The Rhythm of Strife

What can happen in a town in a week?  A migrant man becomes a local hero only to lose everything.  A female Garda is plagued by a personal health secret.  A priest is the subject of gossip.  An unemployed musician gets lucky in love and comes to understand his mother’s grief.  A young girl gets lucky in love with the unemployed musician while her feckless father is traumatised by a fire.  A free-living hippy girl witnesses the fire and doesn’t care.  A fallen aristocrat falls further only to rise again.

In November 2009, Upstate Theatre Project and St. Brigid’s Drama Group agreed to collaborate on a new ‘exploratory’ community drama programme.  Out of this has come a new play for 20 performers, based on group improvisation and collective writing.

The play is set in 2010, in a large fictitious town in County Louth, Irelandwhich has a major regional hospital as well as the usual civic and private buildings and spaces common to all towns.  It begins at the local Saturday market and follows the fortunes of seven diverse characters, their families and associates, across various locations, concluding seven days later at the same weekly market.

Hilarious and poignant, a fast-paced, 24/7, ‘slice-of-life’ comedy-drama that will entertain and engage Droghedaaudiences for 3 nights only.  Book now!

THE BARBICAN,  St. Peter’s Parish Centre

June 10, 11 and 12   8.00 p.m.

Tickets available from

The Barbican Ticket Office

041-9807416 until 5.30 p.m.

or at the door

Come see by joining Droichead Youth Theatre!!

Following on from the success of their production MOCK during Drogheda Arts Festival this year, Droichead Youth Theatre is recruiting new members for its summer introductory programme. This workshop programme will give you a chance to see if the youth theatre is really for you!

Drama workshops will be held every Saturday beginning on the  26^th June for a 10 week period.  The emphasis is on having fun, exploring creativity and learning about drama in a safe and supportive environment.   No previous experience is necessary. This introductory programme will give members a taste of what’s in store when the formal youth theatre schedule resumes in September.

Droichead Youth Theatre is now in its 19^th year.  There are twenty members led by Artistic Director Niall Cleary under the auspices of Droichead Arts Centre.  The summer workshops will be led by guest facilitator Gavin Logue.  If you are between the ages of 14 and 18 and interesting in joining, we would love to hear from you! Our 10 week introductory programme costs €50, for further information or to sign up please contact Carol Ann Brodigan on 041 9875140/info@droichead.com or call into Droichead Arts Centre at Barlow House on West Street, Drogheda.

Dundalk Theatre Workshop
Will stage The Irish Premier of Inherit the Wind
By Jerome Laurence and Robert E. Lee

in November 2010

Open Auditions for the production will take place upstairs in Mc Geough’s Bar,Roden Place, Dundalk

On Tuesday the 1st June 2010 and Wednesday the 2nd June 2010 at 8.00.pm
Adults and young people over 13
Are invited to audition

No experience required, you should have a small piece or monologue of your choice prepared.
First staged in 1955, later becoming a classic film, based on 1925 trial of an American school teacher who dared to teach Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Inherit the Wind is one of the great American dramas of the last century

May bank holiday weekend – Friday 30th April to 3rd May 2010.

The Drogheda Arts Festival has announced another exciting and varied programme for the 2010 Festival kicking off on Friday 30th April.   The festival, which runs over the May bank holiday weekend, will host an exciting lineup of local, national, and international artists including the first visit to Ireland by acclaimed Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina, a world premiere of a work by Conall Quinn from Upstate Live, music, visual art, family fun and outdoor celebration, and lots more.  There is only one place to be this bank holiday weekend – Drogheda!

Friday 30th April will see the official opening of the Festival in the Highlanes Gallery.  The Marienbad Palace, a visual art exhibition curated by Jacqui McIntosh is divided between two venues in the town, the Droichead Arts Centre and the Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery.  ’The Marienbad Palace’ brings together works by Laura Buckley, Diana Copperwhite, Jorge De La Garza, Alicja Kwade, Haroon Mirza and Ian Monroe. The exhibition, which includes collage, painting, sculpture, installation and video, takes its title from JG Ballard’s 1989 short story ‘The Enormous Space’ and Alain Resnais’ seminal 1961 film ‘Last Year in Marienbad’.  The exhibition explores ideas of reality in a world where virtual reality is always competing with accepted notions of time and space.  ‘The Marienbad Palace’ has been commissioned exclusively for Drogheda Arts Festival.

Over the past few years, Louth Contemporary Music Society has brought world renowned composers to Louth, including Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Valentyn Silvestrov.  This year they are delighted to welcome Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina to the town as part of the Drogheda Arts Festival. One of the world’s greatest composers, Sofia Gubaidulina will visit Ireland for the first time to attend a concert celebrating her work. Entitled The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina, the concert which will take place in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda on May 1st, and will be preceded earlier in the day by the showing of a film on her life and work in the Droichead Arts Centre

Also Saturday 1st May West Street running through the heart of the town will become ‘West Street Wonderland’ for one day only!  The Festival aims to revitalize for this day some of the empty spaces on the street, transforming Drogheda’s main artery with music, outdoor performances, and workshops.  The emphasis will be on participation and fun, with opportunities for all ages to engage with artists and theatre practitioners.

The other side of the river on Saturday and Sunday will see the Drogheda Spring Food Festival, located on the Waterfront, Scotch Hall.  Experience this two-day mini-festival of food offering the tastes and delights of the local food connoisseurs, a farmers market, craft butchers, restaurant tastings, ‘grow your own’ demonstrations and wine seminars.

Theatre and performance also feature strongly in this year’s programme.

-          UPSTATE LIVE presents the world premiere of  THE ONES WHO KILL SHOOTING STARS A new play by Conall Quinn (winner of the Stewart Parker award), directed by Paul Hayes.    This is a highly original entertaining and surreal tale of love and death set on a County Louth beach during World War II.   Absurd, bleak and hilarious in equal measure, THE ONES WHO KILL SHOOTING STARS is commissioned by Drogheda Arts Festival, and will undertake a short national tour after its festival performances.

-          A double bill from award-winning dancer/choreographer Claire Cunningham showcasing her exceptional dance technique and impressive power. ME (Mobile/Evolution) is a show woven from humorous stories; about doctors and dancing, bikes and ballet; all threaded together and balanced upon, hanging from, spinning on and swinging on crutches.   ***** The Herald

-          Cirque de Légume will bring their award winning new show The Cirque de Légume to Drogheda. Marvel at the Veget- animal! Enthrall at the Leek of Power! Fantasize over the Onion Strip Tease! WINNER Bewley’s Theatre Award – Dublin Fringe Festival 2009 and NOMINATED Best Male Performer – Dublin Fringe Festival 2009.

-          Community involvement is a key element of the Festival and this year Droichead Youth Theatre will bring the audience on a special journey through Secondary School in a site specific theatre piece in St Mary’s Diocesan School.

The Festival once again offers a very strong music element. As well as the much anticipated visit by Sofia Gubaidulina, the other music elements will include:

-          Acclaimed South Korean born pianist YOUNG-CHOON PARK performing on the magnificent grand piano in St Peter’s Church Drogheda.  Young- Choon Park will be introduced by sports commentator and Lyric fm presenter, George Hamilton. “…individually refreshing, while demonstrating real passion and style as well as outstanding technical proficiency…”   Sunday Times

-          Music Changes Lives – the young musicians from the acclaimed RTE factual series come to Drogheda to perform at the Barbican Centre.  Accompanies by other young music ensembles, this concert promises to be an opportunity to hear great music, and act as an inspiration for all children to explore their musical talents

-          Dervish, who will perform for one night only on Monday 3rd May as part of their 21st anniversary celebrations.

-          Grammy Award-nominated musical duo, Zero 7 (also nominated for Best British newcomer at the 2002 Brit Awards) with support by Andrew K (External Sounds) & Rob Mullen (External Sounds).

-          DJ Ashley Beedle with support by Keith Kelly (External Sounds).

Other events will include a poetry reading and conversation with Poet Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin and the much loved traditional day at Millmount which will this year be held on Sunday 2nd May, with music, craft, Celtic warriors, the firing of cannons, boat-building, and the rapidly-developing Drogheda Fringe Festival.

Full programme details can be found at:  www.droghedaartsfestival.ie

The Drogheda Arts Festival is supported by: Louth Local Authorities, The Arts Council, and Fáilte Ireland.

The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina is presented by Louth Contemporary Music Society (LCMS) in association with Drogheda Arts Festival. The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina is funded by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and financially supported by the Drogheda Arts Festival with supported by Louth County Council .

Press information:

Gerry Lundberg Public Relations    Tel:  01 679 8476 / 086 259 1070 / 087 259 1070    glundpr@iol.ie

View the Programme here.

Louth Local Authorities operate a number of funding opportunities for individuals and organisations involved in the arts.

Please click this link to the funding page.

Following their success with the surreal and strange The Bald Prima Donna last November, Second Year students of the BA Applied Cultural Studies course at Dundalk Institute of Technology take on their greatest challenge, performing The Importance of Being Earnest in the new Blackbox Theatre, DKIT, from the 2^nd to the 4^th March 2010 at 7.30pm, for three performances only.

This is the conclusion of two years practical work by Applied Cultural Studies students in different aspects of practical theatre.  The aim of their module this semester is to experience producing a play under professional conditions.  Students will be involved not only in acting, but in set and costume design, stage management, lighting, sound, PR and administration.

With all the fun and romance of this special magical play, we look forward to a stunning production from this accomplished and successful group of students. Forget the winter and the recession and come along and see for yourself.

Tickets are priced at €6, and student concession price is €4.

For tickets, please contact Fiona Fearon, lecturer in Theatre Studies, at the Humanities Office, 042 9370496.

This play is a result of Calipo’s ‘page2stage’ programme for emerging young writers who are given workshops and dramaturgical support from this well established company based in Drogheda. Yasmine Akram, writer and performer, has a created a monologue piece about a foul mouthed and aggressive girl who has just emerged from a spell in prison and is trying to find her feet in the face of a dysfunctional mother and a bride-to-be sister, Charlene, who looks down on her misfortunate sibling. The ten dates of the title is the play’s coat-hanger, as Mary desperately tries to find a boy to bring to her sister’s upcoming nuptials. Both story and monologue form are by now well worn themes and formats and it is undoubtedly the excellent process of workshops and dramaturgical interventions, as well as the original writing, that make this a more substantial piece of theatre than it might have been.
Darren Thornton as dramaturg and director shows an acute understanding of how to make this piece stand out and avoids all the elephant traps that a less experienced theatre artist might fall into. The sometimes dark comedy is situational, often laugh-out-loud, and has the compelling ring of truth. The audience just loved the moment when Mary tells us that she’s at a speed-dating evening with her mother -- not as some sort of chaperone, but because she, too, is also on the hunt for a man. Later in the play in order to avenge her sister Charlene, Mary hilariously reads the lesson at her wedding mass in the thickest Drogheda accent she can muster. Other warm moments include scenes with Mary’s only soul mate (her Nan) who reveals that she once had a black boyfriend, which underlines Mary’s need to do her own thing and not sink back into a life of petty crime.
Mary’s obstacles are many and varied. Her reputation for trouble leaves her on the wrong side of everyone: the law, nightclub bouncers -- and a street map of her sad little world is included in the well-designed programme replete with mock romantic pink pages. The local references added a certain frisson for those who knew the area but this didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the ‘non-locals’. In some respects she is saddled with a reputation that she doesn’t want.
Salvation lies in Mary’s meeting with middle class David on her quest for a date. A promising singer/guitarist he sees past the exterior Mary and they form a promising relationship. The obligatory meal with David’s family gives us a great observation from Mary who notices that they were just… “so happy”. It’s one of many lovely moments to which Jack Cawley adds a sound design with just the perfect amount of atmospheric music and sound effects to complement Kieran McNulty’s set whose plastic coloured buckets fill with the ‘plink’ ‘plonk’ of rainwater before the play starts to convey not just the leaking roof of Mary’s home, but the depressing dank situation in which she finds herself. Seven single reverberant piano notes synched with seven lamp changes was just one of the examples of Sarah Jane Shiels’ lighting design adding the final touches.
Yasmine Akram’s performance is an accomplished piece of work – developing an instant rapport with the audience, she gets the balance between mimicry of other characters and straight narration just right. By the end of the one hour playing time, our anti-heroine manages to alienate said David by getting outrageously drunk at one of his gigs, and loses him to a job in London -- and it’s entirely due to the expertly realised central character we have just invested in that we really are rooting for Mary as she sits on a plane to London to find David, a new life, and release the untapped potential of her lost soul. Everyone deserves a second chance.
John White is a Theatre Director and Workshop Facilitator.

Also RTE Arena review

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2010/0128/arena_av.html?2691213,null,209