THE Drama League of Ireland points out that it has established close liaison with the Drama Association of Wales (Cymdeithas Ddrama Cymru), which was founded in 1934 and which has a similar range of activities. A delegation attended the One Act Finals in Kilkenny and the DLI will extend a welcome in the plains, for a change, when Welsh tutors and students attend its summer school in Maynooth this year. The connection will also add to the League's availability of play scripts. Adrian Duncan of Ballymahon looked after its stock of over 1,000 for some years. The "Welsh connection" will soon lead to access to its stock too and many groups are eagerly awaiting this facility.
A production of Juno And The Paycock in Mountjoy prison raised comment in a number of areas. That enduring supporter of things rural, Monica Carr, uttered blanket approval to all amateur productions "Nothing better for people, I do believe." With the exception of Sheila O'Mahony (Juno) and Una Minto (Maisie Madigan), all the players were prisoners.
On RTE television news, the actor who played Joxer made an interesting comment to the effect that no prisoner who took part in any of the institution's drama productions ever came back to prison. Anti drama jokers could find a fit retort, but Mountjoy's governor pointed out how experience in drama productions helped in countering low self esteem to the betterment of prisoners.
Early March sees the first of the ADCI Full Length Festivals. As usual, Secretary Colm Kelly was early in the field with his 36 qualifying events. This year, groups may play at six festivals instead of five, taking points from their best two, and their third coming into the reckoning if there is a tie for an All Ireland placing. All festivals must be completed by April 1st. Irene Rostron will adjudicate at the 44th All Ireland in Athlone from May 7th to 18th.
With a number of successes in large and small towns under their belt, Lyncairn Theatre, Mullingar, now take on the cities with Match making, an adaptation (by the Irish Times Amateur Drama correspondent) of John B. Keane's Letters OJ An Irish Parish Priest and Letters Of A Matchmaker They will be in Cleere's Theatre, Kilkenny at 8.15 pm next Friday and Saturday February 2nd and 3rd Dundalk UDC's arts organiser Brian Harten appropriately selected St Valentine's Night (8 p.m.), February 14th, for Match making in Dundalk. Michael Diskin has included the production in an Easter programme of Irish events at Galway's bright new Town Hall Theatre (8.30 p.m., Easter Sunday, April 7th).
Brid McBride of Dundalk writes to say that she will join her old friend Mort Clark on the adjudication panel for the 47th US Southeastern Community Theatre Festival in Louisville, Kentucky next month. Ten states will participate.
