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e POP ROCK ’Masks’, Decorate a mask competition – exhibition of entries T Aidan Heavey Library/ Civic Centre/ Savoury Fare Civic Square Saturday 12th May Aidan Heavey Public Library Sheraton Hotel Abbey Road Studios Festival s Got Talent Gateway Youth Project – photographic exhibition “ ’ ” The Festival HUB – Information & Tickets nightly in theatre bar Follow the Fringe Athlone Castle Daily: 12 noon to 3 pm, Wednesday 2nd May – Saturday 12th May Live Music and Talent Competition ‘Drama Festival in the Past’ – temporary photographic exhibition “The Hub” is an information stand, located at the Radisson Hotel, where – Dramafestival.ie information on all aspects of the Festival can be found. Admission – Facebook – Twitter – Mobile tickets to some Fringe events are required & are available at the Hub. www.dramafestival.ie Festival fringe Thursday 3rd May, 7 pm Sunday 6th May, 3 pm Thursday 10th May, 4 pm Defence Forces Band of the Eastern Brigade by kind Sheraton Miscellany Afternoon T Series: Borrowed Time permission of GOC Eastern Brigade Hoey Suite, Sheraton Hotel Athlone Little Theatre ‘ ’ Forecourt Dean Crowe Theatre An entertaining assortment of music, readings and film, showcasing new and emerging talent. A Musical Drama. Follow Marc Bradley, a fallen sixties pop star, who desperately needs to face his demons in order to start over again. Can music really save a life? Featuring hits such as Thursday 26th April, 8.30pm Open air musical entertainment to start the 2018 RTÉ All- Drama Festival Includes writer, teacher and politian Mary O’Rourke, poet and fiction writer Paul McCarrick, film maker David Toolan and St. Dominic’s Léiriú, Knockcroghery. The Rose, Walking in Memphis, Take good care of my baby and more... starring Darren O’Hara, Sam SPUTNIK , Design exhibition 2018 Free Event Gilmartin and Brian Toolan. Written & Directed by Darren O'Hara ‘ ’ Free Event kindly sponsored by Sheraton Hotel Students’ Union, John Count McCormack Building, Athlone Institute of Admission €10 Technology Official opening of graphic design, animation and illustration students’ annual exhibition. Friday 4th May 9.30 am Thursday 10th May, 7.15 pm Monday 7th May, 4 pm Free event Screen Writing Workshop with Sam Atwell Athlone Pipe Band Broadway Unplugged Luan Gallery Dean Crowe Theatre Forecourt R‘ adisson Hotel ’ Enjoy a feast of lively pipe music to enrich a summer’s evening at the Dean Crowe Theatre. Australian Sam Atwell is a series consultant and screen writer with RTÉ’s Fair City. He has Join us in a celebration of Rogers and Hammerstein and more. In an intimate setting overlooking the Free event Friday 27th April, 7pm played the character Kane Phillips in ‘Home and Away’ with Australian TV channel 7. He has written, River Shannon hear “the great white” come alive, in this stripped back musical theatre, directed by International Choral recital produced and starred in his own play and TV productions. He has also directed TV programmes. Darren O'Hara with performances by Darren O’Hara, Joe Steiner, Cherise O’Moore, Kathy Casey Friday 11th May, 12 noon St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, Church Street Free Event Pre-booking through the Luan Gallery at 090 6442154 Becker, Petrova Mulvey and Jonathan Kilduff Debate Uplifting music from the Athlone Choral Society with Meli Melo Choir, Chateaubriant Admission €10, lunch (additional charge) available Council Chambers, Civic Centre, Athlone Admission €10 Friday 4th May, 3pm Afternoon T Series : An Ordinary Man , by John Monday 7th May, 10.30 pm The final of the Mayor’s National School debating cup. Free Event McDwyer ‘ ’ Monday Blues Tuesday 1st May, 11 am Athlone Little Theatre F‘ lannery’s Bar ’ Friday 11th May, 7 pm Schools Playwright Competition Gerry Farrell in the lead role, plays a myriad of characters from missionary priests to cynical teachers Music and convivial chat to enjoy the final glow of a Bank Holiday Monday Defence Forces Band of the Eastern Brigade by kind to mad football trainers in a journey of delicious delight. Dean Crowe Theatre Free Admission permission of GOC Eastern Brigade Directed by John McDwyer. Over 230 transition year students have written original one act plays on the theme of Forecourt of the Dean Crowe Theatre Admission €5 ‘Volunteer’ in this major competition. Presentation of prizes and world premiere performance of Popular musical entertainment for the last night of competitive drama. winning play. Tuesday 8th May, 11.30 am Free Event Free Event Friday 4th May, 6.30 pm Historical Guided Walking Tour of Athlone Saturday 12th May, 3 pm Sheraton Athlone A Cappella Start Point: Dean Crowe Theatre The Palace Players present Sheraton Hotel Foyer Experience the hidden stories behind the streets and buildings of historic Athlone with local Wednesday 2nd May, 6.30 pm Enjoyable entertainment to kick off the Bank Holiday with the award winning choral group. historian Gearóid O’Brien. The current AllIreland winning one act play The Quiet Land Opening of Art Exhibition The Third Act Free Event kindly sponsored by Sheraton Hotel Free Event ‘Athlone Little Theatre ’ Presentation of Shop Wind‘ow Display aw’ ards Tuesday 8th May, 6 pm A celebration of humour, resilience and endearing innocence of an exiled generation, as it struggles to AIB Gallery, Dean Crowe Theatre survive in the isolated rural Ireland of today. Directed by Danny Buckley, two elderly farmers meet on Sunday 6th May, 12 noon to 5 pm (weather permitting) Recital of Drama, Prose and Poetry a remote hillside, gentlemen of heart, humour and hardness. Tea afterwards. Catherine Rock, Ann McGuiness and Lesley Wingfield are exhibiting an eclectic range of pieces in Arts and Crafts & Artisan Food Fair Admission tickets €5 their individual styles. Colour and dramatic content feature strongly, acting as a counterpoint to the Aidan Heavey Library John Count McCormack Square, Town Centre Students of local speech and drama teacher, Mary Whelan Fox will present a demonstration of solo theatrical events of the festival. The Art, all available to buy, exhibition will be opened by John Saturday 12th May, 7.30 pm Donohue. Major public event. dramas, poetry and rehearsed pieces of drama theatre, including original material. THE NIGHT OF THE YEAR: Gala Awards Ceremony Free Event Free Event Free event Entertainment and Dinner Athlone Radisson Hotel Wednesday 2nd May, 8 pm Sunday 6th May, 2 pm Thursday 10th May, 11.30 am (& 12 noon if 11.30 full) Admission tickets €40 dinner and entertainment. Winners of the All Ireland Confined Final 2018 Poetry in the Park Custume Barracks Historic Walking Tour Dean Crowe Theatre Athlone Castle Courtyard Start Point: Main Gate Custume Barracks Ballycogley Players perform “The Night Alive” by Conor McPherson, winner of this year’s Confined All The EPIC award winning community Poetry group, “Poetry in the Park” present, from their latest A guided tour of one of the most historic military barracks in Europe with Lt Col Harry Smith (retired) GET INVOLVED Ireland Drama finals. Directed by Brenda Hayes. book, poetry recitals, short stories and the launch of ‘The Art of Possibilities’. Admission €5 Pre-booking essential If you would like to have an event included as part of the Fringe OR would like to Admission Tickets €10 Free Event volunteer to help run our festival, please join us by email to info @dramafestival.ie