Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Sommethe in Pittsburgh USA

 

A Pittsburgh Premiere
Directed by Matt Torney
September 4-20, 2014
Charity Randall Theatre

How strong is the bond between men united by the call to arms? Eight young men of Ulster, thrown together for army training during the Great War, must move beyond the troubles between Protestant and Catholic as they prepare for the Battle of the Somme. Frank McGuinness’ lyrical play captures the fierce friendship and loyalty among men who must face the wickedness and wastefulness of war.

f you enjoyed Band of Brothers, this World War I play will resonate with you. Appropriate for ages 12+.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

O’Punksky’s inaugural production in 1990

 

this play has a significant for Irish immigrants in Australia at the turn of the decade in 1989 In late 1989 a random group of actors joined Maeliosa Stafford at The Crossroads Theatre in Darlinghurst to work together on a play.  The group had no name and very little money but Frank McGuinness’s play and Maeliosa’s direction created a powerful energy. The cast and a few friends sourced the uniforms, designed and built the set, designed the program and marketed the show. This was the beginning of a new wave of collective, independent theatre in Sydney.The success of the production and the thrill of the experience formed some creative relationships and real friendships that became the O’Punksky legend. The play became a hit in the Sydney Festival of 1990.
This is a fierce, compelling, and infinitely compassionate play – delivered with incisive clarity by director Maeliosa Stafford and his cast of nine men…. Stafford penetrates the raw heart of this play; exposes its wrath, its wit, (there are some very funny moments), its humanity…. every actor on the stage makes a vigorous, convincing contribution to this fine ensemble production…..    Pamela Payne SMH.

“That night there was a glorious sunset. The guns were silent for a while and I heard someone in the reserve trenches starting to sing ‘Abide with me’ then slowly, all down the line, the men took up the hymn.”
Private Robb – Mid Antrim Volunteers.

 

Playful Acts of Rebellion | A Rehearsal Run with The Gramophones | by Ellen Hart

New Perspectives Blog

Since beginning my placement at New Perspectives, I have been privileged to engage with the company and its work in a variety of ways; I have sat in on a play’s read through, devised and edited a teaser trailer for Him with His Foot in His Mouth, and even been let loose on their website. Throughout, I have been astounded by the company’s multi-faceted programme – not only do they seem to constantly be churning out high quality, innovative work of their own, they also devote a commendable amount of time and effort to the investment in, and development of, new writers and performers from the East Midlands. It’s for this reason that I jumped at the chance to sit in on a rehearsal of The Gramophones touring show, Playful Acts of Rebellion, in order to see, first-hand, how members of the company’s alumni have developed and prospered, since…

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There’s something about St Patrick

History at Galway

Here, in case you missed it, is our very own Professor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, discussing Patrick, Palladius, and the origins of Irish Christianity with Neil Delamere. The interview is part of a documentary called There’s something about Patrick , first broadcast on RTÉ 1 television on 17 March. You can catch the whole programme on the RTÉ Player , or have a listen to Delamere chat about the documentary with John Murray on RTÉ Radio 1 .

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Yeats International Summer School 2014 , 27th July – 8th August 2014

The Yeats Society of Sligo welcomes all to the 55th Annual Yeats International Summer School, 27th July – 8th August 2014. Margaret Mills Harper and Matthew Campbell are the Director and Assistant Director. The distinguished roster of lecturers includes Maud Ellmann, Edna Longley, Lucy McDiarmid, Francis O’Gorman, Daniel Karlin, Patricia Coughlan, David Dwan, and Herbert Tucker. Sam McCready will lead the drama workshop, and Sinéad Morrissey will conduct the poetry workshop. Special events will include readings by Michael Longley, Donal Ryan, and John Kavanagh. The longest running summer school in Ireland presents its unique blend of learning, art, and fun, in beautiful Yeats Country. In conjunction with the Tread Softly Arts Festival, the Riverstown Music Festival, Fleadh Cheol na hEireann and other arts events, the town of Sligo invites all to discover the power of the imagination through the work of Ireland’s preeminent poet. http://www.yeatssociety.com/

a cast photograph from the 1987 production of A Whistle in the Dark,

This  is a cast photograph from the 1987 production of A Whistle in the Dark, which was produced at the Jesuit Hall in Salthill and directed by Garry Hynes. This play history is well worth noting as it received its premiere at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in London in 1961 having previously been rejected by the Abbey Theatre. In the photograph are: (l to r standing) Peter Gowan, Maeliosa Stafford, Johnny Murphy, Mick Lally, Corinne Ransom. (Front row, L to R) Sean McGinley, Godfrey Quigley, David Herlihy.

Black Watch – Davey Anderson music

ighly physical piece of political theatre Written by Gregory Burke Directed by John Tiffany Associate Director – Movement: Steven Hoggett Associate Director – Music: Davey Anderson First performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2006 International tour 2007, 2008, 2010-11, 2012-13 ‘Its music, by Davey Anderson, sounds better and more profound with every outing, drawn as it is from the songs of the people, and those of ordinary soldiers who marched away from the towns of Fife, Angus and Tayside, never to return.’ – The Scotsman

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Track Listing Pre-show music: Artist: The Black Watch Pipes and Drums Album: The Ladies From Hell Label: Greentrax Recordings Ltd 1) Tattoo Track: Fanfare Artist: Various, Edinburgh Military Tattoo Album: Spirit of the Tattoo DVD 2) Pub #1 Track: Spitting Games Artist: Snow Patrol Album: Final Straw Label: Polydor Ltd (UK) 3) Pool Table Track: First Sleep Artist: Cliff Martinez Album: Solaris Soundtrack Label: Superb Records 4) Officer’s Email #1 Track: Officer’s Email #1 Underscore Artist: Davey Anderson 5) Song Track: Gallant Forty Twa Artist: Traditional, arr. Davey Anderson 6) Lord Elgin Track: Selection Artist: The Black Watch Pipes and Drums Album: The Ladies From Hell Label: Greentrax Recordings Ltd

7) Song Track: Forfar Sodgar Artist: Traditional, arr. Davey Anderson 8) Fashion Track: Farewell to Nigg Artist: Shooglenifty Album: A Whisky Kiss Label: Greentrax Recordings Ltd 9) Blueys Track: Summer 78 (Instrumental) Artist: Yann Tiersen Album: Goodbye Lenin Soundtrack Label: Virgin Records France 10) Officer’s Email #2 Track: Officer’s Email #2 Underscore Artist: Davey Anderson 11) Song Track: Twa Recruiting Sergeants Artist: Traditional, arr. Davey Anderson 12) Sunrise Track: Maybe You’re My Puppet Artist: Cliff Martinez Album: Solaris Soundtrack Label: Superb Records 13) Officer’s Email #3 Track: Officer’s Email #3 Underscore Artist: Davey Anderson 14) Ten Second Fights Track: Last Days Artist: Max Richter Album: Memoryhouse Label: Late Junction

15) Suicide Track: Suicide Artist: Davey Anderson 16) Blast Track: A Thearlaich Òig (Oh Young Charles Stewart) Artist: Margaret Bennett & Martyn Bennett Album: Glen Lyon Label: Foot Stompin’ Records 17) Lament Track: The Flowers o’ the Forest Artist: Traditional, performed live on bagpipes 18) Parade Track: Parade Artist: Various, compiled by Davey Anderson from the following tracks: Track: November Artist: Max Richter Album: Memoryhouse Label: Late Junction Track: Molly Artist: Michael Nyman Album: Wonderland Soundtrack Label: Virgin Records Track: The International Connection – Drum Fanfare Artist: Simon Fraser University Pipe Band Album: On Home Ground, Vol. 1 Label: Greentrax Recordings Ltd Track: The Black Bear Artist: Traditional, performed live on bagpipes

Yerma Feb 2014 Galway

Yerma is one of the great world classics, written by Federico Garcia Lorca The play concerns a woman who lives in a small village, who feels like she has done everything right. Yet she cannot have what she wants, a baby, with her husband.

Lorcawas one of the most foremost of Spain’s poets and playwrights. Max Hafler produced a successful touring production of Lorca’s Blood Wedding in 2007

“Six actors describe a tense and passionate world with the pitch of their voices,the thrum of their feet, the sharp darting motion of their eyes.”IRISH THEATRE MAGAZINE on Max Hafler’s production of Blood Wedding

Pic by Jim Hynes

Cast:
Aoife Corry Yerma

Peter Kenny Juan

Jonathan Ryan Victor

Mollie Ball Maria

Ger Kelly Pagan Woman

Emily Flanagan Girl 1

Claire Keating Girl 2

Mollie Ball
Marie Hegarty
Emily Flanagan
Ger Kelly
Claire Keating Washerwomen /chorus

Emily Flanagan
Mollie Ball Juan’s sisters in law

Emily Flanagan Dolores

Marie Hegarty Old woman

Jonathan Ryan The Devil

Claire Keating The Devil’s Wife

Chris Moran Boy at Romeria

Sean Mcloughlin Musician

Katerina Kavanova Singer.

Crew:

Dir: Max Hafler

ensemble and voice work:  Max Hafler

Photography: Jim Hynes

Social Media: Dave Joyce

PR Team: Max Hafler,Judith Wolfe, Jim Hynes and Dave Joyce

MD :Katerina Kavanova 

guitar and assistst MD :  Sean Mcloughlin

Set Design: Nelson Barre

Stage Manger:Nelson Barre

FOH: Judith Higgins,Judith Wolfe, Craig at the Mick lally , Nelson Barre

costumes Kate Lawlor

Lighting Paul from the MA, Frank

Props:  Nelson Barre,Chris Moran and members of cast and crew

 

Statement from NUI Galway’s Patrick Lonergan, Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies, as the inaugural NUI Galway Theatre Season as it concluded on Saturday I

 

 

Here what ProfessorLonergan said about inaugural NUI Galway Theatre Season as it concluded on Sat:

 

 

“So on Saturday we saw the final curtain on MONSTER IN THE HALL and thus on the inaugural NUI Galway Theatre Season.
First of all, congratulations to all involved in the Greig play – you were great! So well done to Ryan, Bethany, Kate, Chris, Elaine, Seamus, Blue, and everyone else!
Great to see the last show of the season finishing with a standing ovation.
And what a great way to finish a run of excellent performances. We had a fascinating public performance with Macnas and our First Years, the Brokentalkers residency, and then three great productions in Yerma, Electra and Monster in the Hall.
Really proud and pleased to know that YOU all helped to produce three of the best shows that have been seen in Galway this year.
So now we just have to work out how to top this next year.”
Onwards!”

founding member of Irish Jewish Museum -Stanley Siev Obituary

Solicitor, cultural heritage enthusiast and founding member of Irish Jewish Museum – People | Popular Stories, Obituaries & More | The Irish Times – Sat, Apr 12, 2014.

Off to Uni? Here’s a list to cool the jets.

mhvaio

Next week I begin Peer Mentor training at my University. This means that I’m given a group of (hopefully, socially acceptable) Freshers and my job is to break them into life on campus. Easy enough work, and worth six lines on my C.V.

The crazy thing is, it was only this time last year that I was introduced to University College Dublin. A friendly inaudible chap from Wexford was pointing out the different spots, and here I was, aghast by the sheer scale of the place.

So, in a moment of boredom last Tuesday, and suffering the symptoms of having too much time, I walked through the UCD concourse, half practising the most important part of being a Mentor – the campus tour. I gradually realised how small this campus had become within a short year.

I remembered the first time I’d independently walked the concourse. Looking like a first-time…

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