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Newry Drama Festival were forced to cancel a production for the first time in 70 years due to The Clarence Players being unable to perform their play Gaslight on Wednesday night. The Drama Festival returned last night for their fourth night with a production of JM Synge’s’ In the Shadow of The Glen’ which had been reimagined by Sean Treanor.
The play was met with great praise by the audience with adjudicator Gerry Stembridge praising all aspects of the play from the set design, lighting, and direction.
When talking about the lighting work done by Declan McConaghey, he described it as “top class work” and he remarked that the costumes and masks that were featured in the play were a personal highlight describing them as “magnificent and appropriate” and also saying they were “the icing on the cake”.
Stembridge also praised the performances by Peter Havern, Cormac Begley, and Lowry Hodgett and many of the other actors however, Stembridge’s favourite performance was Frances Morgan who he described as having “a great sense of malice about her”. Stembridge also praised the lead actor Mickey Brannigan who he described as giving “a wonderful physical performance”.
Stembridge also praised the director of the play and also offered some constructive criticism about the end of the play.
Tonights production is the Ballyduff Drama groups take on 'The Ferryman'. Tickets are still available and can be bought in the Town Hall from 7 PM with curtains up 7:30 PM.
