Bray One Act Drama Festival

11/02/2026

Please support The Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre

💙 We were thrilled to launch our “Sponsor A Seat” campaign yesterday, along with relaunching our Mermaid Friends scheme! 💺👥

🌞 Speaking about the initiative our CEO and Artistic Director Aoife Demel said:

"There is a popular misconception that Mermaid is a commercial venue. We are, in fact, a charity that exists to bring artistic experiences to the people of County Wicklow and to support artists in the creation of work. We receive 21% of our costs from Wicklow County Council, 19% from the Arts Council and the remaining 60% needs to be generated from ticket sales and donations. Recent sharp increases in core costs and static funding means that we are under huge pressure to stay afloat. 🚣‍♀️

📢 We are calling to the people and businesses of County Wicklow to support us to ensure that we can remain a fundamental part of the offering of County Wicklow." 🎨🎭🎥

🌱 If you're interested in supporting Mermaid, you can do so by becoming a Mermaid Friend 🫂 or by Sponsor A Seat 💺 in our auditorium to celebrate someone special or promote your business! 🤝✨

💙 Full details on https://www.mermaidartscentre.ie/about/support-us or give our Box Office a call on 01 272 4030

05/02/2026

Thank you Tom Galvin and Leigh Anderson for the coverage in this week's Bray People don't forget to grab your copy....

So that, as they say in the entertainment business, is a wrap.

03/02/2026

Big thanks to Leigh Anderson and Tom Galvin for the coverage in this week's Bray People. We really appreciate all your support 🙏

The front page of this week's Bray People, in shops on Wednesday and online from 6am. Subscribe to Premium+, which includes the Bray People ePaper, via independent.ie/subscribe

01/02/2026

Bray One Act Drama Festival Mermaid County Wicklow Arts Centre Dalkey Players Association of Drama Adjudicators Delgany Dramatic Society Square One Theatre Group - Bray, Co. Wicklow Ashford ICA St. Patrick's Dramatic Society Coolgreany Amateurdramaticsociety Bray School of Speech and Drama

31/01/2026

Drum Roll, and the winners of the Bray One Act Drama Festival 2026 are:
Best Group award went to St. Patrick's Dramatic Society also scooping the Best Director, Joan Gregg, Best Actor, Seymour Cresswell and Best Actress Clare Cresswell with their play A visit from Miss Prothero.
Runner up group were Square One Theatre Group - Bray, Co. Wicklow who had a great night, also taking home Best Comedy, and the Best supporting Actor award, (Brian Sweeney) for their play Visitors from Chicago (taken from California Suite).
Delgany ICA won 2 awards, Best supporting actress award was presented to Rosleen Mullens and Tracy Byrne won the adjudicators award. Keah Swann McFall, from Delgany Dramatic Society won most promising young actor. Dalkey Players brought home the lighting/design award (Gerry Clabby) and Lucy Richards Smyrk won a merit award for Cecily. Best costume design went to Ashford ICA for their play The Plot Thickens. A Merit award was also presented to Bernadette Flynn from Bromley Players. The Fred Lee award for contribution to drama was presented to Jeff Brownley, who has done the lighting for the festival for over 40 years.
Youths night was won by Bray School of Speech and Drama with Matthew Sullivan winning best actor. Esme Nolan from The Singing and Drama Studio YT won best actress with a merit award going to East Glendalough School.
As the curtain comes down on the 47th Bray One Act Drama Festival special thanks to the hard working committee who make it happen, the amazing groups without whom there wouldn't be a festival and the brilliant audiences and patrons who support us. Robbie Doyle for the great entertainment this evening. Finally, To this year's Adjudicator, Tom Byrne, thank you for taking on the difficult job of selecting the winners, you were fantastic all week and we enjoyed your adjudication each evening ( Association of Drama Adjudicators). Now all we have to say is, see you next year, that's a wrap!

31/01/2026

Our entertainment before we announce the awards tonight, is the amazing Robbie Doyle, who is donating his fee for this gig tonight to our charities BARSS and Marino School. Thanks Robbie ❤️ Robbie Doyle

31/01/2026

The cast and crew of Ashford ICA presents "The Plot Thickens" a comedy by Mark Langham. (Claire Timmons, Margaret Condon, Brigid Cahill, Una McGowran, Bernadette Ryan, Mary Doyle, Hilda Roche, Joan O'Flaherty, Margaret Stephens).

31/01/2026

Last night of our Bray One Act Drama Festival and it's local group, Square One Theatre Group - Bray, Co. Wicklow who presents a comedy "Visitors from Chicago (taken from California Suite)". Cast Killian McCrea, Grainne McGuinness, Seafra Griffin and Brian Sweeney.

30/01/2026

Bray One Act Drama Festival have had "A visit from Miss Prothero", thanks to St St. Patrick's Dramatic Society our last group on this evening. (Cast Seymour Cresswell, Clare Cresswell with Jim Gregg)

30/01/2026

Guess who's Coming to tea?.... it's Delgany Dramatic Society (Cast Jo Evans, Helen Taylor, Keah Swann McFall, Dee Byrne, Nick Russell).