Drama Circle Entertain German Study Group

Four members of the German Amateur Theatre Association were entertained by the Sligo Drama Circle at a reception held in their honour in the Sancta Maria Hotel, Strandhill. During the evening Herr Lindner, the leader of the German party, made recorded interviews with a number of the Circle. Herr Lindner, a school teacher by profession, and who also is Chief Officer of the International Drama Festival Organisation in Hamburg was of the opinion that the amateur movement in Ireland is up to the same standard as that of any of the other European countries at present. So much so that before leaving Sligo he extended an invitation to the Circle to play in the Hamburg Festival in either next May or October.

Accompanying Herr Lindner, were Herr Bucholz, Herr Messner, and Herr Routenberg, all of who were representing various aspects of the Amateur Drama Movement in Germany. Among others present at the function were representatives of the recently formed Sligo-German Society and a number of the German community in town. On the following morning the party were received by the Mayor of Sligo in the Mayor’s Parlour and signed the Distinguished Visitor’s Book. Welcoming the group, Ald. J. Gannon spoke in glowing terms of the German people and of the great part German technicians were playing in the industrial expansion of this country. “Your people”, he said, “are giving us the k now-how in the industrial field and perhaps we here in Sligo can go to our country and give you some of our know-how in the world of drama”.

Herr Lindner, in his reply, said that he and the members of his party were overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome they had received in Ireland. “We all hope to return to Ireland again in the near future for a much longer stay. I hope that the Sligo Drama Circle will come to my country next year, and we would be very honoured, Mr. Mayor, if you would come with them”. Following the reception in the Mayor’s Parlour, the German group inspected the stage facilities in the Town Hall and were very favourably impressed by the equipment there. The Drama Circle are actively considering the prospect of playing in the German Festival and it is expected that the decision will be to go. “The Evidence I Shall Give” would seem the likely choice of play owing to its Irish character.

 from The Sligo Champion, October 16th, 1962