A Theatre For Sligo

Sligo Drama Circle was founded in 1956 to promote higher standards in local drama and to increase the range of plays available to Sligo audiences. Since then the Drama Circle has produced plays by major Irish, European and American playwrights and is recognised as one of the leading provincial companies. It has won numerous awards for its productions including the supreme award in Northern Ireland in 1967 for Synge’s “The Playboy of the Western World” and the All-Ireland Esso trophy for its presentation of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1970.

In 1966 the Drama Circle was invited to perform plays by Yeats as part of the programme of the Yeats International Summer School. Arising out of this commitment, the group embarked on a series of short summer seasons of plays by Irish authors. In 1970 it was decided to extend the summer season as a contribution to Sligo’s tourist industry and Summer Theatre came into being.

The need for a permanent theatre has been felt for many years now, and the Drama Circle have been working towards the day when “A Theatre For Sligo” would become a reality. A great stride was taken towards that goal was taken when, in February this year, Bishop Dominic Conway announced his intention to present a site for the theatre to the Drama Circle. This magnificent site is a perfect garden setting alongside the two Cathedrals. It is worthy of a theatre which will grace this already lovely old town. We aim to make it so – a theatre of great beauty – to serve the whole community of our region; a theatre which will give pleasure to all our population and to the many visitors who come each year to our Summer Season. It will be a theatre which will be a source of pride to many Sligomen living abroad who cherish their native town. For the students of our schools and colleges and for those who come from all over the world to the Yeats International Summer School, it will provide a valuable addition to the existing educational facilities.

Already, Sligo people, both at home and abroad, have enthusiastically supported this project and funds are coming in to ensure that within a short time, Sligo will have a theatre of its own. If you like the idea of a community co-operating to provide a beautiful new theatre, or if Sligo has a special place in your heart for any reason, do please help in this project.

from Summer Theatre Programme, Sligo Drama Circle, 1974