St. Patrick’s Drama Group

SPDG, a voluntary community group, was founded in 1964 as a section of St Patrick’s Club at Westport Town Hall. It has, since its inception, been the main financier/fundraiser for the running costs, maintenance, insurance etc. of Westport Town Hall.  The group is now the only surviving section of St. Patrick’s Club, which initially had many sections including: Snooker, Badminton, Table Tennis, Camera Club, Social Club and Bingo club.  We feel it is a vital part of the community and it is our need as a group to keep the club alive.

Incidentally, the Town Hall in Westport is on the brink of a complete re-development and is currently closed and unfit for use. The hall was the home of the Drama group for more than forty years, and SPDG have pledged a substantial amount of money towards the restoration fund for the Town Hall. This is a vast undertaking for any community group. It is imperative to us that we are in the best position, both financially and actively, to secure a permanent, modern, well-equipped theatre venue/auditorium for Westport.

An action Scene from the play THEM

All of our productions are always so well supported not only by the local community, but further a field and we often find ourselves having to restage a production to cope with the demand by audiences to come and see our plays. This is a clear indication of the genuine appreciation within the community for live theatrical shows and we the members of SPDG are proud of that.

What is most important to us as a group is that we entertain our community, and send them home from our performances as an audience truly fulfilled and even inspired by what they have just seen.  Perhaps someone sitting in the audience has identified with the storyline or even a character in a particular play, or has simply always wanted to get involved in theatre & is further encouraged to join the group and realise a lifelong, personal ambition…. Drama can reach people on so many levels and therefore is a vital aspect to any community.

Action scene from the play MAKEM AND CLANCY

AIMS OF ST. PATRICK’S DRAMA GROUP (SPDG)

• To promote amateur theatre in the community,
• To stage amateur theatrical productions on a regular basis for the entertainment of the members and for the entertainment of the community at large,
• Strive to improve its members’ general dramatic education by providing for related activities/courses other than performances,
• To provide for the continuance of SPDG into the future,
• Where possible, bring the group’s productions to Irish emigrants abroad, particularly London (St. Josephs, Wembley)
• To assist with funding the operation & maintenance of Westport Town Hall – the group is currently endeavouring to raise a target sum of €150,000 towards the impending restoration project for Westport Town Hall.

HOW WE CHOOSE WHICH PRODUCTION TO STAGE

SPDG has a designated active committee / team who are responsible for selecting the play or show to be produced along with the persons who will direct and produce each selected show, having due regard for the entertainment value of the show to be selected.

Advertising Poster for the play "MAKEM AND CLANCY ARE COMING"

Some past productions to date 2010:

2005 A WAKE IN THE WEST (WESTPORT AND LONDON)

2006 DRY ROT

.        A WAKE IN THE WEST (CASTLEBAR AND CHIGAGO)

2007 ANYONE COULD ROB A BANK

.        A WAKE IN THE WEST

2008 THAT CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

.        THE COUNTRY BOY (WESTPORT AND LONDON)

2009 THEM (WESTPORT AND LONDON)

.        THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

2010 MAKEM AND CLANCY ARE COMING

Contact Details:

Telephone: 086 860 9981

Rosaleen Heraty

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