Rossmore centre of drama festival

Feverish preparations are under way for the influx of 3,000 fans to the tiny West Cork village of Rossmore which annually hosts the country’s biggest drama festival.

The 53rd West Cork Drama Festival, which was launched last night opens in Rossmore Theatre on Friday, March 7, and runs until St Patrick’s night.

“At 11 nights, this festival has the longest duration of any festival in Ireland. It offers top-class entertainment and great comfort to our audiences in our magnificent refurbished theatre,” said festival chairman Ger Finn.

Local women will cook and serve 300 four-course meals to the actors and stage crew who will travel to the village.

Audiences too will benefit from the comforts offered by the 300-seat theatre, which recently underwent a two-year, €440,000 refurbishment programme.

Spectators can look forward to a wide range of entertainment, spanning dark comedies (The Outgoing Tide); classics (Big Maggie); hilarious romps (13 Rue de L’amour); thrillers (Dead Guilty) and intriguing dramas (Einstein’s Gift).

Three-time all-Ireland winners, the local Kilmeen Drama Group, will be one of several Co Cork-based drama groups performing at the festival — they are presenting The Walworth Farce by Cork author Enda Walsh on Tuesday, March 11.

The festival opens on March 7 with Skibbereen drama group’s presentation of Nancy Harris’s No Romance.

* Fermoy’s Palace players are expected to create waves with their production of Vern Thiessen’s Einstein’s Gift on Sunday, March 9.

All plays start at 8pm and tickets (€12) can be booked from the festival booking office at 023-8838526 or 086-4481086 from Monday March 3, noon-7 pm.

www.rossmoretheatre.com for online booking and the festival programme.