The History of Drama and Theatre in Newry

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: Joanne Cummins/ Newry and Mourne Museum; Category: HISTORY; Published: 04 September 2023

Newpoint Players’ production of George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man, 1958 Included are Owen Mooney, Liam O’Callaghan, Ann Brady and Charlie Smyth. Produced by Mary Andress, the production won the Premier Award at the All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone. Courtesy of Charlie Smyth

From the mid 18^th century theatre began to develop in Newry with visits from travelling troupes from Belfast and Dublin. Local amateur drama groups such as Newry Dramatic Players began to emerge towards the end of the 19^th century. The establishment of Newry Musical Feis in 1928 provided a competitive stage for local groups.

During World War Two, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts organised productions of music and drama, and stars of Irish stage such as Micheál Mac Liammóir and Hilton Edwards appeared in productions in the Town Hall.

The growing popularity of drama during the 1940s saw the development of numerous dramatic societies in Newry including Newpoint Players, The Abbey Players, Colmcille Players and the Iveagh Players.

An early dramatic production, c. 1900 Featuring Mrs Annie Sloan (née Short) and James Canavan, extreme right. A famous local actor in the early part of the 20th century, the Canavan Room in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre is named after him. Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

By 1948 the drama section at Newry Feis had become so large that a separate festival was needed. In 1949, under the chairmanship of Mrs M.B. Collins, Newry Drama Festival was inaugurated. The first Festival had 50 entrants and competitors included local schools, dramatic societies, drama schools and youth groups. Plays were performed in both English and Irish.

Newry Drama Festival Committee, 1998 Included are Anne Boyle, Des Canavan, Violet Durkan, Regina Hanratty, Sean Hollywood, Patricia McCoy, Mary McKeown, Gerry McNulty, Jim McParland, Eileen Mooney, Owen Mooney, Sean Murtagh, Margaret Nolan, Blanaid O’Shea, Charlie Smyth and Jim Smyth. Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

Formed in 1945, Newpoint Players enjoyed great success at the Festival, winning the Premier Award eleven times. Produced for many years by Patrick Carey, Headmaster of Mourne Grange School, many of their early productions were Shakespearean. Their production of Arms and the Man, produced by Mary Andress, won the group their first All-Ireland Drama Finals in 1958. A second title came in 1962 with Seamus Mallon’s production of Our Town.

Newpoint Players’ production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, 2013 Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

The Troubles had a negative impact on drama in the town in the early 1970s. The Town Hall sustained damage in an arson attack in 1972, affecting both the Drama Festival and Newpoint Players. Both returned in 1976; the Drama Festival with the addition of a One Act Festival and Newpoint with Sean Hollywood in the role of artistic director. He would go on to establish a youth group in 1980, giving young people the chance to develop a love of drama. In 1992, Newpoint Players’ production of Marat-Sade produced by Sean Hollywood won their third All-Ireland title with one of the youngest ever casts, five of whom would go on to win places at prestigious drama schools.

Newpoint Players remain one of Ireland’s top drama groups, performing on the drama festival circuit and running a youth theatre school every summer. Over seven decades later, the Drama Festival continues to offer a platform to many groups from all over Ireland.

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