A Sligo drama group has won first prize at the 29th British All-Winners Festival of Plays, from Carol Coulter, in Sligo
Everyman Productions won both the overall prize for full-length play and the Backstage Award for their production of Marina Carr's The Mai at the competition held in Hertford last week. The play was performed on Monday, July 22nd, but the results were not announced until Saturday last.
The production was produced by Manus Shields and starred Siobhan Dooney in the title role.
It was originally staged in the Hawk's Well Theatre in Sligo.
In order to qualify, the group had won the Isle of Man Full-Length Festival competition last May. The winners of three full-length play festivals around Britain qualified for the All-Winners competition.
There was a separate category at the All-Winners Festival for the winners of one-act play festivals.
There were no individual prizes in the All-Winners Festival, but in the Isle of Man competition Nicola Morrison won Best Actress for her portrayal of the character of Millie, where she was described by the adjudicator as "a young Siobhan McKenna".
The trophies were presented to the only member of the group who remained all week in Hertford, Ms Dooney, and brought back to Sligo on Monday night last.