Raphoe Royal and Prior take top prize at talented Secondary Schools Drama Festival

The Balor Theatre, Ballybofey was the venue for the Secondary Schools Drama Festival, with  Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe taking home the main award.

Welcoming schools from the length and breadth of the county, the Butt Drama Circle hosted three wonderful evenings of drama culminating in a nail-biting award ceremony.

The festival, which has been running for almost 50 years, provides a unique opportunity for young people to experience performing in a professional theatre in front of a live audience. Maura Logue, adjudicator for the festival, gave insightful commentary and feedback to the schools after each performance.

She was impressed by the variety and standard of the plays and by the confident delivery and sincere performances of the talented young actors.

In the final adjudication and prize-giving ceremony, Royal and Prior Comprehensive School took first place and the Ben Duffy Memorial Award with their adaptation of the Irish classic Sive. This accomplished production was directed by Linda O’Boyle and Emer Kelly. The adjudicator was impressed with the cast’s mature interpretation of the play and the intelligent acting performances throughout.

In second place was St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny with a slick production of The Pitmen Painters. Directed by Daniel Nelis, this was an example of fine ensemble acting with strong performances and characterisations throughout. St. Eunan’s College also earned themselves the Harry McGowan Memorial Award for Technical Achievement.

Third place was awarded to Errigal College, Letterkenny for the hilarious comedy Dealing with Anger directed by Caitriona Hasson assisted by Anne Long and Rose Ann Boyle. This play was an audience favourite thanks to masterful comedic performances from the young actors.

There was stiff competition among the schools with a remarkably high standard of productions across the festival. Directed by the students themselves and supported by Eileen Carr and Kyle Clarke, Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town opened the event with the ambitious, modern play The Game We Play in the Forest featuring a series of duologues.

Directed by Louise Flanagan, Loreto Secondary School presented an original script Revive Our Roots, written by student Connie Sweeney. This play celebrated the anniversary of the school with warmth and humour in equal measure.

St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar brought an original script to the stage. Written by student, Amy O’Donnell and directed by Ann Marie Wade and Fiona Gillespie, The Kitchen Table was a very relatable story which the audience thoroughly enjoyed. Directed by Ann Marie Garvey, Man in the Mirror from Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon was a thought-provoking play featuring strong performances.

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Carndonagh Community School showcased their talented students with their performance of extracts from Sister Act directed by Andrea Sellick and Fiona McLaughlin. Laura Keogh from Crana College, Buncrana brought a wealth of entertainment to the festival with three short sketches, The Pirate Queen dance drama, an extract from the drama Little Women and a lively and colourful extract from Legally Blonde.

Many prizes and certificates were awarded to individuals and groups for acting, script-writing, production, dance and costume. The adjudicator paid tribute to the Butt Drama Circle for providing this platform to showcase the talent of the young people in our schools. Congratulations to all of the young thespians, their teachers and schools on their fantastic achievements.