Curtain up for the 85th Ballymoney Drama Festival

THE 85th Ballymoney Drama Festival will open at 8pm on Monday, 2nd March, in the Town Hall and run for five nights.
As befits its 85th year, the festival offers an excellent mix of comedy, tragedy, and established classics, appealing to not only seasoned theatre-goers but also those new to the theatre.
Over the five nights, audiences will be able to enjoy performances by groups of award-winning, experienced and respected actors; amateur in name, but professional in their approach to every element of their productions.
Holywood Players will open the Festival with Deathtrap by Ira Levin, a witty masterclass in suspense, packed with unexpected plot twists, clever dialogue, and plenty of thrills.
On Tuesday, 3rd March, Belvoir Players will stage Bouncers by John Godber, an outrageous and hilarious parody of the ‘80s disco scene, bursting with imagination and wit.
This will be followed on Wednesday, 4th March, by Bart Players’ production of Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling, a funny and poignant tale about community, resilience, and the quiet heroism found in everyday life.
Thursday, 5th March will bring Slemish Players with Sylvia by AR Gurney, a hilariously well-observed comedy that explores the humorous and touching complexities of marriage, midlife crises, and the profound emotional bond between humans and their pets.
The final production on Friday, 6th March, will be Rosemary Drama Group with Hansard by Simon Woods, an intriguing and fiery domestic drama/ political satire set in Thatcher’s Britain, that is funny, tender, brutal, and ultimately devastating.

ADJUDICATOR
This year, Ballymoney Festival is delighted to welcome Tristan Marshall as adjudicator.
Tristan is an actor, director, lecturer, a former Artistic Director of the Questors Theatre in West London, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society for his contribution to the study of early modern theatre.
He has adjudicated nationally at Full-Length and One-Act Drama Festivals and is delighted to be making his first adjudicating trip to Ballymoney.
Tristan will give a short verbal adjudication each evening after the performance – a great way for audiences to learn more about the play and the details that make a production successful.
Every play in this year’s festival programme has been written by a respected dramatist; many have won coveted awards and have been praised by critics.
As usual, Ballymoney Drama Festival offers an opportunity to see good productions of a variety of well-crafted, enjoyable plays in the heart of the local community. Once again, it offers excellent value for money!
The first performance will be on Monday, 2nd March, and then the Festival runs until Friday, 6th March.
All performances will be in Ballymoney Town Hall and start at 8:00 pm, except on the Final Night when the play begins at 7:30 pm.
Season tickets cost £50 (Concessions £40) and can only be purchased from Ballymoney Town Hall between 10am and 4pm on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st February.
Nightly tickets, which cost £12 (Concessions £10), can also be bought at the Town Hall daily between 10am and 4pm. from Tuesday, 24th February or nightly at the Box Office during the Festival. There are further reductions for school students and group bookings.
A synopsis of each play can be found on the Festival publicity material and more detailed information about the productions is available on the Festival Website:
www.ballymoneydramafestival.com