LIVE drama makes a welcome return to East Clare later this month and, as part of that, John B Keane’s legendary leading lady Big Maggie will be making an appearance.

Tulla Drama Group is staging the classic tale of sex, land and money at Tulla Courthouse this week from Wednesday, March 23 until Friday March 25 and Big Maggie will also feature in the feast of drama that will be on offer as part of the 73rd Clare Drama Festival.

After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the event is back from Friday, March 25 to Saturday, April 2 in Scariff. 

The festival opens on Friday, March 25 at Scariff Community College Hall. Big Maggie will be back on stage there on Wednesday, March 30. 

Other highlights of this year’s festival will include a performance of Sive by the Clan Machua Drama Group on March 25. Meanwhile, on Saturday, March 26, Skibbereen Theatre Society will perform Brighton by Jim Nolan.

On the Sunday, Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane will be brought to life by the Brideview Drama Group.

The following week, The Ray Leonard Players will present their interpretation of The Beauty Queen, while Camross Drama Group will perform The Kings of the Kilburn High Road on Friday, April 1.

On the closing night of the festival, Killeen Drama Group will perform the ever-popular Conversations on a Homecoming.

That will be followed by the final adjudication and presentation of awards. The adjudicator for what is surely to be a feast of local drama is Ewart Walker. Doors open nightly at 7.15pm with curtain at 8pm. 

Tickets for Big Maggie are available at the Tulla Courthouse between 10am to 12noon from Monday to Friday March 22 to 25.

Bookings can also be made on 087-2356124.

Full details of the Clare Drama Festival are available on Facebook.