‘Fortunes and Misfortunes’

IN celebration of the final performance of their award-winning play, ‘Fortunes and Misfortunes’, the Clanabogan Drama Circle will be fundraising for two charities close to their hearts on the night.

Taking place at the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, on Saturday, May 4 at 8pm, the group are hoping to raise as much money as possible for The Saturday Club and Huntington’s Disease Association for Northern Ireland (HDANI).

And to make the occasion even more special, the group is honoured to welcome the original author of the play, Jimmy Keary, to their performance – and they are looking forward to doing his writing justice.

Chosen charities

Clanabogan Drama Circle’s first chosen charity is The Saturday Club, as Laura Quinn, the group’s finance officer and lady in charge of continuity for all productions, has been a charity volunteer for more than 15 years.

The volunteer-driven project supports children across Omagh with special needs; giving them a fun-filled, memorable day on the last Saturday of the month.

The group’s other chosen charity is HDANI, as one of the circle’s cast members, Gerry McDermott, is charity chairman.

Described as a ‘neuro-degenerative’ disorder, Huntington’s Disease is a genetic condition damages or kills the neurons in the brain.

HDANI run a local support group in Omagh for families living with the disease.

Award-winning group

Fresh from competing in Lislea Drama Festival where Viv Grimley won the award for ‘Best Newcomer’, a group ‘Adjudicator’s Award’, a nomination for ‘Stage Management’ and a nomination for ‘Best Director’, the group are understandably proud.

These awards were preceded by more nominations, and awards at the Newtownstewart Drama Festival, with nominations for Dympna Slevin for ‘Best Actress’, a nomination for ‘Best Play’, a nomination for ‘Best Director’, an award for Gerry McDermott for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ and the group also won the coveted ‘Audience Award’.

Lastly at the prestigious Mid-Ulster Drama festival, Gerry McDermott secured another nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ and the group won the Adjudicator’s Award for ‘Best Ensemble Performance’.

The group wish to build upon the success of their fundraising from last year, where they raised more than £4,000 for Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer in memory of their late director, Tommy Mullin.

Purchase tickets

This year, the two worthy charities, The Saturday Club and Huntington’s Disease Association NI, deserve every penny they get, so members of the public are encouraged to book tickets for Clanabogan Drama Circle’s final performance of their award winning production of ‘Fortunes and Misfortunes’ by Irish playwright, Jimmy Keary, on Saturday, May 4 at 8pm.

Tickets can be purchased online at Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, website or by ringing 028 82247831.