MEMBERS of Enniskillen Amateur Dramatic Sociey (EADS) are still on a high after performing on the Royal Shakespeare stage in Straftord-upon-Avon at the beginning of last month.

Having never taken on a Shakespeare play in its history before, EADS managed to take its adaptation of Comedy of Errors all the way to the Royal Shakespeare Stage and be the only group to represent Northern Ireland in a national showcase in the process.

“It really was the opportunity of a lifetime,” says Paul Doherty from EADS, “We had a great insight into the workings of a professional theatre group. And it was a huge endorsement for the work of EADS.” The Open Stages programme is a collaboration between the Royal Shakespeare Company and six partner theatres across the UK, including Northern Ireland’s hub, the Lyric in Belfast.

As part of the programme, around 100 amateur theatre companies from across the UK produced their own Shakespeare or Shakespeare inspired productions.

The project involved over 3,000 individuals from all walks of life, coming together to take part in workshops, training and mentoring with professionals from the RSC and the six partner theatres.

It was the task of director, Nick Young to condense the entire Comedy of Errors script into just a half an hour segment for the reginoal showcase.

“This was not easy,” Paul explains, “There were still 17 cast members involved and considering the story of Comedy of Errors centres around two sets of identical twics who are separated at birth, Nick did a great job of paring it down.” Having beaten off stiff competition in the regional showcase at the Lyric Theatre in May this year, EADS managed to make it through to the final national showcase in Stratford-upon-Avon on August 9.

The cast of 17 people and a stage manager had some fundraising to do throughout the course of the Open Stages programme too.

A theatre supper in Saddlers was organised with a night of music, song and comedy.

Cast and directors also attended workshops and training at the Lyric Theatre ahead of the national showcase on August 9.

According to Paul, the entire programme ran like clockwork.

“It was a slick operation,” he says, “There were 10 groups from across the UK who all descended on Stratford -- imagine the logistics of that. We were very impressed.” Now with the experience behind them, EADS is looking ahead to its next big performance.

“We have been working on Shakespeare projects for over 12 months now. I think Nick himself is going to take a well earned rest! We had never done Shakespeare before in the group’s entire history but everyone really enjoyed the experience and we took it far beyong our wildest dreams. We are now looking to cast the next production, ‘Field’ by JB King for next February.”