Freda in the spotlight as she joins An Taibhdhearc

Date Published: 14-Jun-2012

The new Artistic Director and Manager of An Taibhdhearc is not only excited about the challenge of her new job but thrilled that she will be supervising the running of a completely refurbished theatre.

Facing into a new job would faze most people – taking a position in a currently homeless theatre is certainly added pressure, but it doesn’t seem to bother Freda Níc Giolla Cháthain who appears as cool as a breeze.

Not only is she currently working on a programme for the coming year for the Irish language theatre, but she is also busy organising the official re-opening of the premises in October.

The theatre in Middle Street was badly damaged by fire four years ago and its refurbishment has been dogged by financial woes. But a financial commitment from both Galway City Council and the Department of the Gaeltacht has galvanised the theatre …into raising the rest of the money themselves as the insurance money didn’t cover the extent of the necessary works.

All of this happened before Freda took over her new position a few weeks ago but she is no less excited about the development and enthuses about the new facility, which will, when finished by the end of the summer, provide a state-of-the art venue.

Freda, who is a native of Athlone, is no stranger to the stage, though usually its being on it as a performer.

She is a harpist and concertina player and is a member of the Galway Ramblers traditional music group, which is just back from playing in Dubai.

It is no surprise then that Freda’s eyes glint with excitement as she talks about the acoustics of the refurbished theatre and its big rehearsal space on the top floor, which she also sees as a brilliant space for other events, namely art exhibitions.

“Oh, I could live up in that space,” she says, “because of the light coming from two big skylight windows. It would be a shame not to use this area when it is not being used as a rehearsal room.”

She remembers the former premises, having worked there for eight months in 2007. At that time she worked in the office doing everything from box office to general administration.

She had done her degree in UCC in Music and Irish, after which she came to Galway to do a post-graduate course in Arts Administration in NUIG.

“Mike Diskin [former manager of the Town Hall Theatre who recently passed away] was one of my first lecturers. He was a great inspiration and a great help to me.

“I really enjoyed my time in the Taibhdhearc then and as soon as I saw the vacancy advertised, I applied,” says Freda who admits she was very pleasantly surprised when her application was successful.

Freda has always loved music and the Irish language. Though her parents have a knowledge and appreciation of both, neither of them speak Irish or play a musical instrument.

And yes, of course music will feature very highly in the forthcoming Taibhdhearc’s programme and she will also be encouraging it as a venue for concerts but hastily adds that there will be no question of the theatre being in competition with established music venues in the city, namely pubs.

She intends to continue the theatre company’s aim to promote Irish language drama for young and old and is very aware that despite being homeless for the past few years, the Taibhdhearc continued to stage productions at various venues in the city and in Cois Fharraige.

Freda and the admin staff are currently located in rented offices around the corner from the theatre building, near enough to pop into what has been a construction site up until a few weeks ago.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.