Duleek Players' ambitious plan to stage 'Bernadette' in Lourdes

Two local drama groups are behind an audacious plan to stage the life of St Bernadette in her home town of Lourdes. The play 'Bernadette' with its stunning recreation of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin, will be back on stage in Drogheda's Droichead Arts Centre in November. "I'm delighted to say we are back by popular demand," said director Michael Ferguson. Duleek man Michael is both the author and director of the play which played to packed houses and huge acclaim last February. "It was a great success. So much so that we have been asked to return to the Droichead for another 12 night run starting on 8th November," he added. The popularity of 'Bernadette' has inspired the two local drama groups who staged the production, the Duleek Players and Aisteoiri na Boinne, to take the show much further afield. "It's an ambitious plan but we hope to stage 'Bernadette' in Lourdes in 2011. I have been in contact with a small theatre there and I know from my own visits to Lourdes that there would be a great response to the play from English speakers," the group's director explained. Before taking their show abroad, the amateur thespians from Drogheda and Duleek intend to further hone their acting skills by competing in the All-Ireland Drama Festival. "In the coming months, we will be staging 'Bernadette' in several towns around the country as part of the competition's amateur drama circuit. Indeed, we have our eye on a place in the prestigious All-Ireland Drama Finals in Athlone," a determined Micheal added. The first stop on their tour begins in late January 2011 when 'Bernadette' will be staged over three nights in Navan's Solstice theatre. Many local and national charities have benefited from the productions of the two local drama groups over the years. The staging of 'Bernadette' in February succeeded in raising €20,000 for charity. "There were many nights when we had to turn people away at the door and they left disappointed. This is why we are urging people to book early for our November production," added Michael. Established some 26 years ago, the Duleek Drama Players have also taken to the digital age with aplomb with a presence of YouTube and Facebook.