Months of work ready to go on show during a sixteen night musical extravaganza in Waterford.
The last rehearsals are taking place for 'My Fair Lady' the first production of the 26th Waterford International Festival of Light Opera at the Theatre Royal.
Nobody taking part in this production is over 17 years of age. The cast are all students from Waterford schools De La Salle College, and the Ursuline and Mercy Convents. They are the first ever Waterford society to appear competitively at the festival.
They will be confidently competing with other amateur societies from Ireland, north and south, and from England and Wales.
Every one of the 13 competing musical societies has put months of work into their productions in their home towns. Between cast and crew, there could be an additional 1,000 people in Waterford, and the hotels and guest houses reap the benefits.
They will provide their own costumes, put in their own sets, operate their own stage lighting and are judged on all that and everything else that goes to make a winning show.
In the world of amateur light opera, winning at Waterford is a huge honour.
Chairperson of the Festival Executive Walter Morgan is amazed that despite the recession of recent years, the event remains a box office success. There was a huge uptake on the £76 season tickets when they went on sale in August. Those who missed out must go on a waiting list for any cancellations that might occur.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 September 1984. The reporter is Michael Ryan.
