding hospitality

“it is something to be cherished today. The Drama Festival circuit in Ireland is stronger and better structured than in England, Scotland and Wales. It’s a delight to adjudicate a festival in Ireland and presentations are overall of a higher standard as well. I’m just back from two festivals in England, from Birmingham and Worcester and they were lovely but the standard of work here in the Irish festival movement is tremendous”

The comment was also made that there are now no full length festivals in Wales and a number are closing in England. “The circuit here in Ireland is so strong and it is something that I hope you will continue to support and the vibrancy too that makes it so unique on these islands.”

The committee and all involved are already looking forward to the 2016 Festival!