Two years ago, Enniskillen Drama Festival was brought to an abrupt halt halfway through its festival week with the announcement of the coronavirus lockdown.
At the time, Butt Drama Circle was setting up for its production of ‘Steel Magnolias’ when the Festival Director had to break the news that they had to go home.
At 6pm that evening, back on March 12, 2020, all theatre performances were curtailed in Ireland and the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI) cancelled all festivals.
Two years on to the day since Butt Drama Circle’s Enniskillen Drama Festival performance was cancelled, it was announced during the festival awards evening that the Co. Donegal drama group was the overall winners with its production of ‘An Incident with Dave Cotter’ by Shaun Byrne.
Enniskillen Drama Festival Committee on the final night of this year's festival pictured from left to right: Paul Doherty, Tracey Kernaghan, Christine Maher Irvine, Amanda Finch, Adjudicator David Grant and Festival Director Dave Rees.
Great success
There was also great success locally as Enniskillen Theatre Company was presented with four awards for its production of ‘The Night Alive’ by Conor McPherson.
Following a successful week of performances, Festival Director Dave Rees took to the Ardhowen Theatre stage on the Saturday night to welcome the audience to the Enniskillen Drama Festival Awards evening, the final night of the festival – the finish line.
“It’s been a long two years and I am so pleased to be standing here after a week of the drama festival, and to reflect on how important the arts, and in particular theatre, is to us all.
“There is a redemptive power in theatre. It certainly can entertain, but importantly it challenges, it asks us to think, and it brings us together,” said Dave in his welcoming speech.
“Early last autumn, drama groups were asked to make a difficult decision – should they commit to a festival run at a time when there was great uncertainty regarding the pandemic?
“All those present who have been involved in putting on a play, let alone a tour of six to eight shows, know how hard it is from a creative perspective; financially; the toll it can take emotionally, physically and mentally.
“So I wish to thank first, all those groups who made that commitment,” he said.
Secondly, he went on to thank the festival sponsors for their support; those who ran adverts and the nightly sponsors including Radiant Dentistry, Occupational Therapy NI, the Killyhevlin Hotel, Crudden and Dolan, The Credit Union, Lochside Garages and Modern Tyres.
Dave continued by thanking the drama festival committee who “worked so hard” to put the festival on, and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, with a particular mention to Bryony May, Arts Manager.
He also thanked those who looked after the catering for the drama groups including The Moorings and The Giddy Cup, and the staff and volunteers at the Ardhowen Theatre.
“There’s a saying. ‘It takes a village to raise a child’; well, it takes a supportive town to make a festival, so a big thank-you to our audiences,” said Dave.
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, Letterkenny Music and Drama Group’s performance of ‘Dramateurs’ had to be cancelled.
The rest of the week went off without a hitch, with each drama group bringing their A-game to the Ardhowen stage with skilled acting performances, and exceptional production qualities.
Ena Trimble and Betty McCabe from Enniskillen Theatre Company.
However, it was a competition, and after much deliberation from adjudicator David Grant, the winners of each category were announced, as follows ...
Enniskillen Drama Festival 2022 winners
Overall winners (Blue Riband) – Butt Drama Circle – ‘An Incident with Dave Cotter’
Winners (Open) – Butt Drama Circle – ‘An Incident with Dave Cotter’
Winners (Confined) – Enniskillen Theatre Company – ‘The Night Alive’
Best Director (Open) – Trish Keane – Ballyshannon Drama Society – ‘All My Sons’
Best Director (Confined) – Ena Trimble – Enniskillen Theatre Company – ‘The Night Alive’
Best Actor – Richard Hurst – Ballyshannon Drama Society – ‘All My Sons’
Best Actress – Rachel O’Connor – Ballyshannon Drama Society – ‘All My Sons’
Best Actor Supporting Role – Christian Carbin – Enniskillen Theatre Company – ‘The Night Alive’
Best Actress Supporting Role – Michelle Henry – Rosemary Drama Group – ‘Tartuffe’
Best Setting – Betty McCabe – Enniskillen Theatre Company – ‘The Night Alive’
Best Lighting – Chris Dykes and Shane Patterson – Ballyshannon Drama Society – ‘All My Sons’
Best Moment of Theatre – Dave’s Final Speech – Butt Drama Circle – ‘An Incident with Dave Cotter’
Most Promising Young Actor – Laura McNamee – Newtownstewart Theatre Company – ‘Family Plot’
Representatives from Butt Drama Circle, the overall winners at this year's Enniskillen Drama Festival.
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