|
|||||
|
For those of you, who for one reason or another, were prohibited from attending the Thurles Musical Festival last weekend; here is a further opportunity to taste the atmosphere, at this most enjoyable event. [See also pictures HERE and HERE, with more to come over the next day or two]. More pictures hopefully tomorrow, so do stay tuned.     The 41st prestigious Co. Tipperary Open Drama Festival will take place in the St. Michael’s Community Centre Theatre, in Holycross, Thurles from Friday, March 15th until Saturday March 23rd, commencing at 8:30pm nightly, except for the final night, when prizes will be awarded and starting time will commence at 8:00pm.  The adjudicator for this year’s event will be Mr Michael Poynor [Association of Drama Adjudicators (ADA)] with the inimitable Mr Donal Duggan as Festival Director and Master of Ceremonies, (as he has been for four decades, latter a feat surely deserving of a special award at this year’s festival). Nine of Ireland’s top drama groups will be on stage for the festival’s duration and they will be bidding for the “Tipperary Star Cup” in the Confined section and the “Tipp FM Trophy” in the open category. Holycross Upcoming Festival ProgrammeFriday, March 15th, (Open) “Dancing at Lughnasa” by Brian Friel. (Holycross/Ballycahill DG). Saturday March 16th, (Confined) “Stolen Child” by Bairbre Caoimh and Yvonne Quinn. (Moyne Drama Group). Sunday March 17th, (Confined) ”On Raftery’s Hill” by Marina Carr. (Wayside Players). Monday March 18th, (Open) ”The Ferryman” by Jez Butterworth. (Ballyduff DG). Tuesday March 19th, (Open) ”Antigone” by Sophocles and adapted by Don Taylor. (Bride-view DG). Wednesday March 20th, (Confined) ”Same Old Moon“ by Geraldine Aron. (Slieve Aughty DG). Thursday March 21st, (Confined) ”Drama at Inish“ by Lennox Robinson. (Rearcross DG). Friday March 22nd, (Open) “The Lonesome West” by Martin McDonagh. (Kilmeen DG) Saturday March 23rd, (Confined) “Now and Then” by Sean Graham and adapted by John Corless (Harvest Moon DG).
Meet The Adjudicator. This year’s adjudicator, Mr Michael Poynor, (pictured above) hails from Derry, and holds an impressive curriculum vitae. He has been Artistic Director for the Lyric Theatre, Belfast; Harrogate Theatre, Yorkshire; Stage ’80 Theatre company, Belfast; Ulster Youth Theatre; The National Youth Theatre Of Wales; and currently Artistic Director at the Ulster Theatre Company. He was Chief Executive of the Millenium Forum, Derry, and Head of Culture and Arts at Queens University, in Belfast. Mr Poynor is an award winning Director and Lighting Designer having directed over 150 productions, Designed Sets for 120 and Lighting for over 250, as well as Fight Directing for some 100 productions. He has written a string of burlesque pantomimes including ‘Scrooge’s Christmas‘; ‘Alice!’ (latter a musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s most famous books); a new version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best known operetta: ‘Rockin’ Mikado‘ which was nominated ‘Best Visiting Production’ in the 1998 Manchester Theatre Awards; ‘Comedy of Errors: The Musical’ (2013) and ‘Jonathan Harker and Dracula’ (2014). Amongst the many productions he has directed are: The UK provincial premiere of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’; ‘‘Grease’‘; ‘Hello Dolly’, and ‘Once a Catholic’ (at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast); ‘Interview’, and ‘The Bald Prima Donna’ (at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon); ‘Indians’, ‘Schweyk in the Second World War’; ‘What the Butler Saw’, and ‘Noises Off’ (at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast); ‘The Glass Menagerie’; ‘Relatively Speaking’, and ‘The Happiest of the Three’, (at the Overground Theatre, Kingston-upon-Thames), ‘Alphabetical Order’; ‘Equus’, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, and ‘Candida’, (at Harrogate Theatre); ‘The Snoopy Show’; ‘Hello and Goodbye’; ‘Ashes’; ‘Kelly’s Book’, and ‘Crack-Up’ (for Stage ’80), ‘How the Other Half Loves’; ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’, and ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’, (for Theatre Ulster); ‘Can’t Pay? Won’t Pay!’; ‘The Mating Season’; ‘The Boyfriend’, and ‘Leave Him to Heaven’, (for the Arts Theatre, Belfast), ‘Oh, What A Lovely War’ and ‘The War of the Worlds’ (for the Ulster Youth Theatre), ‘La Belle Helene’, (for Castle Ward Opera Co.) and ‘West Side Story’, (with the Ulster Orchestra at the Klondike in Belfast for Opera Northern Ireland). For the Ulster Theatre Company, he directed ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ (1998), (latter a sell-out production for Belfast Festival at Queen’s at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast); ‘West Side Story’; ‘A Chorus Line’; ‘Oklahoma’, and the RSC’s version of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, (all of which toured the UK and Ireland).   The Co. Tipperary 2023 Open Drama Festival; same an inclusive nine night annual event, will be held from March 17th to March 25th next in its now long established venue of St. Michael’s Community Centre, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. The programme, each night, will run from 8:30pm nightly, except on the final night, when the programme will begin sharp at 8:00pm. This year the festival committee are pleased to welcome, as Adjudicator, a member of ADA (Association of Drama Adjudicators), namely Mr Peter O’Driscoll. No stranger to the County Tipperary Drama Festival; Mr O’Driscoll has been an Actor, Designer and Director with many companies including the ‘Strand Players’. Engaged by the Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) as an adjudicator; Mr O’Driscoll’s professional work as a lighting designer, has included work undertaken in the ‘Gate Theatre’, ‘Olympia Theatre’ and ‘Gaiety Theatre’. He also has considerable experience as a musician, a choral director and as an organist; having directed a wide range of musicals in Dublin and throughout the country in the past. In the Dublin Arts Club, he played the lead in a new play about the Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist and teacher, Leoš Janáček (1854 – 1928).
For further information: Phone: 086-257 5159 or Email: donal@dugganvet.ie or Fax: 0504-43147  Sewer gas is a by-product of the breakdown of natural human waste. Same substance comprises of a mixture of gases, including Hydrogen sulphide, Ammonia, Methane and Carbon dioxide. The hydrogen sulphide in sewer gas is what gives it its signature rotten egg stench, which currently is being experienced by Thurles residents, following the recent upgrading of Liberty Square in the town. Possibly the worst stench is located east of the Liberty Square, close to a primary School, but nevertheless emanates from several manhole covers in the area, depending on the prevailing wind. During last weekend’s Musical Festival, the matter was drawn to the attention of Festival Chairperson and local Councillor Mr Jim Ryan, who admitted that the matter required serious attention.  High level exposure to sewer gas can cause symptoms of ‘sewer gas poisoning’. There are numerous possible causes for sewer gas smell, 90% of which are the result of improperly placed or damaged drainage pipes. Sewer gas can leak into buildings when plumbing vents are: (1) installed too close to a window or door; (2) through cracks in the foundation of buildings; (3) clogged up or collapsed drains or (4) air intake vents due to sewer gas building up in other nearby sewer pipes. As we are all aware, sewer drains are responsible for the transportation of toxic waste and if drains are clogged from items that should NOT have been flushed, same can cause a sewage backup. If this backup is not treated, the content in clogged pipes will continue to decompose, thus leaking sewer gas back into homes and business premises. Sewer gas is a complex mixture of various gases and compounds, some of which can be toxic to humans, and while same is not dangerous in small amounts, these compounds can contribute to sewer gas toxicity at high levels. Hydrogen sulphide, the primary gas in sewer gas, is toxic to the oxygen systems in the body. In high amounts it can cause adverse symptoms, organ damage, leading often to death. Ammonia, remains a well-known compound used in many cleaning products. Exposure to this latter substance can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. At high levels, ammonia is toxic to humans and again it can cause organ damage. Methane and Carbon dioxide are both comparatively non-toxic greenhouse gases. However, in large amounts, methane gas mixed with air is extremely flammable and therefore becomes a fire hazard and can be easily ignited by sparks induced by minor frictional impact. In industrial workplaces and confined room areas, high levels of sewer gas can cause fatigue, headaches, vomiting, dizziness or light-headedness, poor memory and concentration, a loss of smell, dry mouth, throat or lung irritation, eye irritation or contagious conjunctivitis and even seizures. Time for Tipperary Co. Council officials & local Councillors to now get this Liberty Square issue immediately sorted out, before the area becomes totally uninhabited.  Horse and Jockey Singers support the Hospital of the Assumption Unit In Thurles.The Horse and Jockey Singers annual variety concert is now a well-established event on the social and entertainment calendar here in Co. Tipperary.  Since its inception about five years ago, it has attracted a loyal band of regular supporters, who wouldn’t miss it for the world and many see it as the beginning of the festivities for the Christmas season. Others point to the variety of entertainment that is regularly on offer, as audiences over the years continue to be enthralled by top class singers, dancers, choirs, soloists, musicians, not forgetting memorable recitations and sketches. This variety concert has always supported charitable causes, both local and national, and this year will be no exception as the Comfort Fund at Unit C of the Community Hospital of the Assumption, will benefit from the proceeds. Master Of Recitations Mr Noel Joyce This year’s programme is as attractive and varied as ever.
The Horse and Jockey Singers are grateful for the wonderful support they have enjoyed in the past and are really looking forward to meeting old and new friends at the concert. The choir first came into existence in September 2014 and comprises both male and female members. The love of singing permeates the group and the social outlet it provides enhances all their lives. Based at the Horse and Jockey Hotel, this fifty strong group, under the musical direction of Mr Patrick Conlon and accompanied by Ms Ann Marie Dwan, have participated in many concerts and choral festivals. These popular concerts will take place on Friday November 22nd and Saturday November 23rd, at the Derrynaflan Theatre, in the Horse & Jockey Hotel, with winning author Mr Liam Ó Donnchú once again taking on the role of ‘Master of Ceremonies’. Starting time is 8.00 p.m. sharp and tickets costing €20.00 are available from the hotel reception or from Connie O’Keeffe Tel: 087-6667988. Please do come along and support this most deserving of causes.  |
We proudly support;
     |
||||
|
Copyright © 2024 Thurles Information - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer Powered by WordPress & Atahualpa |
|||||
Recent Comments