Mountmellick to serve a feast of drama
The stage show of Roddy Doyle's The Snapper will be among the highlights of the Mountmellick Drama Festival
THE stage is set for a wonderful week in Mountmellick, as the countdown begins to the town’s renowned annual drama festival.
The curtain will rise next week on an eight-night feast of amateur theatre, running from Friday 7 to Friday 14 March, with highlights that include audience favourites by Roddy Doyle and by the late, great Brian Friel.
Now in its 34th year, the Mountmellick Drama Festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of theatre, presenting an impressive line-up of plays across a variety of genres. Performances will showcase the skill and creativity of eight top amateur drama groups from all over the country.
Festival Director Patricia Conroy said: “We’re incredibly excited for this year’s festival. We have a wonderful community of people involved, from the performers to the volunteers who help make it all happen. The 2025 festival is a testament to the enduring passion for drama that exists in Laois and the surrounding counties.”
The festival will be judged by Martin Maguire, whose years of experience and expertise in the theatre world will add an extra layer of insight to the competition, as the participating groups vie for top honours.
Billed as a celebration of community and the power of storytelling, the festival will open with by Colm McPherson, presented by Upstage Players, followed on Saturday 8 March by Clann Machua drama group’s performance of .
Sunday night will bring from Ballyduff drama group, while the following nights will present by Deirdre Kinahan (Thurles drama group); by David Hare (Wexford); by Nancy Harris (Bunclody/Killmyshal); (Sliabh Aughty) and by David Horan and Iseult Golden (Glenamaddy Players).
Tickets are on sale now and on the door nightly. For more information and tickets, visit the festival website at www.mountmellickdrama.ie or follow them on social media for the latest updates. A season ticket is €80 and nightly tickets are €15 each, or €12 concession.
All shows start at 8pm in Mountmellick Community Arts Centre. Enquiries can also be made by email to info@mountmellickdramafestival.ie.
