Dramsoc
UCD Dramsoc is the student drama society of University College Dublin. Since the society’s foundation in 1928, UCD Dramsoc has become one of the nation’s most active societies, and one of Europe’s most active drama societies, as well as being the most active student drama society in Ireland. The purpose of Dramsoc is to foster new and upcoming talent, to encourage a love of the performing arts in its members and to provide a social forum through which lasting friendships can be made.
Dramsoc is UCD’s most active society, with two performances a week, one workshop and at least one major event like coffee mornings or karaoke. We hold workshops for all theatre departments as well as others on acting, improv and playwriting. Nearly half of the plays performed on the Dramsoc stage in 2021 were written by our members, and original work is always welcome.
There are plenty of acting opportunities available with open auditions and callbacks held for all shows. However, all members are also encouraged to get involved in a backstage department, ranging from props, costume and make-up, to set building, visual and media design of promo videos or posters, stage managing, lighting and sound design, as well as producing or directing.
There is no need to get directly involved with shows, every show needs an audience and our supporters are just as important!
The Society participates in the Irish Student Drama Association Festival which is held annually and has seen great success. In 2019, the society won three awards at the festival – Best Actor, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, and was nominated for a further nine awards. In 2020, for the adapted virtual festival, the society won four awards for Best Actress, Best Visual Design, Best Sound Design and Best Cinematography, and was nominated for a further seven awards. The ISDA Festival returned in person to Galway in 2021 where Dramsoc secured a record breaking nine wins – Best Actor (Tishé Emmanuella Fatunbi for We Dance, Jack Donoghue for The Last Wolf in Ireland), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Bergin, Beauty Queen of Leenane), Best Set Design (Praise Titus for Beauty Queen of Leenane), Best Director (Saoirse Carey for Beauty Queen of Leenane), Best Ensemble (We Dance), Best Hair and Makeup (Jodie Doyle for We Dance), Best Original Writing (Rachel Thornton for The Last Wolf in Ireland) and Best Production (The Last Wolf in Ireland), and achieving a total of twenty-three nominations.
Dramsoc was given a new home in 2012, in the Theatre in the Student Centre. Our state of the art theatre boasts a 113 seater rig, two dressing rooms, a large scene dock for set construction and professional lighting and sound system.
The aim of Dramsoc is to promote theatre and help young artists foster and develop their talents creatively. It can be a valuable starting point to those hoping to work in the professional theatre industry or for those looking to pick up a new hobby and meet some fun people.
It’s never too late to get involved, so come to the theatre and say hello anytime!