UCD Dramsoc
Encyclopedia
UCD Dramsoc is the student drama society of University College Dublin
. The society was founded in 1926 and is currently in its 84th session. 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.
Dramsoc has gone through many stages of development during its 84 year 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 1960’s. 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 currently 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; 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 catagories overall.
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. The society was founded in 1926 and is currently in its 84th session. 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.
Dramsoc has gone through many stages of development during its 84 year history. It began in the Georgian setting of Newman House at the original site of University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
on St. Stephen's Green
St. Stephen's Green
St Stephen's Green is a city centre public park in Dublin, Ireland. The park is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets, Grafton Street, and to a shopping centre named for it, while on its surrounding streets are the offices of a number of public bodies and the city terminus of one of...
. It then transferred to UCD’s second home at Earlsfort Terrace before finally arriving in Belfield in the 1960’s. 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 currently 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; 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
Hugh R. Brady
Hugh R. Brady, FRCPI, is President and Chief Officer of University College Dublin. He was one of the two Professors of Medicine and Therapeutics in UCD before becoming the eighth President of the University....
, 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 catagories overall.
Famous Alumni include
- Barry McGovernBarry McGovernBarry McGovern is an Irish stage, film and television actor. He was educated at Castleknock College, Dublin.-Background:McGovern is a former member of the RTÉ Players and the Abbey Theatre Company. He has worked in theatre, film, radio and television, as well as written music for many shows, and...
- Neil JordanNeil JordanNeil Patrick Jordan is an Irish filmmaker and novelist. He won an Academy Award for The Crying Game.- Early life :...
- Dermot MorganDermot MorganDermot John Morgan was an Irish comedian, actor and former schoolteacher, who achieved international renown for his roles as Father Ted Crilly in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and a strip club MC in Taffin....
- Jason ByrneJason Byrne (comedian)Jason Byrne is an Irish comedian born in Ballinteer, Dublin, Ireland. In August 2008, he made his twelfth Edinburgh Fringe Festival appearance and is a regular at the Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival....
- Brian FarrellBrian FarrellBrian Farrell is an Irish author, journalist, academic & broadcaster.-Early life:Although born in Manchester, England, Farrell moved to Dublin, Ireland during the Second World War. He was educated in Ireland at , Dublin, University College Dublin and Harvard University in the United States...
- Camille O'SullivanCamille O'SullivanCamille O'Sullivan is a Irish singer, actress, and entertainer. -Background:...
- Frank KellyFrank KellyFrank Kelly is an Irish actor, singer and writer, whose career has covered television, radio, theatre, music, screenwriting and film. He is best known for his role as Father Jack Hackett in the comedy Father Ted. He is the son of the cartoonist Charles E...
- Conor McPhersonConor McPhersonConor McPherson is an Irish playwright and director.-Life and career:McPherson was born in Dublin, . He was educated at University College Dublin, McPherson began writing his first plays there as a member of UCD Dramsoc, the college's dramatic society, and went on to found Fly By Night Theatre...
- Cearbhaill O'Dalaigh
- Chris O'DowdChris O'DowdChris O'Dowd is an Irish comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Roy Trenneman in British sitcom The IT Crowd...
- Peter McDonaldPeter McDonald (actor)Peter McDonald is an Irish stage and screen actor. He grew up in Mount Merrion in South County Dublin. His mother, Brenda Costigan is a cookery writer and his father, Richard McDonald sells bailer twine...