Beyond the Spotlight The Struggle and Success of Amateur Theatre Groups

Amateur drama and musical theatre groups bring life and culture to towns and villages across Ireland. Whether rehearsing in school gyms, church halls, or borrowed spaces, these passionate groups continue to entertain audiences and enrich communities, all for the love of the stage. Yet despite being Ireland’s second-largest voluntary movement, amateur drama groups remain without dedicated state funding. Last week, Deputy Malcolm Byrne made a call for change in the Dáil, urging the government to support amateur arts in the same way it funds sports, with financial backing for both national bodies and grassroots groups. While Ireland’s Arts Council receives over €140 million in state funding, most amateur drama groups still rely on community fundraising—through cake sales, raffles and local sponsorships—to cover the cost of their productions. Rachel Hickey, the chairperson of the Leinster branch of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI) and the chairperson of the Wexford Drama Festival has long advocated for better support for amateur theatre. Rachel shared the challenges and triumphs of running the Wexford Drama Festival, which has been a key cultural event in County Wexford for over 60 years. The  Festival takes place each March, but preparations begin months in advance. “Groups start getting their applications in early October,” Rachel explains. “We set our lineup, hold weekly meetings, and coordinate everything from ticket sales to advertising and the program. Once the festival begins, the workload intensifies as we run eight nights of performances in the National Opera House.” Rachel shared that the festival typically costs between €20,000 and €25,000 each year. This includes venue rental, catering, advertising and other essential services. As Rachel explains, “The cost has definitely gone up in recent years due to rising rental fees for the venue. While we hope to keep costs at the same level this year, much depends on ticket sales in March.” Rachel believes that with even modest state funding, festivals like the Wexford Drama Festival could significantly improve their offerings and support more participants. “State funding would alleviate some of the pressure we face every year,” she says. “We could support our groups more, encourage more people—especially younger people—to get involved and elevate the overall quality of our productions.” State funding could also allow amateur drama groups to focus more on developing new talent and expanding their reach. “The standard of drama in Ireland has never been higher, but it takes money to make that happen,” Rachel explains. “Building sets, renting rehearsal spaces, paying adjudicators—these are expensive undertakings and they all need financial support.” Listen back here to the full interview