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The 71st Newry Drama Festival opened to a capacity crowd last night 24 March for Newpoint Players production of Joshua Sobol's Ghetto at Newry Town Hall. Adapted for the 2025 amateur dramatic circuit by Director Sean Treanor the home team put on a thoroughly polished but unsettling performance telling the story of the Jews living in the Vilna Ghetto under Nazi occupation during World War II. The play concentrates on the Jewish theatre in the ghetto.
Adjudicator Geoff O'Keefe is making his return to Newry Drama Festival having first attended in 2013.
He praised the production's fluid staging, lighting design, and sound effects and costume but suggested improvements in pace especially at the start and said he would like the fear and brutality been experienced to be emphasised more.
The set incorporated high metal gates at the front of stage and these were opened as the production began.
In his adjudication O'Keefe said the lighting plot was well chosen and was used to highlight the startling images particularly in the scene where the two characters are hanged. O’Keeffe also was impressed with the sound design which sometimes when it went against the action enhanced the stark mood. He did however remark that at times the “volume of sound was competing against the action”, and this compromised dialogue and clarity of speech.
The costumes were wonderful in their “filth and dirt” which he further remarked “I could almost smell from down here.” Similarly, the makeup was well used giving harrowing expressions to the inhabitants of the ghetto.
Moving to direction, he praised Sean Trainor for the bravery of his choice. He grafted strong and very powerful scenes and also, some lovely moments like when Kittel the German officer, who has a deep love of the arts, is seen dancing against the background of the ensemble performing Lily Marlene. O’Keeffe felt that the use of song and dance was well developed throughout, bringing a sense of time and place to the piece.
However, he also felt that the pace at times was “very even and slow.” He cited in particular the opening scene where “there were too many spaces between the words.” Also, he didn’t always feel that the words “were being spoken for the first time.” In his opinion, the horror, conflict and terror in the people needed to be more emphasised.
O'Keefe commented on the performances and in particular, the performances of Lowry Hodgett (Gens) Peter Havern (Kittel) and Mickey Brannigan (Weisskopf.) Speaking of Hodgett's performance as Gens he said "I have to mention, when the prisoners would be led away, he was the one that anchored that amazing singing. His voice was stunning in that scene."
Peter Havern as Kittel was praised as "such an imposing presence, an actor who brought great focal clarity, revelling in the nastiness of the character. This was very good work."
There was also praise for Ellen McGuigan playing Ooma who, in spite of having a small role “knew how to be alive and present at all times.” He also congratulated the supporting cast for their impressive ensemble work.
He concluded that the director could “push the fear and the brutality a bit more,” however it was “an engaging presentation,” in which there was a lot to praise.
Tonight - The Whiteheaded Boy from Bart Players
Tonight’s performance is Bart Players ‘The Whiteheaded Boy’ Tickets can be booked online at www.gr8events.ie or will be available from 7:00pm in the Town Hall. Curtain up -7:30pm
