It was fitting that Wexford Festival Opera announced details of its autumn schedules on a mercilessly wet and grey Wednesday afternoon, since it felt like autumn already! At St James's Gate Brewery, the granite walls blended into the grey sky as guests huddled inside to hear about the 48th festival season.
With 36 per cent of its audiences now coming from overseas, it be part of the millennium celebrations. There will be a massive street party and fireworks display as well as the operatic performances.
Among the gathering was Elizabeth Woods, winner of the Gerard Arnhold bursary for 1998. She's currently studying in London and is due to play the part of Czesnikova in Stanislaw's Moniuszko's Straszny Dwor (The Haunted House). Chatting to her was Matt Glowatz, managing director of Web It, creators of the Wexford Opera Website which was also officially launched this week.
Clive Brownlee, assistant managing director of sponsors Guinness Ireland, festival chairman Ted Howlin and artistic director Luigi Ferrari outlined some of the key events. Now in his fifth year with Wexford Opera, Ferrari travels to Ireland four times a year and also works as artistic director of the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Italy.
Guests included British ambassador Ivor Roberts, mayor of Wexford Paddy Nolan, Kathryn MacDonnell from the Millennium Festival office and Mr Gorajenski, first secretary of the Polish embassy.
Almost simultaneously at the Gaiety, director John Costigan announced details of its new season with a lunch widely attended by well-known thespians. The programme will concentrate on Irish drama, with plays by Friel, O'Casey, McDonagh and John B. Keane. Frank Kelly, who is making his directorial debut in August with John B. Keane's Moll, said that he has already decided not to make a habit of directing. He has just finished filming Nora, in which he plays Stanislaus Joyce, Joyce's father.
Fellow actor John Kavanagh was enjoying himself despite having recently broken an ankle while treading the boards in Les Miserables. He's about to start rehearsals for Uncle Vanya, which will travel to New York later this year, and will also appear in Noel Pearson's production of Juno and the Paycock with Michael Gambon at the Gaiety in September.
Most of the cast from Moll took time out from rehearsals to enjoy the afternoon. Among them were Maureen Toal, Mark O'Regan from Upwardly Mobile, and Maria McDermottroe. Pat Moylan of Andrews Lane Theatre was also among the crowd - she's soon to start producing the film version of The Borstal Boy.