Feis Maitiú Dublin is the longest running drama festival in Ireland. It was founded by the Capuchins over 100 years ago! It embraces all aspects of performance art – Drama, Improvisation, Storytelling, Verse Speaking, Mime and Shakespeare recital. The competitive element is secondary to the spirit of enjoyment experienced by each competitor on a professional stage. The competitions are assessed by well established adjudicators with the added bonus of Bursary competitions.
Betty Ann Norton Theatre School sponsors three bursary competitions. These bursary competitions are in memory of our late directors Betty Ann Norton and Michael Cunneen, and Betty Ann’s childhood drama teacher, Ena Mary Burke.
We encourage our students to participate in drama competitions because of the many benefits. All of our students prepare for poetry speaking competitions – even those in our Step One Speech and Drama Classes for preschoolers! As students advance, they take on solo acting competitions, mime, improvisations and group drama competitions.
Students can choose to compete in the Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland feis that takes place in early spring. This is a national competition with heats taking place all over Ireland! The finalists are invited to the live finals in Stillorgan where they compete against the strongest young actors from North and South of the border. We particularly enjoy meeting other young performers from all around Ireland and talking about our favourite pieces in between competitions. It is great fun to make friends from all around the country.
Below are the trophies awarded to students of Betty Ann Norton Theatre School at Feis Maitiu 2016.
