Phelim Donlon, drama officer with the Arts Council, will open Dundalk Drama International on Saturday, May 23rd, It will run until the following Saturday, with a guest performance on Sunday, May 31st. Peter Sheridan will adjudicate. Among the international productions will be the Players Theatre of Wales in Some Canterbury Tales, Mobile Guild, Alabama in Smoke On The Mountain and Scotterby Done Productions, Essex in Torch Song Trilogy, which explores the "loves and losses of a New York Jewish drag artist". The French pantomime troupe, REZE, will also return by popular demand, having won many fans last year.

First steps have been taken to make the Dean Crowe Hall, Athlone, a fit home for the All-Ireland Drama Festival. "Adverse criticism in the local and national media highlights its lack of facilities, poor dressing rooms, poor seating, inadequate toilet facilities, etc," says a document launching a private members' draw at £100 per ticket. The hall is diocesan property and Bishop Christy Jones has given a newly-formed committee, the Dean Crowe Theatre Trust, a long-term lease of the premises. The trust's finance committee has taken on the difficult task of raising money for the major renovation required. The draw will be limited to 2,000, and competing groups, individuals and patrons are being requested to take as many tickets as possible.

There is no contact number, but festival director Colm Kelly at 090272333 will attend to inquiries. His committee will, no doubt, be marketing the tickets at next month's All-Ireland Finals in the hall, from May 5th to 16th. Peter O'Toole's daughter, Pat, who is director of the Ideal Theatre Company, London, is among the tutors for Gormanston '98, which takes place from August 1st - 8th. She will explore the methods and approach of Stranislavsky with her students. Its main programme also features Jorg Andress, a Berlin-based actor/director; Russell Boyce, head of drama at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow; Firenza Guidi, Italian director, writer and performer; Rowan Tolley, mime artist; Kevin Dowsett, founder director of Theatre Train; Kevin Crawford, actor and voice coach and the popular Derry tutor, director and adjudicator, Tom Doherty.

The All-Ireland Confined Finals will take place in Enniscorthy from April 22nd to May 2nd. Before the final performance, the DLI will host a masterclass at Murphy Flood's Hotel from 2.30 to 5.00 p.m. Jim Nolan will discuss his play, Moonshine. He will be joined by Andy Doyle and Brendan Rankin, director and designer of the Enniscorthy production that won last year's All-Ireland Finals in Athlone. The DLI have also issued details of their attractive new insurance scheme that covers member groups, under certain conditions, for £200 plus two per cent Government levy. It represents excellent value. Mr John Corcoran at 01-4930112 has the details. Groups participating in three-act festivals have received a detailed questionnaire from the DLI. The information gathered will be analysed by one person and will be sent back to the groups. A copy will be sent to the ADCI, the body responsible for festivals.