The show must go on - again - for Letterkenny Music and Drama Group

Letterkenny Music and Drama Group are returning to the An Grianan Theatre stage with their hilarious production of “Dramatuers” on Sunday, February 20 at 8pm for one night only prior to entering the Drama Festival Circuit at various venues throughout the country.

Written and directed by group member Kieran Kelly, “Dramateurs” was first performed in Spring 2020 and enjoyed great praise from audiences and festival adjudicators alike as it competed on the circuit and won several awards prior to the closure of the Drama Festival Circuit with the first Lockdown.

“We had performed it at Newtownstewart, Casteblayney, Kiltyclogher and Tubbercurry festivals and it went down a storm at each venue,” said Kieran.

“However, we all know what happened in March 2020 and suddenly everything came to a close.

"If you remember, it was supposed to be for two weeks! But here we are now, two years later and we are just absolutely thrilled to be bringing it back and finishing the journey we started with this show”.

The hilarious comedy tells the story of the fictional and once nationally renowned Fianna Players of Ballynascale, who have not performed on the Amateur Drama Circuit for over ten years. They have decided to make their long awaited and much anticipated comeback as they host their first ever Drama Festival in their local town hall.

Kieran Kelly pictured during rehearsals for Dramateurs

However, tragedy strikes before they get to perform their brand new play (an epic tale based on the Táin Bó Cuailgne and the mighty Cúchulainn). As their former member Fionn McDevitt returns home from self imposed exile in Boston, he must face up to the actions of his past and attempt to re-unite the Fianna Players once more to stage their epic production.

“Dramateurs” is an unabashed love letter to the world of Irish Am-Dram and the redemptive power of local theatre in bringing a community together again.

“After everything we’ve been through over the last couple of years, I think we’ve come to appreciate the importance of theatre in bringing a community together again,” continued Kieran. “Whilst this play was written over three years ago now, its message couldn’t be more relevant.”

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Returning to their roles once again are Jim Holohan as Cormac, Elaine Gillespie as Niamh, Michael Leddy as Redmond, Tom Nelis as Conan and Darren Winston as Fergus while the production is delighted to welcome Ciara Gallagher as Saidbh, Laura Gleeson as Gronya, Niall Brennan as Oisin and Diarmuid O’Gallchoir as Diarmuid.

“Sadly since we last performed the play, for various reasons, several of the original cast are no longer available but we are absolutely thrilled with the actors who have made these parts their own,” said Kieran.

“We have been itching to get back on stage for almost two years now and we just can’t wait to be up there and hearing audiences laugh again. After everything we’ve been through, a good laugh is what’s needed right now!”

On the tour throughout February, March and April, the play visits six counties throughout the country as it competes in Drama Festivals in Rush (Dublin), Castleblayney (Monaghan), Kiltyclogher (Leitrim), Enniskillen (Fermanagh), Claregalway (Galway), and Strabane, Carrickmore and Newtownstewart (Tyrone).

Formed in 1991, the Letterkenny Music and Drama Group have staged one-act and three act plays and musicals/concerts since then. The group enjoyed great success in 2012 winning the All Ireland Confined Finals and Ulster Finals with their hilarious production of “The 39 Steps” and have qualified for the All Ireland Open Finals in Athlone twice, most recently in 2018 with the newly written play “Beneath an Irish Sky”.

“The Drama Festival Circuit is a tough and demanding six week tour as you compete against some of the very best drama groups from all over the country,” added Kieran.

“Only the top groups get to qualify for Athlone and the All-Ireland Finals. Added to that, this will perhaps be one of the toughest years yet with every group eager to return to the stage.

"So we know it won’t be easy but we just hope, with this show, to bring a little much needed laughter to audiences as we perform at each venue. We did it before in 2020, so hopefully we can do it again this time. The show, after all, must go on…again!”

“Dramateurs” plays in An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny for one night only on Sunday, February 20 at 8pm.

For tickets (€15/€12) to what promises to be a highly anticipated return to the stage and a great night’s entertainment, contact An Grianán Theatre on 0749120777 or visit www.angrianantheatre.com