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Strabane drama festival cancelled due to Alley Theatre water leak

Strabane Drama Festival organisers have blaze bannersaid they are "gutted" after a water leak at a theatre forced them to cancel their event, which would have marked its 40th anniversary.

The decision follows confirmation that the Alley Theatre, which is the traditional home of the festival, will close from 25 September for about six months after a "substantial" water leak was detected.

Festival director Ciara McCay said alternative venues were explored, including the Melvin sports complex and a local church hall.

However, she said they could not afford the estimated ￡15,000 cost of converting the spaces into suitable theatres.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Ms McCay said the festival was one of the "main cultural events in the town" and attracted people from across the island.

"Losing the festival for the town as a whole, for the audience, the whole community, is a huge blow," Ms McCay said.

The festival would usually take place over nine nights in March, with each night featuring a different group from across Ireland.

Ms McCay said the festival could not have been rescheduled because it is part of an all-Ireland drama festival, which has fixed competition dates.

Applications for the national competition open in October, which organisers said left them no time to secure a new venue.

"Given the very short time frame we have left, it's gutting, but we just cannot do it," she said.

Ms McCay said alternative venues were explored, including the Melvin Sports Complex, but said that it was not a feasible alternative venue.

She said it would have taken a huge amount of work to convert it into a suitable facility to host a drama festival and it would also have inconvenienced the many sports groups who use it.

Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) described the theatre's temporary closure as "deeply regrettable," but said it was essential to allow extensive repairs.

The council acknowledged that some events would be cancelled during the six-month closure but they were working to minimise the impact.

A spokesperson said the council had suggested alternative venues but that it is not obliged to secure replacement venues and that responsibility rested with organisers.

A report on the impact of the closure is due to go before the council's business and culture committee.

The council said the public would be refunded for any cancelled performances.

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