Feast of drama in Navan as theatre group sweeps the boards with one-act play
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Sharon Carroll, Ciara Cassoni, Siobhan Mallon with director Johnny Grant and their Best Play at Dublin Drama Festival award for ‘Dead Man’s Bells’.Image 2 of 4
Shauna Martin, Julianna Martyn, and Aine Murray rehearse ‘Breathless’.Image 3 of 4
Siobhan Mallon, Sharon Carroll, and Ciara Cassoni in ‘Dead Man’s Bells’.Image 4 of 4
Rehearsing for ‘Get Some Therapy!’.Navan Theatre Group is to present three performances of 'A Night of One Acts' at Solstice Arts Centre from 24th to 26th November.
The line-up features Navan Theatre Group's entry to this year's DLI/ADCI One-Act Circuit, 'Dead Man's Bells' by Méabh de Brún. This dark comedy, directed by Johnnie Grant, is a gothic rural tale of inheritance, rivalry and misdeeds told by three sisters. Staring Sharon Carroll, Ciara Cassoni, and Siobhan Mallon, this production is an awarding winning play on the circuit.
It has qualified for the DLI /ADCI All-Ireland One-Act Finals in Ballina Arts Centre this 2nd, 3rd, and 4th December. The cast and crew of Dead Mans Bells have been traveling across the country competing in preliminary circuit drama festivals. The festivals are run on a league basis with marks awarded for first, second and third placings with the top groups in each section qualifying for the All-Ireland Finals. NTG have won Best Play in three drama festivals including Dublin Drama Festival, Moat One Act Drama Festival, and Gorey Little Theatre One Act Drama Festival, while winning second place in Cavan Drama Festival, Dundrum Drama Festival and Coolgreany One Act Festival. The group have also had success individually with Sharon Carroll winning Best Actress (Cavan Drama Festival and Gorey Little Theatre Drama Festival), Siobhan Mallon winning Most Promising Actress (Moat Drama Festival), Ciara Cassoni winning Best Performer in a Supporting Role (Coolgreany One Act Festival) and Best Director nominations for Johnnie Grant. This production was a crowd pleaser and won the Audience Cup in both Moat One Act Drama Festival and Coolgreany One Act Festival. Not to mention winning the Adjudicator award in Coolgreany One Act Festival for its innovation and creativity.
Also on the bill in Navan this week is 'Glacier Bay' by Frederick Stroppel, directed by NTG Chairperson Des Lynch. At a family affair, Connie has to contend with her husband Artie's advancing senility.
Her struggle to keep a tight hold on his wandering mind is comically exasperating, but in a sudden revelation she discovers that their life paths are more similar than she suspected. Featuring Jerry Comyn, Maureen Murray, and Lorna O'Dea, this play is comic and spirted with an important message about a subject that touches thousands of lives every year.
'Breathless' is written and directed by member Mick Roban. Breathless is a piece about three sisters, the relationship between them and their very different lives. However, there is a common denominator. And for every action there is a reaction. Featuring Julianna Martyn, Shauna Martin and Aine Murray, this production will start you laughing but will leave you thinking.
'Get Some Therapy', directed by Nigel Ryan, features an impressive cast stuck in a waiting room where everyone seems to have their own problems. Staring Marian McMahon, Siobhan Moore, Joan Powell, Hasan Kamal, Joanne Donoghue, John O'Connor, Kevin Walsh, and Edward Fulop, this comedy is laugh out loud funny.