North West Schools Drama Festival 2010

Holy Cross College wins

North West Schools Drama title

Strabane’s Holy Cross College won over the audience and the North West Schools Drama Festival judge, celebrated actor Dan Gordon, as they walked away with the title of “Best Drama Group” at last weeks North West’s School Drama Festival, organised by Strabane Drama Committee and held at the Alley Theatre, Strabane.  Performing a 20 minute excerpt  from Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”, the talented Strabane cast impressed Dan Gordon “with their depth and range of acting, presence and timing”, which saw Holy Cross staff and pupils pick up not just the overall title, but also two acting awards on the night.

Strabane actor and Holy Cross student, Emmett Stewart, a stalwart of drama productions at the Alley Theatre and Strabane’s St Pat’s Hall over the last three years, won “Best Actor” for his role in the Crucible, whilst Paschal McAnenly won “Best Supporting Actor” for St Ciaran’s High School, Ballygawley production of “The Treacherous Tale of True Love”.  Holy Cross College student, Michelle McHugh, made it a hat-trick of awards for Holy Cross College, as she  won the tightly contested “Best Supporting Actress” in her role as the narrator in “The Caucasian Chalk Circle”. Highley praised by Dan Gordon after the festival, Michelle McHugh was highlighted as  “a wonderful actress in the making and one to watch out for in the future.”

Best Moment of Theatre, a prized awarded for producing the finest theatrical moment during a play, went to St John’s High School in Dromore and part of their play “When Annie Met Oliver”. The scene picked by Dan Gordon was when little orphan Annie and Oliver first meet, “a wonderful touching scene” commented Dan.  Finally “Best Actress” was another tight decision which finally went to Derry’s St Cecilia’s College Student, Stephanie Quinn, who played Mrs Johnson in the Willy Russell’s play “Blood Brothers. Two other students from St Cecilia’s, Chelsea Duffy and Sorcha Jackson were also highly commended on the night, highlighting the emerging talent from across the North West.

Cllr Brian McMahon who presented the drama awards on the final night stated “I am delighted on behalf of Strabane District Council to present these prizes to the young actors taking part in this drama festival. We have a wealth of talent in this district and across the North West which the council is keen to nurture and develop through events such as this. The actors put on some excellent performances and they should be really proud of their performances, both onstage and off”

“I would like to congratulate the Strabane Drama Festival Committee for arranging such a positive and wonderful festival” stated John Kerr, Alley Theatre manager “ and I would like to thank the Community Relations Unit for their support in making this event possible. The North West Schools Drama Festival received financial support from the Community Relations Unit, OFMDFM, without which this festival could not have gone ahead.”

Concluding on the evening, Grainne McCay from the Strabane Drama Festival Committee stated “This is the first year of the North West Schools Drama Festival and we have been overwhelmed with the acting quality on display over the last two days. I would like to congratulate all the schools and actors who particpated in the festival, from Holy Cross College, Dromore’s St John’s, Derry’s Thornhill Colege and St Cecilias and St Ciaran’s in Ballygawley. You did a fantastic job and we look forward to welcoming you back at the Alley Theatre next year.

Images and YouTube clips of the festival can be found att he Alley Theatre YouTube channel, simply click here to visit now.

Actor Dan Gordon set to judge

North West students

The North West Schools Drama Festival, which is being organised by the Strabane Drama Festival Committee and will be held at the Alley Theatre in Strabane, is delighted to annouce this groundbreaking festival will have a special celebrity guest judge for the two evenings, actor and TV star, Dan Gordon. Currently directing a play with the world famous Belfast Lyric Theatre and star of the hit BBC Show “Give My Head Peace”, Dan Gordon stated he “was delighted to be involved in this fantastic grass roots festival, which will tap into the acting talent the North West has to offer”. The festival is being funded by the Good Relations Section of Strabane District Council, and is supported by the office of the First Minstster and Deputy First Minister

Dan is excited with the prospect of developing the North West Schools Drama Festival, which will see High Schools and Colleges from across the district compete to be festival drama champions. “I think this is a great idea for the North West, not only will it help students learn more about acting, but as time progresses it will offer a stepping stone for even bigger things” commented Dan. “When I was younger and competing in school drama festivals I worked alongside guys like Dermot Murnaghan, who through working on stage developed his skills and confidence to move into television and journalism. Wallace McDole was another contemporary who found school festivals essential in developing his skills, he went onto work at the Lyric as a production manager. I know several others who went onto acting, directing, technical or dance roles in Ireland and across the UK, simply down to how inspired they became through the schools drama festival scene.”

As students take to the Alley stage, Dan admits to being jealous of the resources now on offer to students, “when we competed it was all about getting changed in cold classroom, no proper dressing rooms and the stage lights were often a bit unreliable to say the least. Now pupils can benefit from superb venues like the Alley Theatre in Strabane, backed up with great lighting and sound, a relaxing theatre space for the audience, proper dressing rooms and even a box office to help sell the tickets…. we had to make do with raffle ticket stubs.”

Dan will be the adjudicator for the 2 day schools drama festival and hopes he will have the chance to pass on some of his skills and thoughts to the students over that period. “If I could meet a young Dan Gordon just about to start out I would advise him that acting is all about listening, watching and reacting. Feed of the energy from the other actors and the audience. Watch as many actors as possible….and steal the best ideas!”

Ciaira McCay from the Strabane Drama Festival Committee stated “We are delgihted that Dan Gordon has agreed to be the festival adjudicator; he has a strong history in supporting grass roots acting and is a product of the drama festival scene himself. We have performances lined up from pupils including Holy Cross College in Strabane, Dromore’s St Johns High School, St Cecilia’s In Derry, Ballygawley’s St Ciarans and Thornhill College in Derry. The schools will be offering an exciting mix of work including pieces written by the students to Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”.

Currently Dan is working on numerous projects, including directirng the forthcoming production of “The Miser” from the Lyric, which will be appearing at the Alley later in the summer. “I am really looking forward to this new festival and I urge everyone in the community to get behind these young actors who are making their first ever big production.” Tickets are now on sale for the North West Schools Drama Festival, only £4, £3 (con).

North West Schools Drama

Festival Launched!

The 2010 North West Schools Drama Festival has been recently established by the Strabane Drama Festival Committee with the focus on developing talented actors in the North West of Ireland.  

This groundbreaking new festival will provide an exceptional professional platform for students looking to perform within an award winning theatre and compete amongst their peers for a selection of prestigious student theatre awards.

The festival will feature eight schools or colleges from across the North West performing a 20 minute play. The play can be either written by the students themselves or from a recognised playwright. The performances will take place on either March 15th or March 16th 2010 (4 plays per night) within the award winning Alley Theatre in Strabane. The festival is free to enter and will offer an ideal opportunity for pupils interested in furthering their experience within drama or looking to showcase exam work for A-levelsGCSE Drama in front of a professional drama adjudicator.

Interested? Then simply click here and complete the form, which has to be returned to Jacqui Doherty, Venue Administrator, The Alley Theatre, Railway Street, Strabane, BT82 8EF. The deadline for entries is February 3rd 2010, with the winning 8 entries being informed of the decision on February 7th.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Jacqui Doherty on 028 7188 4760.