THE passion for treading the boards on the amateur drama circuit will be documented in a new six-part series on RTÉ One, starting on Apr 16.

A POWERFUL production of Lyle Kessler’s play Orphans by Ballyduff Drama Group of west Waterford won the Bryan MacMahon Trophy, the top award in the open competition at the North Cork Drama Festival, now in its 54th year.

A TOWN’S love of the theatre rubbed off on John Ryan before he headed for New York nearly 50 years ago to pursue his dreams.