UCD Dramsoc
UCD dramsoc is the student drama society of University College Dublin. The society was founded in 1926. Since it was founded, the society has had two central objectives which are key to its ethos; firstly to be a breeding ground for emerging talent by pursuing and fostering principles of dramatic excellence. Secondly to be a social arena through which UCD students can form lasting friendships from a shared interest in the dramatic arts.
UCD dramsoc has gone through many stages of development during its history. It began in the Georgian setting of Newman House at the original site of University College Dublin on St. Stephen's Green. It then transferred to UCD's second home at Earlsfort Terrace before finally arriving in Belfield in the 1960s. Since this time the society has grown from its meagre roots to become Europe's most active drama society with an annual membership of around 1000 students. In 2004 €90,000 was invested into the dramsoc theatre by the college. Located in the John Henry Newman Building, the theatre gained a new lighting and sound system, a new movable lighting rig and movable seating rig and a revamped Front of House Area. UCD dramsoc has the most comprehensive student society theatre in the country. This is due to be improved even more when the society moves into the UCD Student Centre;[1] with construction due to be completed in early 2011. dramsoc has been honoured with the title of UCD's Society of the Year for three of the last five years. In 2004 President of UCD, Hugh R. Brady, spoke about the society's commitment to standards of excellence and emphasised its contribution to the colleges' life. Through the pursuit of a hectic performance schedule Dramsoc has been a forum for learning the invaluable qualities of leadership, teamwork, artistic endeavour, technical ability and the ancient skill of live performance.
In its lifetime the society has proved that its internal efforts pay off outside of the University. The society often performs well at the Irish Student Drama Association Festival (ISDA); in 2006 dramsoc was awarded five of the eleven awards at ISDA, having been nominated in every category and a number of former members have gone on to garner professional success. In 2011, the society's production of Tom Murphy's 'A Whistle In the Dark' won five awards at the festival, including Best Overall Production; in total, UCD dramsoc was nominated in ten out of twelve categories overall. In 2012, dramsoc beat all past records by being nominated for ten awards out of twelve and winning six. Five of those awards going to The Walworth Farce directed by Brenda Moreau (best actor, best supporting actress, best supporting actor, best prost-ups and best overall production). Subsequently, in 2014, dramsoc beat their previously held record, with nominations in eleven out of thirteen categories, and winning a total of seven awards for Best Production, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design and Best Set Design for My Mother Said I Never Should and Best Costume and Makeup Design for bedbound.
Famous alumni
- Barry McGovern
- Neil Jordan
- Dermot Morgan
- Jason Byrne
- Brian Farrell
- Camille O'Sullivan
- Frank Kelly
- Conor McPherson
- Cearbhaill O'Dalaigh
- Chris O'Dowd
- Peter McDonald