St. Peter’sChurch

AthloneTown

Centre

Athlone LittleTheatre

Dean CroweTheatre

Golden IslandShopping Centre

Sheraton Hotel

St. Mary’s R.C. Church

Radisson

Athlone Springs Hotel

DrumCommunity

Centre Blu Hotel

Abbey Road Studios

St. Mary’s Hall

Luan Gallery

Car ParkSavoury Fare

Vincents

Flannery’sBarSlice of Life

Connaught St.

Pear

se S

t.

Mai

n St

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Castle St.

The Strand

Church St.

Northgate St.

Ballym

ahon Rd.

Sean Costello St.

John

Bro

deri

ck S

t.

Civic Centre

Athlone Civic Square

AthloneCastle

River Shannon

Aidan HeaveyLibrary

Shamrock LodgeHotel

Athlone IT

Athlone Schoolof Singing

CustumeBarracks

Princeof Wales

Hotel

Friday 28th April -Saturday 13th May

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ATHLONE FESTIVAL VENUES

Art Drama Entertainment Poetry Music Workshops/Tours

PLAYSThursday 4th May, 8 pmCorn Mill Theatre Group Philadelphia, Here I Come by Brian Friel

Friday 5th May, 8 pmClarence Players The Mai by Marina Carr

Saturday 6th May, 8 pmThe Moat Club The God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza

Sunday 7th May, 8 pmBunclody/Kilmyshall Drama Group Agnes of God by John Pielmeier

Monday 8th May, 8 pmKilmeen Drama Group The Seafarer by Conor McPherson

Tuesday 9th May, 8 pmCorofin Dramatic Society The Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh

Wednesday 10th May, 8 pmBradán Players Blackbird by David Harrower

Thursday 11th May, 8 pmDalkey Players Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl

Friday 12th May, 8 pmProsperous Dramatic Society The Play about the Baby by Edward Albee

tickets at www.deancrowetheatre.comTemple Printing Co. Ltd., Athlone

ExhibitionsDaily During the Festival

Abbey Road Studio‘Celestial’, Design exhibition, 8th 9th & 10th May

Dean Crowe Theatre (AIB Gallery) Mary Simpson, a retrospective, Athlone Art Group

Golden Island Shopping CentreMidland Photographic Club Exhibition

Athlone Town Centre Balcony Athlone Photography Club Exhibition

Retail Window Display with drama postersAthlone Town Retailers

Athlone Town Crier and Pierrot Mime Artist performancesSurprise locations around Athlone Town

Athlone Library

- ‘The Beast Quest’, Children’s Art competition winner’s exhibition

- ‘A Pop of Colour’, Athlone Arts Group

Dean Crowe Theatre

Athlone Town Centre

Athlone Little Theatre

Savoury Fare

Sheraton Hotel

Radisson Blu Hotel

St Mary’s Hall

Athlone Castle

Luan Gallery

Abbey Road Studios

Flannery’s Bar

Vincents

Aidan Heavey Library/Civic Centre/Civic Square

The Festival HUB – Information & Tickets Daily: 12 noon to 3 pm, Wednesday 3rd May – Saturday 13th May “The Hub” is an information stand, located at the Radisson Hotel, whereinformation on all aspects of the Festival can be found. Admission tickets

to some Fringe events are required & are available at the Hub. There is free entry to all events where admission price is not stated.

Friday 28th April, 8.30pmPre�festival Bingo featuring Pierrot Mimeperformance and spot prizesDrum Community Centre

Tuesday 2nd May, 11 am Schools Playwright Competition Dean Crowe Theatre Over 100 transition year students have written original one act plays on the theme of‘Identity’ in this major competition. Presentation of prizes and performance of winning play in arehearsed reading.Free Event

Wednesday 3rd May, 6.30 pm Opening of Art Exhibition and Presentation of ShopWindow Display awards AIB Gallery, Dean Crowe Theatre The Art exhibition will be opened by James Harold, Galway City Arts Officer. Features a retrospectiveof the late Mary Simpson of Athlone Arts Group.Free Event

Wednesday 3rd May, 8 pm Winning play of the All Ireland Confined Final 2017 Dean Crowe Theatre Performance of the winning play (not yet announced) from the 2017 Confined All Irelanddrama finals. Watch our social media and apps for updated information from 30th April 2017.Admission Tickets €10

Thursday 4th May, 7 pm Defence Forces Band of the Eastern Brigade(Athlone) by kind permission of GOC Eastern BrigadeForecourt Dean Crowe TheatreMusical entertainment to traditionally start the 2017 RTÉ All-Ireland Drama FestivalFree Event

Friday 5th May 11 amScreen Writing Workshop with Sam AtwellLuan Gallery Australian Sam Atwell is a series consultant and screen writer with RTÉ’s Fair City. He has played thecharacter Kane Phillips in ‘Home and Away’ with Australian TV channel 7. He had written, producedand starred in his own play and TV productions. He has also directed TV programmes.Free Event Pre-booking through the Luan Gallery at 090 6442154

Friday 5th May, 3pmAfternoon T Series: �‘Howie The Rookie’by Mark O’RoweAthlone Little TheatreJude McLynn gives an electrifying performance set in Dublin’s gangland. The story of Howie, thenRookie, are both played by McLynn. With strong language, audiences are brought on a roller-coasterjourney through west-Dublin with hilarious and heart-breaking consequences.Admission €5 (Over 18)

Friday 5th May, 6.30 pmSheraton Athlone A CappellaSheraton Hotel FoyerEnjoyable entertainment on a Friday evening with award winning choral group.Free Event kindly sponsored by Sheraton Hotel

Saturday 6th May, 12.30pm‘Belonging’Vincents, 10 Church Street, AthloneThe official launch of local artist Dee McKiernan’s latest exhibition, ‘Belonging’, inspired by locallandscape, history and people, featuring both representational and abstract works.Free Event

Saturday 6th May, 2pmChoral recitalAthlone Town CentreA performance by St. Bridget’s GAA Club Choral Group under conductor Andrius Koslovskis.Free Event

Sunday 7th May, 12 noon to 1.15 pmSheraton MiscellanyHoey Suite, Sheraton HotelAn entertaining assortment of music, readings and film, showcasing new and emerging talent.Includes playwright Jean Farrell, award winning author Rory Duffy, poet and fiction writer PaulMcCarrick, film maker David Toolan, Moate All Whites Junior Ballad Group and All Ireland Scór-na-nÓg champions St. Dominic’s Léiriú, Knochcroghery.Free Event kindly sponsored by Sheraton Hotel

Sunday 7th May, 12 noon to 5 pm (weather permitting)Arts and Crafts & Artisan Food FairJohn Count McCormack Square, Town CentreMajor public event including family entertainment.Free Event

Sunday 7th May, 2 pmPoetry in the ParkAthlone Castle CourtyardThe EPIC award winning community Poetry group, “Poetry in the Park” present poetry recitals,short stories, music, mime and more, from their publications. Free Event

Monday 8th May, 3 pm‘CELESTIAL’, Design exhibition 2017Abbey Road StudioOfficial opening of design students cutting edge exhibition. Free event

Tuesday 9th May, 11.30 am Historical Guided Walking Tour of Athlone Start Point: St. Mary’s RC Church, St. Mary’s Square and finish at DeanCrowe TheatreExperience the hidden stories behind the streets and buildings of McCormack’s Athlone with localhistorian Gearoid O’Brien.Free Event

Tuesday 9th May, 3 pmReadings of Poetry and ProseAthlone LibraryCastle Writers Group will present a reading of original poetry and prose.Free event

Tuesday 9th May, 6 pmRecital of Drama, Prose and PoetryAidan Heavey LibraryStudents of local speech and drama teacher, Mary Whelan Fox will present a demonstration of solodramas, poetry and rehearsed pieces of drama theatre, including their own written material.Free event

Wednesday 10th May, 11 amVoice Health Workshop with Petrova MulveyAthlone School of SingingIVA certified trainer teaches the IVA technique to improve vocal range, endurance, stamina,breath control, strength and quality.Free Event (Pre-booking essential through the HUB or Athlone School of Singing)

Wednesday 10th May, 2.30 pmCarnation Theatre Group presents ‘Noah’s Wife’Athlone LibraryAn interactive drama involving members of the audience as characters. No experienceneeded and all good fun.Free Event (Booking essential at Library 090 644 2157)

Festival fringe Wednesday 10th May, 3 pmAfternoon T Series: ‘Plaza Suite (act 2) – a visitorfrom Hollywood’Athlone Little TheatreAll Ireland, one act, winning drama. Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy set on the seventh floor of theplaza suite. Presented by The Moat Club, Naas and Directed by Padraic Doyle.Admission tickets €5

Thursday 11th May, 11.30 am (& 12 noon if 11.30 full)Custume Barracks Historic Walking TourStart Point: Main Gate Custume BarracksA guided tour of one of the most historic military barracks in Europe with Lt Col Harry Smith (retired)Admission €5 Pre-booked Tickets required

Thursday 11th May, 2 pm‘Opera and Seanós – The Show�Athlone Little TheatreA Classic Irish merging of music featuring Baritone, Darren O’Hara and award winning Seanósvocalist Aileen O’Connor, bringing together two of the most inspirational styles on one perfect stage,accompanied by concert Pianist Lupe Alvarez De Toledo. Please note this is a two hour show.Admission €10

Friday 12th May, 7 pmDefence Forces Band of the Eastern Brigade(Athlone) by kind permission of GOC Eastern BrigadeForecourt of the Dean Crowe TheatrePopular musical entertainment for the last night of competitive drama.Free Event

Saturday 13th May, 2.15 pmAn INTERVIEW with Deirdre KinahanDean Crowe Theatre BarDeirdre Kinahan is a playwright and producer, who is on the board of the Abbey Theatre and is an elected member of Aosdána. She will talk about Irish Theatre and answer questions in arelaxed presentation. Tea afterwards.Admission tickets €5

Saturday 13th May, 7.30 pmGala Awards Ceremony and DinnerAthlone Radisson HotelDinner, Awards ceremony and entertainmentAdmission tickets €40 dinner

GET INVOLVEDIf you would like to have an event included as part of the Fringe OR would like tovolunteer to help run our festival, please join us by email to info@dramafestival.ie