The International Festival of Light Opera is the social event of the year in Waterford city.
The International Festival of Light Opera takes place at the Theatre Royal in Waterford and is now in its tenth year.
This is a straightforward festival without gimmicks or real glamour.
The festival features 13 shows by opera companies from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There are no companies from the Republic of Ireland in the festival and there has not been for some years. With around 2,000 visitors, the festival brings about £40,000 in revenue to the city. The festival which costs £15,000 to put on is funded by Bord Fáilte, sponsors and ticket sales.
Waterford is a city of song for the fortnight of the festival.
The festival programme ranges from the classics to Gilbert & Sullivan along with supplementary attractions like singing pubs and a competition to find a song for the city. The limited capacity of the Theatre Royal means that tickets are in big demand.
C V Kavanagh, a local theatre critic and one of the festival executives, talks about the lack of Irish participation in the festival. The festival was established as a tourist attraction to bring as many visitors to Waterford as possible. He refutes any claim that there is a ban on participation from opera companies from the Republic of Ireland. He is optimistic about Irish participation in next year's festival but only if applicants are up to acceptable standards. The success of the festival is evident in the fact that they have never had any challenges filling the theatre every night for every show throughout the festival.
This episode of 'Newsbeat' was broadcast on 8 October 1968. The reporter is Bill O'Herlihy.
