As we near the end of 2023 a look back  on a very busy year for Armagh Theatre Group and Armagh Youth Theatre Group.

Estimated visitors to ATG/AYTG events;   over 2650

Productions staged in Abbey Lane/ Market Place/ Dublin venues;

ATG's;  My Brilliant Divorce                      1 performance

ATG's 'Bleak Expections'                           4 performances

AYTG; 'Treading the Boards'                     2 performances 

            'Summer Scheme'                          1 performance

            ' Dec term end show                      1 performance 

ATG/AYTG

          'Impact, Armagh's Train Disaster' 2 performances (MPT)

         'Toxic Relationships'                        3 performances (Dublin)  

Rehearsals for all above smashed 70 sessions in 4 venues 

Other activities at Abbey Lane and within group

Open Mic Nights for 2023'    Community event                   11

Poetry Work Shop for 'Creative Lives'   

Marian Rafferty climbs Mount Kilimanjaro

Group trip; Patrick Kavanagh Centre

New storage space erected after the 'Moving stones' ceremony

Mark Brownlee's 'Manic' book launch

Looking forward to 2024. Rehearsals underway for 'Mini Plays' in January. Open Mic returns. AYTG classes returns.Byddi Lee's 'Toxic Relationships' begin rehearsals in February for April performances in Abbey Lane and high hopes for commencing the long delayed extension plans in spring. With a possible trip to Dingle Co Kerry with Byddi's play we have lots to keep us busy in 24'

Big thank you to all who were involved in any way to help us achieve so much as an amature drama group. Without you it would not have happened. We hope you have a peaceful and joyful Christmastime and New Year.

This week we broke new ground for the history books of Armagh Theatre Group by appearing in two venues on Wednesday and Thursday in Dublin City.

Firstly Byddi Lee's incisive new play on climate change 'Toxic Relationships' , which we have been rehearsing under the wonderful directorial eye of Margaret Marjoram,  was featured as an excerpt reading in Aviva Stadium  as part of the Sci-Com Communications Conference.

ATG were the only Drama group attending this vital climate focused event to show young scientists a novel , humorous way of educating audiences through drama. (Hand drawing by attendee while we performed was proof it worked)

Our second Dublin event was in the Teachers Club in Parnell Sq where we presented the first full reading of 'Toxic Relationships' to an enthralled audience.

The evening started with a workshop for students and teachers followed by a vegetarian buffet, hospitality of our hosts Oxfam/ Comhlamh. A packed enthuastic theatre were entertained by ATG members and responded with cheers, boos, laughter and applause throughout the performance.

The warmth of the response to the reading was heartfelt by actors,  Margaret Marjoram producer and writer Byddi Lee . 

Thank you to Oxfam  and Comhlamh for all their hospitality and welcome  .

The stage is waiting for you to get up and entertain.

Tomorrow night in Abbey Lane Theatre's famous Open Mic we have special singing guest Colm Gavin all the way from Dublin, we will have a local World record holder and sell-out author, we will have poetry, songs, music and craic all evening for a massive cover charge of £5.....  Dont miss the surprizes, the raffle, launch of our new Poetry Competition for 2024, and our famous welcome to all who come along.   Limited space so dont leave it too late!

Went to see 'Impact" last night. Excellent. A very important play informing a new audience of the horrendous railway accident. The topic was handled sensitively and acted well. I was in the upper gallery and heard all. Using the guide and tourists at the statue was a very good way to start the play. The scene with children dancing as angels was very poignant. Reading out the names was also an emotional piece of drama and by making it the first list of 30 or so deaths it didn’t take too long. The full list of names at the end with music was again very well done and a tribute to those lives lost. I’m sure lots of relatives must have brought their own stories to you after seeing the play. Well done to Byddi, Malachi and you for taking on the research and writing and producing the play.

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Never write reviews but felt strongly to let you all know that I took my 2 daughters to see Impact last night in Armagh. Wow wow wow what a performance of such a tragedy we were all blown away and enjoyed learning so much about it, soo well written and acted out, huge huge credit to you all super well done, we all look forward to seeing you on the stage again!

Relatives of Thomas McGrath, the ill-fated train driver of the  Sunday school excursion train, travelled from Dundalk

to see last night's production of IMPACT.

Two of Thomas's great,great nieces felt apprehensive as to how their 'Uncle' would be portrayed. They had just recently found

out their family link to the tradgey but came away from the performance with a sence of pride that he tried to stand up for what he

believed was right against  what could be conceived as greed on the part of authority.  

Both loved the production and wished ATG all the best for tonight's (Sat) performance.

L to R Tim, Sandra Woods, Byddi, Linda Martin, Margery  and Malachi

See Aislinn Whyte sing at OMN October 23 click on picture

Dispite heavy rain and ghosts running wild on the City streets, our Open Mic had a great turnout to welcome Glen Wilson for his first visit to Abbey Lane. 

A Richhill man Glen now resides in Portadown where he rubs shoulders with other fine bards in David Braziel and Anesu Mtowa, both of whom have guested here in recent times.

Other poets on the night  were Rachel Toner; John Henderson; and Malachi Kelly. Storytellers: Matthew Toner, Ellen McKenna, Brian Lamb and Kerry Clarke. Musicians and singers: Dennis McCloskey; Aislinn Whyte; Theo Sinton; Peter Kelly; Danny Doran; Frances Lavery and Fergal Donnelly. And then there was Dymphna!

Aislinn Whyte sang 'Gosford's fair Demesne' and got up again to the delight of the audience and sang her rendition of 'Roger the Miller' with the confidence of someone far beyond her young age. We finished off with Danny Doran singing the blues.

Thanks to all who attended, who contributed to the entertainment and those who helped out clearing all away for the youth group in the morning. But especially to our guest poet Glen it was an honour  to have you visit.

Next Open Mic is 24th November ( last of this year) We hope to have Dublin singer/sonwriter Colm Gavin as guest. An up and coming talent who has featured on RTE radio 1, recorded albums and played in Europe and America.

Also, if all goes well, a special invite to a local legend, himself a writer of numerous books and a record holder. So keep Friday night 24th Nov free for another great night's entertainment for £5!