GLEN THEATRE MAKE PLANS TO IMPROVE THEIR FACILITIES

The Glen Theatre committee in Banteer are currently planning to upgrade their facilities to include new toilets, changing rooms and store areas .The improvements will further enhance the existing facilities at the venue and it is hoped that subject to funding, these improvements will be complete by mid to late 2004.

The Glen Theatre is a Community owned, Community developed and Community run Theatre, and provides a valuable outlet for the people of Banteer and indeed the Duhallow area.

In the early 90’s a locally committee decided to purchase the old derelict, Banteer National School building, which was originally built in 1841 and which had not been used as a school since 1974.   The committee set about developing the building and it is now a top Theatre and Community facility which can house up to 130 people with Telescopic seating for 110 people, a large stage area, back stage area and bar area.

Such is the high standard of the renovation work that the Theatre featured on RTE's "Nationwide" TV programme in December 1996 as an example of a rural community carrying out this vital sympathetic restoration work to ensure the survival of such a historical local building as a living part of the community in the future. It was also featured on NBC Superchannel on satellite TV in November 1996 and the Theatre also received an AIB Better Ireland Award in 1997.  

The venue is the pride of the Banteer and Duhallow areas and all the initial construction work was completed in the 1990s at a cost of approx €200,000.    The venue is home to Banteer Drama Group and also stages the following events

-         Live musical events including traditional, poetry reading, rock, folk.

-         Comedy shows

-         Children’s Arts competitions/workshops

-         Santa, Halloween parties .

-         Magic Shows.

-         Community events such as training courses, yoga, meetings etc

-         Youth club events

A dedicated Committee of volunteers run the facility on a totally voluntary basis. 

Banteer Drama Group was founded in 1991.   In the beginning the Community Centre in Banteer Village was the venue for the group’s performances, but since 1996 the Glen Theatre is the home of Banteer Drama Group.

The Drama group have performed many plays there over the past number of years, including,” The Field” by J.B. Keane,“Juno and the Peacock” by Sean O Casey,“Da” by Hugh Leonard, “Cash on Delivery” by Ray Cooney

Others include “The Playboy of the Western World”,  “Sharon’s Grave”, “The year of the Hiker”, “A key for two”,  “Dry Rot”,  “The highest house on the mountain”. 

Over the last couple of years the group have also performed One Act plays, due to an ever-increasing membership.

Last year the group took to the “Circuit” entering the One Act festival in Ballincollig and were delighted to come away with the Best Actor and Best Actress Awards. 

Since the beginning, the group have travelled to England with their 3 Act productions – to places such as Manchester, Luton, Peterborough, Bournemouth, High Wycombe, Liverpool etc.     Banteer Drama Group fund these trips and their hosts in England donate the money raised at the door to various local charities. 

Over the last couple of years, the group are involved in Youth Drama with members giving of their time to teach Children between the ages of 8 and 16 the ropes. In April 2003 the fruit of this effort were seen when the younger members from the area staged their own performance to a packed Theatre.

During the past year, the group have completed 2 One Act Plays – “Darlings you were wonderful” and “The Barbers Chair”, whilst the 3 Act play  “Out of Order” ran for 9 nights with full houses during February 2003.   

The Glen Theatre has also become a focal point for other Amateur and Professional groups in the Cork area.   In the past season the Theatre has hosted the “Pike Theatre Company”,  “The Harbour Players”,  “The Valley Players”,  “The Loft Theatre Company” to name but a few. 

The venue is also used extensively for live music and other family entertainment shows with the facility being used and supported by people from the Banteer and greater Duhallow area. 

The venue has hosted live musical events including many Irish Artists such as Philip Donnelly( Guitarist), Liam Reilly (singer/songwriter), The Classic Beatles(tribute band), Loudest Whisper (folk/rock band), Eleanor McEvoy (singer/songwriter),John Spillane (singer/songwriter), The 4 of Us (pop/rock band), Mick Hanly (singer/songwriter), The Warwick Embury Band (blues/rock band), Peter O'Malley (comedian/musician), Eugene Brosnan (singer/songwriter), Bob the Builder Show (kids comedy), Donovan (singer/songwriter), Tommy Fleming (folk singer), Erin's Fury (trad/folk/rock band), Gabriel Fitzmaurice (poet), The Great Sylvano(magican), Freddie White (singer/songwriter) and Christy Moore tribute

 Before these live events, many local Duhallow based amateur artists perform live on stage.

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