THE sponsors of the Athlone All Ireland Drama Festival, Esso Ireland Ltd, have announced a play award for a full length script. Entries should be submitted to Colm Kelly, Griffith St, Athlone before March 31st. The award comes with a £500 bursary and a guarantee to have the work circulated among all affiliated drama groups. Barry Cassin will chair the adjudication panel.
Last year Corn Mill Theatre, Carrigallen staged a new play, Lovely Leitrim, and reached Athlone with it. This year the theatre is reported to be showing similar promise with An Island's Lament by Louth born writer Mary Hoey. In the main, it consists of four monologues through which the hopes and fears of a family leaving the Blaskets in the late 1930s are expressed. Gus Ward directs.
The Drama League of Ireland has issued an impressive list of its activities since its last convention. Paul Buckley of DoneDrama Circle is its new Ulster representative. Paul has had a distinguished career in acting and directing and won awards for both in last December's All Ireland One Act Festival at Ballyshannon.
The Drama Federation, composed of members of both DLI and ADCI, has agreed that the winners of the Confined All Ireland One Act festival must compete in the Open Competition the following year.
The League has also issued preliminary notice of its Maynooth Summer School.
