From Hollywood to Bangor: Brain Desmond Hurst- Ireland’s Greatest Film Director
Bangor Drama Club continue their Club season on Thursday 13th April in Studio 1A with a lecture and presentation by Allan Smith about his great uncle Brian Desmond Hurst, Ireland’s most successful film director. Allan will trace the journey of Hurst from East Belfast linen worker, through the cruel slaughter of Gallipoli in the First World War to film director and producer in Hollywood. With over 30 films made in three continents over four decades Brian Desmond Hurst at a time when the Hollywood silents switched to rich technicolour. Brian Desmond Hurst’s debut in front of the camera was alongside John Wayne in Hollywood in 1928.
The legendary film director John Ford remained Hurst’s greatest friend during this time and Hurst's war film catalogue is regarded as simply the best because, of course, he knew warfare at its very worst. Scrooge (released in the USA as A Christmas Carol) ensures his name is known throughout the world and few films is still considered a classic over 70 years later. Amazing, funny and sometimes scandalous the presentation will leave you wanting to know more.
The presentation starts at 8pm - admission £5 at door in aid of Chest Heart and Stroke. Members free.
Festival Results Announced The annual Bangor Full-Length Drama Festival closed on Saturday night after a week of exceptional productions and performances. Adjudicator David Grant had a difficult job choosing the winners amongst teams who were merely points apart. Dundalk Theatre Workshop were the overall winners with their production of Faith Healer by Brian Friel. The audience agreed wholeheartedly with this choice having voted overwhelmingly for this production to win the Audience Award. Dundalk Theatre Workshop also took Best Actor Award for Fergus Mullen's portrayal of the charismatic faith healer Francis Hardy. Other acting awards went to Lynn Gordon for her performance in One Man, Two Guvnors, Rosemary Drama Group's Shirley Sweeney and Jeremy Lewis who portrayed racing columnist Roger Mortimer in Dear Lupin. The full list of award winners is as follows: Best Decor: Mark Irvine and Richard Dowling (Rosemary Drama Group)
Best Costume: Madeline Smith (Bart Players)
Technical Excellence: Seamus Farrell (Dundalk Theatre Workshop)
Best Moment of Theatre: "Silent Night" scene by Geoff Hatt (Rosemary Drama Group)
Best Young Player: Jay Henry (Rosemary Drama Group)
Best Supporting Actress: Shirley Sweeney (Rosemary Drama Group)
Best Supporting Actor: Jeremy Lewis (Ballymoney Literary and Debating Society)
Best Actress: Lynn Gordon (Bart Players)
Best Actor: Fergus Mullen (Dundalk Theatre Workshop)
Lady Sylvia Hermon Award: Theatre 3, Newtownabbey (For their "show must go on" spirit)
Best Director: Gillian Porter (Bart Players)
Audience Award: Dundalk Theatre Workshop - Faith Healer
1st: Dundalk Theatre Workshop 2nd: Rosemary Drama Group 3rd: Bart Players
Successful teams will progress to the Ulster Drama Finals in The Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey from 24th - 29th April 2023.
