Over these six nights there will be a rich selection of exciting plays by amateur dramatic groups from across Northern Ireland and beyond.
The programme kicks off on
Monday 11 March with the Rosemary Drama Group presenting
Kiss Me Quickstep, following the story of three couples whose journeys to the National Dance Championships have been very different.
On
Tuesday 12 March the Clarence Players perform
Give Me Your Answer Do! by Brian Friel. Tom a novelist and his wife Daisy are gathered together in their remote Donegal home with a scholar, Daisy’s parents, their novelist friend and his wife Grainne whose marriage may not outlive the year. Absent from the occasion is Bridget, their mentally-ill daughter.
Wednesday 13 March sees Newpoint Players present
Waiting for Godot. Estragon and Vladimir meet near a country road. They consider whether or not they are happy and how they can improve their situation. Who is Godot and why are these men waiting for him?
On
Thursday 14 March, Theatre 3 Newtownabbey take to the stage with
Gaslight. Bella believes she is suffering the early stages of dementia or so her husband Jack makes her believe. He is slowly deliberately driving his wife insane. Late one evening when Jack is out a stranger comes to their home. Who is this man and what secrets does he know?
Relatively Speaking is performed by Ballymoney Literary and Debating Society on
Friday 15 March. Ginny goes to the home of her older lover, Philip, to end their relationship, and to retrieve some compromising letters. Matters become complicated when her current partner, Greg, also turns up and meets the lover and his wife, Sheila, believing them to be Ginny’s parents!
Bart Players round off the festival on
Saturday 16 March with their performance of
Stepping Out. A ‘rollicking’ comedy about some working-class people attempting to overcome their inhibitions (and left feet) in a low rent dance hall in North London.
Tickets for this year’s festival are priced at £8 & £7 (Concession) and are available in person at Theatre at The Mill Box Office, by T. 0289034 0202, or online at
www.thecourtyardtheatre.com