Cork's Coachford Players are off to All Ireland finals next week

Coachford Players will perform their award-winning one-act circuit play, A Safe Passage, by acclaimed Cork playwright Irene Kelleher, at the All-Ireland drama finals in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo on December 6.

The group has enjoyed a successful festival season, taking first place at the West Cork Drama Festival in Rossmore, at the Dublin Theatre Festival in Dundrum, at the Bangor Drama Festival in Co Down, and at the Ballincollig Drama Festival.

The group also secured second place at the Cork Drama Festival, and third place at the West Waterford Drama Festival in Ballyduff.

Established in 1987, the group has gone from strength to strength.

To prepare for the group’s appearance in the All-Ireland finals, its members are performing the play in Coachford GAA Hall on Sunday, November 30 and Monday, December 1.

A Safe Passage is set on New Year’s Eve, 1979. Its plot features two strangers who are thrown together at Inish Dúbh Lighthouse: Christy, the keeper, whose job entails shining a ceaseless vigil for all at sea, and a young woman who does not want to be saved.

STORM RAGES

Both characters have plans for the evening, with both seeming to want the same thing. But as the storm rages and the tower door shuts, they must decide whether to weather the storm together or take a leap of faith.

Adding variety and light-hearted charm to the evening, the Coachford Players will also present three ten-minute plays from Calling Time, by Derek Webb.

Set in a pub, Calling Time is made up of linked short plays that take place the same evening, all two-handers varying from straight comedies to more thought-provoking pieces, together with a short intro and outro scene.

Doors open at 7.30pm, with curtains up at 8pm sharp. Audience members are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and find their seats before the lights go down.