... as next week the group takes this play to the Ulster Finals at Armagh (Wednesday night) where they might well win. It would be a shame to miss it.

There is an interesting variation on the production that we observed at the recent Newry Drama Festival. The female lead has changed. Ciara Bell who had the female lead then is now starring in Newry Musical Society’s Oliver in the Town Hall next week (she is ‘Nancy’) and the part of Mabel Bagenal tomorrow night will be played by Fiona Treanor.

Fiona is a regular reader of Newry Journal when she is studying at Cambridge University so we have a special reason to promote her. But she doesn’t need it. She is excellent.

Newpoint have excelled again this season. ‘Making History’ won the Premier Awards at the Newtownstewart and the Ballymoney Festivals and were runners-up at Bangor. Anthony Fitzpatrick playing Hugh O’Neill won best actor at both and Sean Markey at Newtownabbey. Conor McKeown won best supporting actor at FOUR different Festivals and Best Moment of Theatre at two. Ciara Bell (Mabel) won best supporting actress at Bangor and Marie McStay at Castleblaney.

Sean Treanor won Best Director at Newtownstewart and the Ballymoney Festivals and at Newtownabbey for 'Five Kinds of Silence.' 

I regret not having made it to this great and powerful production.