Playwrights give readings at Arts Festival

Organised by Ballymena Arts Partnership members, Mary Waldron, Kathleen Hoey and Joseph Rocks, there will be readings each afternoon of short plays and monologues and host for both events will be up and coming comedian, Paddy McGaughey, from the Braid Comedy Club.

Ballymena Council is encouraging local talent to take part in the town’s annual arts festival and Borough Arts Officer, Rosalind Lowry, says; “These readings are a run through of a play or monologue with real actors, scripts in hand, of a work in progress. It is a very good opportunity for playwrights to hear their work on stage. Only the presence of the scripts and page turning makes it feel any different to a fully formed production.

“We are very grateful to members of the Ad hoc Theatre group and other actors in the town who are taking part in the readings. These include James Brown, Alex Murphy, Jimmy Murray, Danny Brown, Brian McCarley, Bob and Elza Margrain, Ciaran Hanna and Tom Sampson.”

Plays to be preformed on April 13 include ‘Old Rockers Never Die’ written and directed by Tom Sampson, ‘To Hell in a Horse and Cart’ written and directed by Ciaran Hanna, ‘What’s New’ written by Clare McKay and directed by Kathleen Hoey and ‘Changing Times’, written by Betty Hueston and directed by Elza Margrain.

On the 27th, ‘The Revelations of Lanin’ by Gary Marrs, ‘Krantz and Stern’ by Bob Margrain and ‘Invaders’ by Kathleen Hoey will be performed.

Complimentary refreshments will be served for the audience each afternoon to which admission is just £2.