Adjudicator
The adjudicator for Festival 2008 is John P. Kelly.  John trained many years ago with the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and has directed shows all over Ireland, including at the Abbey itself, at Dublin's second theatre The Gate, The Gaiety, The Olympia, The Cork Opera House and, in the Irish language at the National Theatre in Irish in Galway.  More years ago than he cares to count, John began as an actor and director in Community Theatre.  On (eventually) winning the overall circuit prize, he was offered an Irish Arts Council bursary to train professionally and quickly threw in "the day job."  Over the years, he has conducted workshops with ages from four (never again!) to eighty-four (never again!!), for community and professional theatre and has even earned a few cents (eurocents) in personnel training.  He joined the British Guild of Drama Adjudicators in the early 90s and, typically Irish, shortly afterwards co-founded the Irish Adjudicators Association.  He has officiated at all levels including finals in Ireland and Scotland.  Shortly after arriving to live in Ottawa, John formed his own professional theatre company, dedicated to cutting-edge Irish work.  To date, he has directed eight productions with the company (www.seventhirty.ca) and, just recently, was awarded the Best Director of 2007 by the Capital Critics Circle of Ottawa.  John is a friendly animal and answers to John, John P. or Sean!

After each performance, Mr. Kelly will give a public adjudication of the evening's performance.  The following morning, he will give a detailed adjudication.  On Thursday, he will also lead an adjudicator's workshop entitled "Beam Me Up, Scotty! -- The Actor In Space."

Playwright-in-Person
On Friday, we will feature play readings by Keith Roulston.

Keith Roulston co-founded, with James Roy and Anne Chislett, the Blyth Festival in 1975.  He served as General Manager from Fall 1979 to Fall 1983.  He served two terms as president of the Board of Directors, 1975-78 and 1994-1998.  He is also founder and publisher of a community-owned newspaper, the North Huron Citizen.  He is editor and publisher of The Rural Voice, a farm and rural magazine.  He is involved in rural community economic development and was a recipient of a Canada 125 medal.

Keith Roulston's appearance is made possible by a grant from the Canada Council through Playwrights Guild of Canada.