Stage all set for local actors to take their bow in new theatre

After many years of campaigning for a theatre venue for the arts in Trim following the closure of the town hall over a decade ago, Trim Drama Group is delighted to be preparing to take to the stage for its milestone 40th anniversary performance in the new Swift Cultural Centre with chairperson Barbera Mellerick describing it as a "pinch me moment".

The group will be producing a very unique take on the Oscar Wilde classic comedy, 'The Importance of Being Earnest' directed by well known Trim Drama Group member Kevin Shelly. The show will run in the new theatre from Wednesday 15th November to Saturday 18th November inclusive with the fun kicking off each night at 8pm.

For their first full length performance in the new theatre, chairperson Barbera Mellerick explained that it was important to their committee to pick a play by a popular Irish author, and one with a large cast of male and female roles.

After much deliberation with director Kevin Shelly, Wilde’s classic comedy was chosen. The group previously produced 'Earnest' more than 20 years ago in 2000.

Having been one of the local groups who campaigned for many years to get a theatre for the community of Trim, Barbera said Trim Drama Group is very excited for this long-held dream to have finally become a reality.

“We are having a real pinch me moment as a group now that the new Swift Cultural centre is actually built and available for us to use,” she said.

“Ourselves and Trim Musical Society, and lots of other local groups, had for decades used the old Trim Town Hall for all our performances and events, and when it closed in 2011 it was a real shock and loss to our community.

"Over the years, lots of people in many groups, including our own, had been campaigning for a theatre for Trim and when the Town Hall closed we were very grateful to move mainly into Scoil Mhuire for our performances, along with some shows we did in both Brogans and Trim Castle Hotel."

In the summer of 2016, Barbera and some members of both Trim Drama Group and Trim Musical Society ran a petition to get Meath County Council to re-open the Town Hall collecting over 8,000 signatures with the community really getting behind them.

"This, added to all the years of campaigning by so many beforehand, got Meath County Council to commit to the new theatre build and renovations of Trim Library, and we all have this beautiful building now in the heart of our town for generations to come to enjoy," she added.

"As we stage our 40th anniversary production next week, we will remember all those members beforehand down through the years who campaigned for the beautiful building we have today.

"We would like to thank all of those people who helped us get to this point. There have been so many, and we also thank the whole team in Meath County Council who we worked with as local stakeholders during the design phase of the new theatre, as well as those who supported us when we had no venue to use, and a special mention to Ann and Martin McCormack of McCormacks Bar who are amazing in their support of Trim Drama Group for rehearsal space. “

Trim Drama Group was founded in 1983 by a small group of people who wanted to revive the tradition of amateur drama in the town. Some of the founding members included Freda Vaughan, Jerry Kearney, Marie Geraghty, John Sheehy and Elizabeth Byrne.

The group was initially called Trim Amateur Dramatic Society, but later changed its name to Trim Drama Group.

Since then, the group has staged many productions, ranging from comedies to tragedies, from classics to modern plays. Some of their first productions were 'The Honey Spike' and 'Hotel Paradiso', both directed by Jerry Kearney, and 'The Shaughraun', directed by Gemma Kiernan.

Trim Drama Group has also participated in various drama festivals across the country and won several awards. One of their most memorable achievements was winning the All-Ireland One Act Finals in Kilkenny in 1995 with 'The Donoghue Sisters', directed by Edward Kenny. The group also hosted their own One Act festival in Scoil Mhuire for a number of years, attracting many talented groups and audiences.

"Over the past 40 years, we have provided a home for people from Trim and neighbouring areas who share a passion for drama. We have also made many friends and memories along the way. Sadly, some of our members have passed away, and we remember them with gratitude and respect. They will always be part of our group," said long time member Willie O'Brien, brother of late councillor Danny O'Brien who was also very involved with Trim Drama Group before his untimely passing in 2010.

"We are now looking forward to a new chapter in our history, as we move to our new home in The Swift Cultural Centre. This is a state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to perform in a more comfortable and professional environment. We are very excited about this opportunity," added Willie.

Trim Drama Group are staging 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde, directed by Kevin Shelly, from Wednesday 15th November to Saturday 18th November, tickets available from the Swift Cultural Centre website, www.swiftculturalcentre.ie or calling 046 9092300.