THE Fermanagh BrightStarz were delighted to be back on the red carpet recently after a two-year hiatus.

The Fermanagh-based arts and drama group had been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant their regular weekly rehearsals and productions at The Ardhowen Theatre had to stop and so, too, their annual celebration.

Danced the night away

The Starz made up for it on Saturday, November 6 as they finally got together and danced the night away to Full Moon Fever at the Killyhevlin Hotel.

Although unable to meet, the group kept in touch via Zoom online meetings and WhatsApp, and managed to produce a show, ‘My Crazy Covid Year’, which premiered in the Ardhowen earlier this year to much acclaim.

The show struck a more serious tone for the cast, as it portrayed how Covid and lockdown has impacted those adults living with disabilities within Fermanagh.

The show was described as poignant and moving by those who attended, and featured the cast performing the Michael Rosen poem, ‘These are the Hands’, a touching tribute to the NHS.

The show was produced by BrightStarz Artistic Director, Nadia Stenson.

As a result of the pandemic, the charitable group has been unable to meet or fundraise and was presented with two donations on the Saturday night to help the charity, and to support it in producing another show with its Starz next June in the Ardhowen.

Donated

Mr. and Mrs. Flynn from Roslea donated £350 to the BrightStarz.

The Flynns recently celebrated 60 years of marriage and requested that instead of gifts, that guests donate to the BrightStarz instead.

Alongside this, the Lisnaskea Sunshine Club donated the remaining reserves from their closing accounts to the BrightStarz.

The leader of the club said that Mark Joseph McCaffrey, Joseph Wilson, Sarah Keith and Mary Lynch – all cast members of the BrightStarz – clearly get so much pleasure from BrightStarz that it was the natural donation to make.

Patricia Goan, Chair of Fermanagh BrightStarz, praised the Starz for sticking together through a very difficult time, and described the way in which they managed to record their scenes remotely at home and produce their show, ‘My Crazy Covid Year’, as “incredible”.

Patricia gave particular thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Flynn for their generous donation, and their daughter, Loretta, who is a member of the BrightStarz presented the cheque to Patricia.

Thanked

Patricia also thanked the members of the old Lisnaskea Sunshine Club, Mark Joseph McCaffrey, Joseph Wilson, Mary Lynch and Sarah Keith, when they presented their cheque to the BrightStarz.

She added: “We all get by with a little help from our friends, and BrightStarz is fortunate to have such good friends.”

It costs the group thousands of pounds to produce a show each year, and these donations will help greatly in making this happen.

Thanks was also made to the many businesses in Lisnaskea that donated to the raffle on the night, including the Share Centre Ice Rink.

Praising the get-together, Patricia continued: “The party atmosphere on Saturday night was electric; a long overdue party with so much sheer joy, happiness and dancing.

“We all look forward to seeing the Starz back on stage in the summer of 2022.”