22nd January 2007 - It's lights camera action at The Old Courthouse in Lifford! In November of last year three new staff members joined the team in the hope of promoting the arts in the centre. All three have vast acting experience and along with existing staff members have already held a live courtroom drama in Lifford. The trial of Santa Claus was held in the Courthouse throughout December. Thankfully with the help of witnesses such as Tinkerbell and Rudolf he was set free in time for Christmas!

Tish McGee, 22 was born in South Africa where she began her acting career at the age of 14. She joined the Helen O' Grady Drama Academy and studied basic method acting there for two years as well as performing as one of the lead characters in two of their productions. She tended to be cast as a male character most of the time as there was often a shortage of boys in the class and she was tall with a big burly voice.

She then immigrated to Donegal with her mother and sister at the age of 18 where she completed her Leaving Certificate at the Vocational School in Letterkenny.

During school holidays she joined the Balor D.C.A. group in the Balor Theatre where she worked as a drama facilitator. There she gained valuable experience in teaching drama workshops to kids and the responsibilities it entails. In 2003 Tish joined a drama group in Letterkenny with who she performed the musical "My Fair Lady" in An Grianan Theatre.

In 2005 Tish returned to South Africa where she did a course in acting for film and television at City Varsity in Cape Town. The following year she did an Advanced Acting Technique course with A.C.T Cape Town. She then joined a local talent agency and worked as an actress in several international T.V. commercials and short films until returning to Ireland in 2006.

Tish then started her own acting school for kids called Shine in Letterkenny.

Cathleen Bradley started her acting career at the tender age of 11 with the Butt Drama Circle in Ballybofey with the production of "Annie" in which she played the title role. She later joined the Balor Theatre under the watchful guidance of Kieran Quinn. Productions included "Playboy of the Western World", "Juno and the Paycock", "The Plough and the Stars" and many more.

In 1998 she moved to Dublin and landed her first movie role as Siobhan in "The Closer you Get" an Irish film set in Donegal. Other film and T.V. parts followed such as Karen in "About Adam" Rachel in the BBC drama "Eureka Street", Aine in "Silent Grace", Garda McArdle in RTE's "On Home Ground" and a pregnant stranger in the successful RTE show Killinaskully.

She has also worked for BBC Radio Northern Ireland on the productions of "Stone Memories" and "The Jangle of Keys".

Cathleen has also run a number of successful drama classes, one being with the Aishlingi Academy with dance teacher Tanya Ward.

She has recently moved back to Donegal where she hopes to continue her work in teaching drama with the Old Courthouse in Lifford.

Cheryl Rock has vast experience in both art and drama. She gained an arts facilitator qualification from the National Association of Youth Drama. With this qualification she has conducted workshops in the greater Dublin area and helped co-ordinate the St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin.

Cheryl has worked for the National Theatre in both the Abbey and Peacock theatres in Dublin. During this time she co-facilitated art based workshops through their outreach and education department.

Cheryl also has national and international T.V. and film experience. Her most recent role was in the performance of "Shakers" in The Playhouse in Derry. She is currently studying for a H.N.D in Fine Arts in the North West Institute of Higher and Further Education in Derry and works part time in the Old Courthouse.

In addition to these new members, the Courthouse also boasts talented existing staff.

Wendy Leeper has been part of the team in the Courthouse since 2004. Her acting career began in the Balor Theatre in 1999. During that time she has played numerous roles. Some of her favourite roles were in productions of "One O'clock from the House", "A Dark and Stormy Night", "Macbeth", "Men Should Weep" and "Playboy of the Western World" all under the direction of Kieran Quinn. Wendy has also facilitated drama workshops for the Balor D.C.A.

As well as working as a tour guide she has taken part in live re-enactments of court cases, which took place in the Courthouse.

Henri Quinn has been involved in the world of theatre since 1987 when she began acting under the expert guidance of Kieran Quinn in the Balor Theatre in Ballybofey. Over the years she has taken lead roles in many productions, including "Juno and the Paycock", "Macbeth", "Playboy of the Western World" and "Clerical Errors" to name but a few.

She has also worked in the technical end of theatre as a lighting technician and stage manager. Henri has been part of several national tours including "Big Maggie" for An Grianan Productions and "The Butterfly of Killybegs" for Blue Eagle Theatre Company.

Henri's T.V. and radio work includes "The Hanging Gale", "The Closer You Get", Crimeline on RTE and "Stone Memories" for BBC Northern Ireland.

She has also worked in many schools throughout Donegal as a drama workshop facilitator for the Balor D.C.A.

Henri has been involved with the Old Courthouse, Lifford as a tour guide and actor since July and loves every minute of it.

This talented group have lots of plans to keep themselves busy throughout 2007. They will be running ten-week classes in both drama and art in the centre starting in February. They also hope to perform live re-enactments of trials that occurred in the Courthouse similar to that of Half Hanged MacNaghten, which was held throughout July 2006.