One Act Drama Festival returns to Ballina

The Ballina One Act Drama Festival returns to Ballina Arts Centre from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 8, promising three nights of high-quality theatre, entertainment and competition.

Audiences can enjoy three one-act plays each evening, showcasing a diverse programme of drama, mystery, comedy and dark comedy.

This year's festival features nine competing groups, including five Open and four Confined entries, representing counties Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.

Adding further excitement to the programme are three newly written plays, while several of the participating groups boast impressive records at national level, including previous All-Ireland Final winners, ensuring an exceptionally high standard of performance throughout the festival.

Opening night of the 11th Ballina One Act Drama Festival on Friday, November 6 promises a varied programme of mystery and dark comedy.

Butt Drama Circle from Ballybofey, Co Donegal will launch this year’s festival with ‘Found Drowned: The Mysterious Death of Bella Brooks’, a new play by Conor Malone based on a true story and directed by J.C. Bonar.

Making their festival debut, Charlestown Drama Group presents Geraldine Aron's dark comedy ‘The Donahue Sisters’, which follows three estranged sisters reunited as they await their father's death.

Completing the evening, Upstage Players from Claremorris stage Susan Glaspell's classic drama ‘Trifles’, in which women uncover crucial clues to a murder while men investigate the crime.

Saturday night’s offering will include 'Two', from the Moat Club, Naas, Co Kildare. This Jim Cartwright play is a witty and moving portrait of love, loss and the stories people tell to get by.

Fellow Kildare thespians, Insight Theatre from Celbridge, who are newcomers to Ballina One-Act Drama Festival, will perform 'Lone Star' by James McClure on Saturday. This comedy unfolds in a small-town USA bar where we meet brothers, Roy and Ray Caulder. Roy, a Vietnam veteran, and Ray, his younger brother, take refuge in beer, old stories and memories of better days.

Other competing drama groups are Letterkenny Musical and Drama Group, Roscommon Drama Group, Clann Machua (Kiltimagh) and Castleconnor Drama Group from nearby Co Sligo, who will present ‘After’ by Alanna Ní Mhíocháin.

Imelda McDonagh is back in Ballina as adjudicator. Having previously officiated at the festival in 2017, she brings extensive experience and expertise as an acclaimed adjudicator, actor and director.

Tickets are now available, priced at €15 plus booking fee for a single night or €35 plus booking fee for all three nights. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ballinaartscentre.com, by telephone on 096-73593 (after 2pm) or by email at info@ballinaartscentre.com.