Silken Thomas Players from Kildare were crowned winners of the Perpetual Trophy at the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival in Athlone on Sunday night for their production of Larry Kramer's 'The Normal Heart'.
Conor O'Connell picked up the award for Best Actor for his performance as Ned Weaks in the same play while his co-star, Colin Malone, was named Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Felix Turner.
Adrienne Meyler won Best Actress for her portrayal of Hester Swan in the Wexford Drama Group's production of Marina Carr's play 'By the Bog of Cats'; her co-star, Hilda Conway, won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Mrs Kilbride.
'By the Bog of Cats'' director, Paul Walsh, won the Best Director award while Maria Finnegan won the Best Stage Management award for her work on 'The Normal Heart'.
Eugene Finnegan and Philip McIntyre from the Corn Mill Theatre Company won the Best Stage Setting and Best Stage Lighting awards respectively for their work on 'DOWN'.
Miriam Pettit from the Knochnacarra Amateur Theatre Society was the recipient of the DLI Summer School Scholarship and Tara Stewart of the Holywood Players was the recipient of the Gormanstown Summer School Scholarship.
