Drama society marks 50th anniversary
Dublin People 22 Oct 2011
ONE
of the oldest amateur dramatic societies in the country is preparing to stage a
play in Dun Laoghaire as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
St
Patrick’s Dramatic Society, which rehearses at the Northover Hall in St
Patrick’s School in Dalkey, was founded in 1961. It is celebrating its Golden
Jubilee this year.
Assistant
Secretary of the club, Carmel McCrea from Glasthule, who has been a member of
St Patrick’s since 1983, said that several generations of local families have
been involved in the society.
She
also noted that some of the most active members joined within a year or two of
the society’s inception.
“We
have members that go from their teens to those in their 90s,
? she revealed.
“A
lot of families seem to have come down the line. You would have parents involved
and the children then join in.
“Joan
Gregg, our director has been a member since 1961. Claire Erskine who is in her
nineties has been a member since the start too. She was at our dinner in the
Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire to celebrate our 50th anniversary recently.
?
Carmel
said the society is very active theatrically and has celebrated several notable
achievements in the past.
“We
do all the amateur drama one act competitions,
? she added.
“We have won the all
Ireland twice in one act plays and we take part in the Bray Festival and we
have won that several times too.
“We
have done everything. We have put on Irish and American plays. We have done
everything from Sean O’Casey to Arthur Miller and Neil Simon. We also
represented Ireland in Canada at an international festival in 2000.
?
However,
Carmel said St Patrick’s finest hour came when it was chosen from scores of
other theatrical societies around the country to stage one of the original
plays shown at the Abbey Theatre. It involved a production of
‘Spreading the
News’ by Lady Gregory to celebrate the historic theatre’s centenary in 2004.
“That
is probably the most exciting thing that ever happened to the society and the
play was very well received,
? she enthused.
In
addition, she said that members of the society also enjoy a hectic social life.
“We
have a great social life around the society. We love the theatre. We love
plays. We have a play reading once a month in the Club pub in Dalkey. It is our
home from home and we go there after rehearsals.
?
As
part of the society’s 50th anniversary celebrations its autumn show will be
staged in the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire from November 16 to 19. The play
is
‘Same Old Moon’ by Geraldine Aron.
Tickets
are priced from e15 to e18 and can be purchased by calling the box office at
the Pavilion Theatre on 2312929 or by logging on to www.paviliontheatre.ie
Related News
