About Dalkey Players

Dalkey Players was founded in 1976, and is based in the historic town of Dalkey, in south Co Dublin. The group rehearse (every Tuesday and Thursday, September to May) and perform in a restored Norman Tower, Goats Castle. Under the artistic direction of Margaret Dunne, and more recently Emma Jane Nulty, they have built up a loyal local following, regularly filling the hall’s 200 seats. Recent productions have been extremely diverse, and have included works by Shakespeare, Chekov, Brendan Behan and Maeve Binchy. The group has also built up a long experience of participation in Drama Festivals, both One Act and Full Length (and always, on principal, in the Open section).

Full Length Festival Participation:

In the mid 1980’s, encouraged by the great local success of Margaret Dunne's productions of Hugh Leonard’s 'Time Was' and Bernard Farrell’s 'All the Way Back' (both local playwrights), Dalkey Players took to touring their productions on the Full-length Play circuit, hoping to reach the Athlone All-Ireland Finals.

In 1990 with Farrell’s 'Say Cheese!' the group first reached Athlone, and since then they have appeared on the Dean Crowe stage regularly. Last years production of 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' won 13 awards on the circuit, and just narrowly missed out on qualifying for the All-Ireland Finals.

One Act Festival Participation:

For many years, the group hosted the Dalkey One-Act Festival - voted one of the best-run festivals in the country - but more recently has concentrated on competing in the One Act circuit. In 2004 the group received a special award at the All Ireland One Act Finals for Innovation for 'Three More Sleepless Nights' and the following year were runners up with 'A Play on Two Chairs'.

Drama Activities:

Alongside regular productions and participation in Drama Festivals, the group undertake a number of other activities. These include:

Workshops: The group holds regular workshops in acting and directing, and invites guest facilitators. Pat Kinevane, Scott Marshall, Chrissie Poulter, Caimin Collins have all recently worked with the group on acting, direction, movement, choosing one-act plays etc.
Summer Schools: every year many members attend the long established Stageworks summer school in Gormanston College, and/or the DLI summer school held in Limerick University.
Directors' Options: the group organises an end-of season in-house production of short scenes, sketches etc for members only, where new talent gets an opportunity to act or direct or stage manage in front of a supportive audience of fellow group members. In recent years this has taken place in the Vico, a popular intimate studio space above The Queen's Pub in Dalkey.