DUBLIN group Estuary Players were the big winners at the conclusion of this year’s Enniskillen Drama Festival Their production of the Canadian play ‘The Drawer Boy’ by Michael Healey was declared the overall winner, thus securing the Blue Riband and the Fermanagh District Council trophy at the end of the 35th Annual Enniskillen Drama Festival.

Geoff O’Keeffe, the adjudicator told the capacity audience on the final night that the play, which was getting its first viewing at the Ardhowen, was the fourth most produced play in the USA over the last decade.

He described the presentation by the Estuary Players as being ‘100 per cent rooted in ensemble work’.

The director had taken the play by the throat and had marshalled the talents of three great actors. ‘This drawer boy was a beautiful piece of art’ he said, a view shared by the audience who selected it for the Festival Committee Trophy as the most popular play at the nine night event.

The Impartial Reporter Cup for Best Actress at the festival went to Tina Ward from the Glenamaddy Players from Galway who played the part of ‘Peggy’ in their production of ‘Stolen Child’ by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh and Yvonne Quinn.

The Blake Cup for Best Actor went to John Furlong from Estuary Players for his portrayal of ‘Angus’ the brain damaged veteran of World War 2.

The adjudicator told the audience that he became ‘a magnetic presence on the stage’. In addition he felt the actor’s work was ‘simply beautiful’ as well as being ‘from the top drawer’.

Other successful groups at the festival included Cornmill Theatre Group from Carrigallen who carried off four awards and Lifford Players who were successful in two catergories.

Estuary Players’ success this week is their third time to lift the top award at Enniskillen having been successful in 2006 and 2012.

Festival Director, Brian Farry, in thanking the audience said that next year’s festival will run from March 4 to March 12 and will be adjudicated by Paul Fowler the current Chairman of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.

DUBLIN group Estuary Players were the big winners at the conclusion of this year’s Enniskillen Drama Festival Their production of the Canadian play ‘The Drawer Boy’ by Michael Healey was declared the overall winner, thus securing the Blue Riband and the Fermanagh District Council trophy at the end of the 35th Annual Enniskillen Drama Festival.

Geoff O’Keeffe, the adjudicator told the capacity audience on the final night that the play, which was getting its first viewing at the Ardhowen, was the fourth most produced play in the USA over the last decade.

He described the presentation by the Estuary Players as being ‘100 per cent rooted in ensemble work’.

The director had taken the play by the throat and had marshalled the talents of three great actors. ‘This drawer boy was a beautiful piece of art’ he said, a view shared by the audience who selected it for the Festival Committee Trophy as the most popular play at the nine night event.

The Impartial Reporter Cup for Best Actress at the festival went to Tina Ward from the Glenamaddy Players from Galway who played the part of ‘Peggy’ in their production of ‘Stolen Child’ by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh and Yvonne Quinn.

The Blake Cup for Best Actor went to John Furlong from Estuary Players for his portrayal of ‘Angus’ the brain damaged veteran of World War 2.

The adjudicator told the audience that he became ‘a magnetic presence on the stage’. In addition he felt the actor’s work was ‘simply beautiful’ as well as being ‘from the top drawer’.

Other successful groups at the festival included Cornmill Theatre Group from Carrigallen who carried off four awards and Lifford Players who were successful in two catergories.

Estuary Players’ success this week is their third time to lift the top award at Enniskillen having been successful in 2006 and 2012.

Festival Director, Brian Farry, in thanking the audience said that next year’s festival will run from March 4 to March 12 and will be adjudicated by Paul Fowler the current Chairman of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators.