South Mayo town is the drama festival capital of the west

THE 54th Claremorris Drama and Fringe Festival has been drawing big crowds since opening last Thursday.

All of the events, which continue until next Saturday, March 231, are staged in the magnificent Claremorris Town Hall.

This year’s festival competition format sees four groups in the confined section and four groups in the open section, which no doubt will make the results night all the more intriguing.

Also, this year has seen the return of the playwriting competition.

Claremorris Drama Festival officer Mary Esler said that the busy preparation for this festival began last October.

“Planning and preparation for this festival is from year to year really, but the intense preparation starts in October,” she explained.

“There's a cut-off date in October, at which time groups have to apply to be in the festival.

"And that's a very crucial week, because it's trying to fit them in. Peter McCallig (chairman) does all the scheduling, juggling the groups to fit the dates for the festival.

"So, it's underway, certainly in a serious way, since last October. There's a lot of logistics to be considered as well with groups travelling to Claremorris from various parts of Ireland.”

The festival is a major event in south Mayo, as Mary explained. It is the only full-length drama festival in Mayo.

“We'd have groups competing from Wexford, and over the years had a group from Ballyshannon, Donegal. We also draw competitors from Dublin, Clare, and even as far away as Waterford. This is the only full-length drama festival in Mayo.

“There is a vast array of events taking place here in the town hall and you have to keep things mixed up a bit as well.

"We have to try and fit in as many groups as possible, and some of the plays have serious drama and others have comedy, so there is really a broad spectrum of different types and different genres.”

Mary has seen the festival go from strength to strength and said the fabulous Claremorris town hall adds to the occasion.

“When the hall was modernised a few years ago, with the tiered seating and everything, that has increased our audience, because it's a very comfortable theatre to come to.

"The festival has gone from strength to strength, and I suppose a lot of things have changed for the better, and groups are more inclined to take on much more challenging plays.

“It's all amateur theatre, but the audience will see shows here that are on a par with a professional theatre.

“The adjudication is so tight, and they look into every tiny little thing, and the standard has to be excellent. A lot of groups like to enter this festival, and we have a wonderful setting here in the town hall.”

Mary said it is always great to see the ultimate winners on the final night receive their accolades, adding that Claremorris will host some new plays on the circuit.

“I'm looking forward to the cross-section of drama that's coming, some of which I've seen, some of which will be a couple of very new plays on the circuit.

“So, that's exciting, to see what the groups do with them.

“And, of course, to see the ultimate winners and who receives the accolades at the end of the 10 nights, that's important.”