Black ties and red satin dresses were just part of a colourful night tohonour the best of Irish theatre, writes Catherine Foley
Black ties, red satin dresses and a banquet hall full of expectations greeted all who came to The Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Awards ceremony this week.
The nominees and their partners gathered to hear the final decisions of the three judges - Karen Fricker, Brian Singleton and Maureen Kennelly - who travelled all through 2002 to theatres all around the country to see new productions before reaching their final verdicts. As each award was announced by Risteárd Cooper, the applause erupted as the recipient walked to the stage for the presentation.
The gang from Spiddal was out in force, ready to cheer on Bríd Ní Neachtain, who was nominated in the Best Actress category for her role as Catríona Pháidín, the main character in Máirtín Ó Cadhain's story, Cré na Cille, which was adapted by Macdara Ó Fatharta. They were all excited and proud as this was the first Irish-language play to be nominated since the awards were inaugurated in 1997.
There are plans to bring the production to Dublin early next year, according to Darach Mac Con Iomaire, artistic director of the Galway-based theatre company, An Taibhdhearc, which produced the play.
Joe Steve Ó Neachtain who played the character of Tom Rua in the play (and whose novel, Lámh Láidir, which won first prize in the literary competition, Oireachtas na Gaeilge 2002, is to be published later this year) was also there with his wife, Máirín Uí Neachtain, a niece of Ó Cadhain.
The winner of the Best Actress category was Eleanor Methven, for the An Grianán Production of Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel, in association with Cork Opera House.
Actor Cathy Belton, in an off-the-shoulder turquoise gown, who was voted by many to be the best dressed woman at the awards ceremony, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for "her powerful embodiment of Ulster goddess Nessa" in the Storytellers/Cork Opera House production of Women in Arms by Mary Elizabeth Burke-Kennedy. Her family from Galway, including her father, pharmacist Liam Belton, and her mother, Anna Belton, were there to photograph the proceedings and also enjoy the night. The award went to Clara Simpson for the Corn Exchange/Peacock Partners production of Nabokov's Lolita, adapted by Michael West.
David Callopy, of Opera Ireland, which was hit badly this year by Arts Council cuts, was in upbeat mood going in to the banqueting hall, saying "we're still very optimistic" about the future.
Playwright Christian O'Reilly, from Listowel, was very pleased to be coupled with the late playwright John B Keane in one of the awards. Garry Hynes was presented with the Best Director award for her "intelligent, emotionally detailed direction" of O'Reilly's play The Good Father, and also for her bold recuperation of John B Keane's angry vision in Sive, both of which were produced by the Druid Theatre Company. Leonore McDonagh, a costume designer, who is currently working with Siamsa Tíre on a production called Oileán to mark the Blaskett Island evacuation 50 years ago, chatted before the awards ceremony to her newly-married friends from Belfast - Ophelia Byrne from Galway, and actor Frankie McCafferty, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Junior in Tom Murphy's Conversations on a Homecoming.
The award went to Fergal McElherron for his "energetic and comical performances in multiple roles in the Performance Corporation production of Voltaire's Candide.
The attendance included almost all of the nominees, including British actress Penelope Wilton, who was nominated for the Best Actress award, as well as Ms Geraldine Kennedy, editor of The Irish Times, Eithne Healy, chairwoman of the board of the National Theatre, Rose Parkinson, of the Galway Arts Festival, Willie White, director of the Project Arts Centre, Tony and Margaret Ó Dalaigh, Fergus Linehan, of the Dublin Theatre Festival, Jack Gilligan, of Dublin City Council's cultural office, Claudia Woolgar, director of Kilkenny Arts Festival, and Una Carmody, who is now working with the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford.