Get in on the act with new theatre initiative

Arts Week with Judy Murphy

One of the biggest successes of this year’s Galway International Arts Festival was the locally-produced play, The Dead School, a co-production between Galway Youth Theatre and Galway Community Theatre.

This work from the Youth Theatre and a group of committed amateur actors from all over the county, demonstrated the passion for drama that exists in Galway. Now, Director of Galway Youth Theatre Andrew Flynn is hoping to harness that passion via a new initiative, the Galway Community and Youth Theatre Network.

This network is being set up under the auspices of the Drama Department of Galway Arts Centre – the Galway Youth Theatre is run from the venue’s headquarters in the city’s Dominick Street.

Lovers of drama aged 16 and older, from Galway and further afield are being invited to sign up to the Galway Community and Youth Theatre Network, for a nominal annual subscription of €20.

Membership will allow them to avail of training, mentorship and theatre visits at reduced rates, according to Andrew, who explains that the Network is being developed to build on the success of Galway Community Theatre. This was set up five years ago, spearheaded by the late Michael Diskin of the Town Hall Theatre.

Galway Community Theatre was designed so that actors, writers, directors and theatre-makers of all ages could come together to create inclusive, professional-quality community shows.

Since its first show, Tarry Flynn, the Community Theatre has linked up with Galway Youth Theatre for specific shows, including Shay Mouse and The Dead School, both by Patrick McCabe, as well as David Greig’s Midsummer.

Andrew has been involved in the Community Theatre since the beginning, and says it really only comes to life in summer when there’s a production on the horizon.

“Until now, people would do a couple of workshops during the year and audition to go into the summer show.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.