Bridging the generation gap through love of theatre

Lifestyle – Judy Murphy meets the people behind a joint Arts Festival production between two goups from opposite ends of age scale

In a small building in the heart of Galway City, a young woman is struggling to give birth, the strain of her efforts visible on her face and body. Surrounded by a chorus of supportive voices, telling her she can do it, she battles on.

“Break,” says theatre director Andrew Flynn, and she stands up as the group around her dissolves.

This unique team of performers ranging in age from 17 to 78 is in final rehearsals for its Arts Festival production of Patrick McCabe’s The Dead School, and it’s all systems go in Nuns Island Theatre.

The cast is made up of members from Galway Community Theatre and Galway Youth Theatre, all of whom are involved for the love of theatre – none of them is being paid.

Their reward, however, comes from seeing their work included in an Arts Festival programme alongside leading names in Irish drama including Cathy Belton and Olwen Fouéré, and international performers of the calibre of Hofesh Shechter Dance Company.

It’s a fair achievement, says Andrew Flynn, who, as director of Galway Youth Theatre, is in charge of this production. And, he adds, it wouldn’t be possible to be on that platform without the Arts Festival’s support.

Galway Community Theatre was set up five years ago, in an initiative driven by the late Michael Diskin, who was then manager of the Town Hall Theatre. It was designed so that actors, writers, directors and other theatre-makers of all ages could come together to create inclusive, professional-quality community shows, and also to provide a support network for community theatre. Andrew has been involved since the beginning.

Back then, a 70-strong cast staged Tarry Flynn, Conall Morrison’s stage adaptation of Patrick Kavanagh’s novel, on the main stage of the Town Hall and the initiative has continued from there.

Mike Diskin and Andrew, who directed, recruited members via local media and amateur drama groups, and got a great response.

“There was a massive recession at the time and a lot of unemployed people were looking for something to do,” recalls Andrew.

Since then, the Community Theatre in conjunction with Galway Youth Theatre has staged Pat McCabe’s Frank Pig Says Hello and Shay Mouse at the 2012 and 2013 Arts Festivals, respectively. Last year, members performed Midsummer by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre.

Now it’s back to Pat McCabe with The Dead School, in what is a unique dramatic collaboration in Ireland, one that celebrates community theatre.

The Old Vic in London has a community theatre wing and supports its productions by presenting them on the main stage of the renowned theatre, says Andrew. The Citizens in Glasgow also runs a similar scheme, But, he adds, community theatre is much bigger in the UK than it is in Ireland.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.