Dear fellow Actors & Actresses,

Here is another bulletin with lots of interesting possibilities for
everybody, not only in Cork but in Dublin and other places around the
country. Brilliant stuff!

Best wishes,

Marcus

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Auditions & Services for Actors
————————————————————

Equity Q & A session

Irish Actors Equity are recruiting.

There have been many changes within Equity over the last two years,
conditions for membership among them. There will be an open Q & A
session for members of the public and all interested applicants on
Tuesday March 3rd at 8pm in the Cork Arts Theatre on Camden Court near
Carrolls Quay (AKA the CAT club) in Cork City. Any
questions/myths/queries you have WILL be answered.

All interested parties will also be able to pick up an application
form for Irish Actors Equity signed by two Cork Equity members at this
event and we will guide you through the application process. There is
no charge for this session, and it is open to all. Further information
on this (if needed) can be gotten by contacting
sean_mcnally1@hotmail.com or marcusbale@gmail.com

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CASTING CALL

Open call for auditions

A small film production company are looking to cast a female role in
an extremely low budget film set in Ireland.
The film follows the life of a young rural girl through an emotional
story. Based in reality, this is a film of very little dialogue.
The part is about reacting rather than acting.

Our main objective is to find a person that can portray a young girl’s
story in a very naturalistic, truthful and emotional way. Stage
experience is not relevant, nor is previous on-screen experience.

Gender: Female
Age: 20-24
Height: around 5’5″
Date: 26.02.2009
Time: TBA
Place: Cork Arts Theatre

If interested please email

irishauditions@googlemail.com with your name and age and contact
details and we will get back to you to arrange a time.

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Jobs
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Youth Dance Development worker

Waterford Youth Arts Ltd. invites applications from suitably skilled
and experienced candidates for the part-time post of

YOUTH DANCE DEVELOPMENT worker

to deliver WYDMOVES Dance Unit’s programme of contemporary dance for
young people and to further enable community and participatory dance
projects in the wider community.

Candidates will be graduates of Community Dance and/or have 3-5 years
experience of community and participatory dance.

Choreography experience in the contemporary dance paradigm and
demonstrated ability to co-ordinate dance theatre production, an
advantage.

Letters of application together with C.V. to be forwarded to;

Cathy Hanrahan, Development, Waterford Youth Arts Ltd., The Arch,
Barrack Street, Waterford or e.mailed to cathy@waterfordyoutharts.com

On or before Friday 27th February 2009

Waterford Youth Arts is an equal opportunities employer, funded by The
Arts Council, Waterford Youth Committee and Waterford City Council

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Ballet Ireland wishes to appoint a part time Administrator

Ballet Ireland presents professional ballet productions touring
nationally and internationally. The company is funded by the Arts
Council of Ireland.

Closing date for applications is February 27th at 5pm. Applications to
include a full C.V. together with a covering letter to Anne Maher,
Ballet Ireland, Agher, Summerhill, Co.Meath. or
balletireland@eircom.net

Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview.

———————————————————-
SOUTH TIPPERARY ARTS CENTRE SEEKS ACTING DIRECTOR

South Tipperary Arts Centre now invites applications for the post of
Acting Director, covering 10 months maternity leave. The role of the
Acting Director is to imaginatively lead the consolidation and
capacity building of the South Tipperary Arts Centre in Clonmel, Co.
Tipperary, and to develop, manage and implement a strong artistic
programme for the Centre.

Candidates should demonstrate good knowledge of contemporary arts
practice across all artforms, strong audience development and
marketing skills, innovative and versatile thinking, good
understanding of finance and funding, enthusiasm for leading the key
arts organisation in South Tipperary, good understanding of potential
of outreach and education and a relevant professional qualification
and appropriate experience.

Application forms and a full job description are available from:
South Tipperary Arts Centre, Nelson Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
052 27877
info@southtipparts.com
www.southtipparts.com
Deadline for applications: 5pm, 3 March 2009

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Looking for Artistic Administrator Opera Theatre Company

Salary: EUR32,000 – EUR35,000
Holidays: 20 days p.a.
Base: Fulltime in Dublin
Reports to: Chief Executive

JOB SUMMARY
To be responsible to the Chief Executive for the artistic
administration of the company, its productions, tours and associated
events. The Administrator will be office-based but may be required to
travel within and beyond Ireland in the fulfillment of the brief. The
successful candidate will be a highly professional, responsible,
organised, committed, motivated and imaginative individual with a
knowledge of and passion for the performingarts, an ambitious and
industrious administrator who fulfils the key task areas to a high
standard.

For an information pack about this position, contact info@opera.ie or
ring 01 679 4962.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 3 March 2009
——————————————————————

2009 Dublin Fringe Festival Internship Opportunities

The Dublin Fringe Festival is a multi-disciplinary festival of
contemporary performing arts, providing an annual platform for the
most innovative and fresh theatre, visual arts, dance, live art, mixed
media and music. The Fringe celebrates new and emerging artists and
fresh approaches to performances in all disciplines, nurturing
artistic ambition and excellence. It is an opportunity to innovate, to
cross disciplines and boundaries and to find new ways and places to
create work.

The Fringe is a curated festival seeking innovative and daring work
that impacts, moves and invigorates its audience.

Festival Dates are 5-20 September 2009.

Interested in seeing it from the inside?

With support of a dedicated, talented and dynamic team, our interns
engage professionally with some of the leading arts practitioners
working in Ireland abroad today. In 2009 we offer roles in the areas
of Artistic Liaison, Marketing, Distribution & Venue Dressing, Press,
Production and Programming.

We are now inviting applications for these positions. The roles are
offered to suitable candidates following a round of interviews based
on the applications received. Closing date is 31st March with the
exception of Programming position which is filled once a suitable
candidate is found. Recruitment may start during the application
period.

Artistic Liaison: July/June – Sept
Artistic Liaison: August – Sept
Marketing – Programme & Copywriting: May – Sept
Marketing – Press Assistant: Jul – Sept
Marketing – Distribution & Venue Dressing: Aug – Sept
Production – Technical: Part time June & July, Full Time Aug & Sept
Production – Administration: June – mid Oct
Programming – Feb/Mar – May

Role specifications can be requested from Tiina on 01-828 6651 or
tiina[at]fringefest[dot]com
Applications (CV & Cover Letter) should be sent to tiina[at]fringefest[dot]com

—————————————————————–

To all performers:

I am contacting you from Power Media, a public relations, event
management and media services company.

A client of ours is the Mercy Hospital Foundation and we are currently
working on a huge charity project with them to take place over a
weekend at the end of May 2009.

We will be erecting a marquee on Grand Parade that will hold 250-300
people for dinner and 450-500 people theatre style. Over the weekend
we will be hosting various events such as fashion shows, dinner and
live music.

At the moment we are currently contacting various performance and
entertainment groups to see if there is interest in the possibility of
performing in between the organised events. As this is a charity event
this would be a promotional opportunity for your company not a paid
gig.

If this is of interest to you or if you have any questions or ideas
please dont hesitate to contact me at: dee@powermedia.ie

Warmest Regards,
Dee

—————————————————————–

Beginner filmmakers, film students and recent graduates — make how-to
shorts for one of Time Magazine’s 50 Best Websites of 2008,
Howcast.com, in the Howcast Emerging Filmmakers Program.

Experiment with new production techniques and story-telling devices,
producing videos on topics ranging from How to Make a Mudslide to How
To Deal with a Flirtatious Coworker. Build a following of viewers as
Howcast distributes your videos across the web (on AOL, Yahoo!, Break
and others) and beyond (to TiVo, iPhone, iTunes, and others).

Work freelance, on your own schedule. Get creative and make some extra
cash while you’re at it. Every accepted video receives a stipend and
revenue sharing, and accepted directors go on to produce multiple
Howcast spots.

Howcast provides a short script, signature graphics, pre-recorded
voice-over and audio tracks from our growing music library. You
provide the vision and basic requirements — 3-chip camera or better,
video editing software, and some shooting gear (tripod, lights) are
also helpful.

Learn more and apply: http://www.howcastfilmmakers.com
E-mail Heather Menicucci with any questions at emerging_filmmakers@howcast.com
More Info: http://www.howcastfilmmakers.com
Apply to: Heather Menicucci, www.howcastfilmmakers.com

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Workshops & Courses
——————————————————————

3 Intensive Workshops based on the work of Jacques LeCoq this Summer
in Barcelona.

I am helping to organize 3 different Intensive workshops this summer
in Barcelona based on the work of Jacques LeCoq.

The teachers are Simon Edwards & Marian Masoliver. They both trained
with Jacques Le Coq in Paris and worked all around the world as
performers, directors and drama teachers.

I have trained with them in the last two years and the quality was so
high and the workshop so enjoyable, that I started helping them with
the organization of the workshops because I wanted to get more people
to know about them and go to train with them. Last year more than 25
people went to do these workshops from Ireland and the feedback from
these participants has been fantastic throughout. It was a great
success!!

- What are the different workshops?

1 – The Creative Actor (18th-31st of July) (including arrival
and departure dates)
2- Acting for Camera (3rd-16th of August) (including arrival and
departure dates)
3- The Clown (20th-31st of August) (including arrival and
departure dates)

PLACES ARE GOING RAPIDLY FOR THESE WORKSHOPS.

Here is some info about each workshop:

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
WORKSHOP 1: The Creative Actor (18th-31st of July)

Inspired by the teachers work with Jacques Lecoq, this essential
training gives a comprehensive experience and understanding of the art
of acting. A ‘must do’ workshop for anyone who wants to seriously
deepen their knowledge of dramatic and comic art.

The group will be working with carefully developed progressive
exercises and techniques that release the creative power of the actor,
including:

- Replay of daily life – by observing the world around, the actor has
to convey authentic daily life situations and incident (without
exaggeration or distortion). This work with space, timing and action
is a vital building block for later performance and creation.

- Neutral Mask (essential dramatic presence) – this mask allows the
actor to simplify and modify their own physical habits and
idiosyncrasies through a series of special improvisational exercises.
The actor learns to unlearn and uncovers the body’s full dramatic
potential as a blank page, which later can take on different dramatic
states and characters.

- Children (play, energy, imagination, state and innocence) – the
innate play instinct that we all share is the driving force of
theatre. Through this liberating work the actor becomes released from
inhibitions and self-consciousness. Freedom and spontaneity are
accepted as our natural state. We then start to channel this ability
into more sophisticated play and games (dramatic and comic creation).

- Mask Theatre (including mask making) – developing the expressive
power of the performer with movement, stillness and the dramatic
attitudes of the Mask. By using masks in training the ability of the
physical actor becomes greatly increased.

- Theatre Creation and Performance – Dynamics of a scene, rhythm and
crescendo. Identifying the motors in the dramatic or comic situation.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
- – - – - -
WORKSHOP 2: Acting for Camera: From stage to screen

This workshop is designed to train the actor in techniques that have
been developed specifically for film or TV acting. A fine-tuning
experience that enables the actor to find and give a true performance
for the camera without distortion or exaggeration.

The group will be working with:

• Physical Listening & the Senses.
• Script Work, Cold Reading & Analysis of Text.
• Fundamental Techniques for acting for the camera.
• Character’s Inner Voice.
• Character through Action.
• Rehearsing and Taking Direction.
• Working on Set.
• Creating your own filmed work.

This innovative approach is performance led and allows the actor to be
a fully creative artist and not just an interpreter of text.

Throughout the workshop participants follow a series of specially
crafted exercises leading to working in front of the camera (on set).

During the course an ambience of teamwork is created allowing actors
to work together in a creative way.

This workshop is about empowering the actor which has great value for
the participants and often leads them into professional work in the
film industry.

“Coming from a performing background we realized that the actor’s
power was being overlooked and more often that not was only being used
as a cog in a machine. Drawing on the training we received in Paris
from Lecoq (teacher to Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush, European actor of
the year 2000 Sergi Lopez and Steven Berkoff) we took these principals
of dramatic/comic creation and developed them specifically for the
techniques of Acting for Camera.” Simon Edwards on the ‘Acting for
Camera’ workshop.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - — – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - –
WORKSHOP 3: The Clown: The Secrets of Comedy and the art of the ridiculous.

The Clown makes us laugh but how? Some people seem to make us laugh
just by walking onto the stage but why? A ‘Master class’ in the art
of Comedy, led by Simon Edwards, teacher to some of today’s leading
international comic actors.

Working with each actor’s personal comic presence, we begin to
understand and develop comic action and timing. We will be working
with:

1- Comic presence (finding your own Clown)
2- The smallest mask in the world (the red nose)
3- Comic action and timing
4- The flop, fiasco and cascade
5- Comic relationships (solos, duos and trios)
6- Numeros (circus, cabaret)
7- Theatre Clown
8- Clown on Camera
9- Comic Creation

This workshop offers an intensive training and comic creation where
the actor discovers his or her own personal ridiculousness.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

- Where are these workshops happening?: The Actors Space ( – Vic
(Barcelona)-). The Actors Space is located in a place of outstanding
natural beauty, right in the heart of the Catalan countryside only one
hour from Barcelona. The workshop takes place in a 16th century
farmhouse, which holds accommodation for up to 20 people. The main
barn has been converted into a large studio, this is where most of the
workshop sessions happen (Its a BEAUTIFUL PLACE believe you me!).

- How much do these workshop cost?: The price of any of these workshops is 650€

- What does this price include?: The price includes the fees for the
10-days of training + shared accommodation and all home-made
Mediterranean meals! (Food is gorgeous!)

- FOR EACH COURSE THERE ARE 5 AWARD DISCOUNTS. These discounts will be
given to people with low income (students, unemployed, etc). The award
discount is of 10% of the course (65€ – Making the cost of the
workshop: 585€). These discounts are given on a first-come-first-serve
basis.

If you are interested in participating in any of these workshops or
want more information, please contact me:

Email: marcusbale@gmail.com
Phone: 086-3173543

If you know anybody who would be interested in participating in any of
these workshops, please forward this email to them. Thanks!

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THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED WEEKLY WORKSHOPS IN DUBLIN

4elements a new workshop group offering weekly workshops in Theatre of
the Oppressed

The 4elements is a non-profit body committed to social inclusion
through the arts.

We are passionate about social change and working specifically with
Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed methodology, 4elements will
provide Theatre of the Oppressed workshops for facilitators working
within the community.

Our aim is to increase awareness of social exclusion and the benefits
of arts facilitation for social inclusion.

The workshops are aimed at arts facilitators, youth and community
development workers, and anyone interested in learning more about
Theatre of the Oppressed.

When: Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Where: Casadh, Newmarket Square, Dublin 8 (just off Cork Street)
Cost: €10.00/€5.00 concession per person

After each workshop there will be a forum to discuss how the workshop
techniques provide an opportunity to share experiences and learn from
each other.

With these workshops 4elements hopes to create a network of arts
facilitators that are able to compare their practice and broaden their
skills.

Please join us for our launch on Thursday the 5th of March at 6:30 for
a special workshop with guest facilitator Bairbre Ni Chaoimh

To book a place for the workshops please email 4elementsworkshops@gmail.com

—————————————————–

ACTING & AUDITIONING FOR THE CAMERA IN DUBLIN
with John Dawson

During this very intensive, two-day masterclass, actors will work
through the entire on-camera experience. This is ideal for the
theatrically-trained and experienced actor making the transition from
the stage to film and TV.

DAY ONE: Working from prepared monologues, actors will be taken
through a series of exercises that develop their abilities to
synchronize body and mind, the psychological and the physical, thus
enabling them to ‘get under the written text’. These internal
processes are stressed simultaneously with the external demands so
that the actor will develop his/her relationship with the camera. The
difference between theatrical acting and on-camera ‘behavior’ is
explored and emphasized.

DAY TWO: Using the skills developed on DAY ONE, actors are given
audition pieces and taken through a series of exercises that enable
them to overcome their natural nervousness, develop a strong presence,
and a confidence in their personal ‘choices’ as well as the
flexibility to change and adapt to direction. Actors will learn what
directors look for and how to prepare for the call back audition.

WHEN: Saturday, March 21st, 10am to 5:00pm and Sunday, March 22nd,
11am to 6:00pm
WHERE: City centre location in Stoneybatter (D7) area
COST: 165.00 Euro (65.00 Euro deposit required by March 14th to enroll)

Class limited to 10 actors

John Dawson taught film acting for over 6 years at Samuel Beckett
Centre where he trained Irish actors Padraic Delaney and Ruth Negga.
He taught at Dublin’s Gaiety School of Acting, The Actors Centre in
London, The Galway Film Centre and Toronto’s Equity Showcase Theatre.
Having studied, written and acted with numerous comedy troupes
including N. America’s famous Second City, he wrote and performed
regularly as well as served as art director on films and theatrical
works including an Off-Broadway production in New York. He is a
produced screenwriter/director with numerous films in development.
John resides in Dublin and works with institutions and actors in
Canada, Ireland and the UK.

TO ENROLE: Contact John at: dawsondramaworks@gmail.com

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Express Yourself!

10 week Theatre Workshop

Friday nights from

03.04.09 to 05.06.09 at Fionnuisce

Ian Wild, award-winning dramatist has been running theatre and comedy
workshops since 1984 for many different organisations including UCC,
the Triskell Arts Centre, the Munster Literature Centre, Opera 2005,
The Arden Theatre School (Manchester). He has also written, directed
and acted in many plays for RTE, Cork Opera House, Cork Midsummer
Festival, Janus Theatre Company – and many more.

His theatre workshops emphasise having fun in a relaxed atmosphere
whilst absorbing the life-enhancing experiences that theatre work has
to offer: creativity, self-expression, assertiveness, ensemble spirit,
personal growth.

He currently teaches theatre performance at Kinsale College of Further
Education.

€20 per night. Phone Ian for details 023 47015

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Projects
————————————————————————

Project Brand New in association with Trócaire is organising an aid
initiative for Gaza to take place over the weekend of the 7th/8th of March.

Caryl Churchill has just written a ten minute play which is opening in the
Royal Court next week.

On the 21st of February, this play will be online and free for anyone to
download and perform -with one condition, that tickets are free and instead
a collection is held afterwards with all proceeds going to help the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Project Brand New and Trócaire would love to see this play performed or read
in as many towns, cities, villages, by as many theatre companies, youth
groups and amateur groups as possible over the 7th and 8th of March. 100 per
cent of all funds raised will go directly to Trócaire’s work in Gaza.

If you or someone you know would like to take part, please email
projectbrandnew@gmail.com or you can phone:

Jody O’Neill 087 6143282
Dee Roycroft 086 0642414

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ONE-ACT PLAY WRITERS AWARDS

Cork Arts Theatre run an annual playwright’s competition hosted,
organised, and sponsored by the Theatre.
To date over 800 new plays have been submitted and judged, over 150
have been performed and 6 have been published.
Up to the 30th of April playwrights can submit plays to our one-act
plays annual contest. Application forms can be downloaded from our web
site http://www.corkartstheatre.com or by calling us on 021 4505624.

Six plays will be short-listed, on Writers Day, for production. All
entrants will be invited to Writers Day, where they will receive a
full adjudication of their work, and, short-listed plays will be
announced. This will take place in July/August during Writers Week
(when last years shortlisted plays will be performed and winners
chosen)

If your play is shortlisted, full technical support will be provided
by our staff and we will engage production companies and directors to
work with writers on scripts for staging.

We have two different categories both established writers i.e writers
who have entered and been shortlisted for performance before (category
A) and new writers (category B). Both winners of category A and
category B will receive a trophy, and have their play published.

NEW PLAYS : Submission Guidelines:
( One-Acts · Full-Lengths )

Please Follow The Guidelines Below When Submitting Any Plays To Cork
Arts Theatre. NOTE: We DO NOT Accept Email Submissions At This Time;
You Now Need Only Submit Four Copies of Your Play; and NO scripts will
be returned

Writing Guidelines :
· Standard Typed Play Script Format Or Any Similar Approach Is Fine
· There Are NO Restrictions On Content We do not shy away from strong
language, violence, nudity or mature themes.
Nor do we require them.Just tell us a good STORY
· It Does Matter If Your Play Has Been Produced.
· It Doesn’t Matter, if you have never written a play before!
· Minimal Sets & Small Casts Are Generally Preferred. Casts of 2 to 8
are optimal for full-length shows, but we will consider any solid
play.

ONE ACT plays, however, should have a cast of no more than 6 people.
Less is usually better.
Minimal set requirements will make your play much more marketable to
more theatres.
· Include Four Copies Of Your Play
· Scripts Will Not Be Returned
· Include A Standard SAE For The Critiques. (ONLY WHEN SUBMITTING A
FULL LENGTH PLAY)
· Include The Proper Critique Fee For Your Play(s) The critique fees
for submitted plays are as follows:
1. €25 for each one-act play (16 to 39 pages )
2. €50 for each full-length play (40 to 90 pages)

· Include A Brief Cover Letter Telling A Bit About The Play & Yourself
· Please Bind Or Staple Your Script(s) Securely Don’t Forget To Put
Your Name & Contact Info On The Cover Page of your Play
The Scripts are read blind (our Critiques will not be aware of writer)
You would be surprised how many writers forget this.
· Submit As Many Plays As You Wish
· Meet The Annual Deadline
· We accept all scripts year-round, but if you wish your One Act(s) to
be considered It must be submitted before End of April.

Please Be Patient! Selecting plays can take several months or longer,
depending on the time of year, the theatre’s workload and the number
of scripts received. Though very, very rare, if you haven’t received a
call,email or letter, within six months, please feel free to drop us
an email to: info@corkartstheatre.com

Mail Your Play(s) To Us At The Following Address:
One Act Play Submission 2009,
Cork Arts Theatre,
Camden Court,
Carroll’s Quay, Cork.
Ireland.

GOOD LUCK!

—————————————————————————–
Plays & Events
—————————————————————————-

Gaitkrash presents

The Cabinet

Join us for a feast of performing objects conversing with original
sound sculptures

Bernadette Cronin & Regina Crowley (performers)
Mick O’Shea (sound artist)

Tuesday 24th of February, 7pm
The Stack Theatre, Cork School of Music (Union Quay)
€5/€3 (students/unwaged)

———————————————————————————————
Final Year Drama and Theatre Studies UCC presents

Foregrounds 2009
Self-directed student productions

Three 20-minute adaptations of short stories by D.H. Lawrence, Bruno
Schulz and Truman Capote

Granary Theatre Wed 25th – Fri 27th Feb, 8pm (€8 / €6)
Free preview on Tue 24th Feb, 8pm

————————————————————————————————-
Exploratory Theatre Salon in Dublin

Friday 27th February @ the Back Loft
La Catedral art Studios, off Thomas St. D8.
Doors open 7pm. Show starts 8pm.
Admission: €10/€8 with complimentary drinks.

The Exploratory Theatre Salon presents an evening of contemporary
theatrical experimentation, exploring the boundaries of voice, body
and music. Beginning with a performance of ‘A Sliver of Voice’ (‘Un
Hilo De Voz’), and featuring original performances, improvisation and
open-ended play by special Dublin based guests Sascha Perfect, Regan
O’Brien, Maria Tecce and Nicole Rourke. The evening will surprise,
challenge and stimulate in equal measure. Expect the unexpected!

Info on the Theatre Salon artists:

Maia Monaco & Guillermo Pesoa: www.pesoamusicandtheatre.blogspot.com
Sascha perfect:https://sites.google.com/site/saschaperfect
Regan O’Brien: www.myspace.com/reganohbrien
Maria Tecce: www.mariatecce.com

Special thanks to our Sponsors: The Arts Council, Italian Cultural
Institute (ICC), Piedescalso Art Cafe’ and to The Project Art Centre
for their generous support.
——————————————————–
KEITH FARNAN: CRUEL AND UNUSUAL
CORK COMEDIAN VERSUS AMERICAN DEATH PENALTY!
GRANARY THEATRE, CORK – FEBRUARY 28th
ADM:€10(€8 CONC.) 20:00 BOX OFFICE 021- 4904275

In Association with U.C.C. Students Union and the Granary Theatre
“Seriously f
unny. You will be moved to laughter and provoked to think. A unique
and inspiring show.” – Time Out
“With his shaggy mind and ruffled demeanour he is as close to a
reincarnated pre-Black Books Dylan Moran as we’re likely to see
nowadays…
…If Eddie Izzard had been Irish, he’d surely have turned out a lot
like Keith Farnan.” -The Scotsman

Cruel and Unusual Punishment is prohibited under the 8th amendment of
the U.S. Constitution. But the Death Penalty is still legal. Which
means that you can hang someone, shoot them, electrocute them and
poison them – but under no circumstances should you have someone
executed by dropping a giant jelly bean on their head, by a dwarf, in
a penguin suit. Because that’d be cruel… and unusual. Cruel and
Unusual is a stand-up show telling the story of comedian Keith
Farnan’s journey from law school in Ireland to the Innocence Project
in New York city; meeting with Sr.Helen Prejean of Dead Man Walking
fame, to a public defenders office in Georgia – where he wonders
whether the Irish might just be the only people in the world who can
stop the death penalty in America… Cruel and Unusual was received with
tremendous critical acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival 2008 and was
selected to be part of the Winter series at the Royal Festival Hall in
London.

Keith Farnan has toured internationally as a comedian, working in some
of the best comedy clubs in the world, including the Comedy Store in
London, the Laughter Lounge in Dublin and the Latter Club in Oslo. His
shows have taken him to the Middle East, the Far East, all over the
UK, Europe, and of course, Ireland.

Cruel and Unusual makes a laughing stock of the stocks by ridiculing
the system as seen through the eyes of an Irish comedian. Showing the
Death Penalty in its true light – a barbaric, racist, politically
motivated act of revenge that doesn’t achieve any of its so called
aims, including deterring violent crime. And it’s just plain stupid.

——————————————————-

Cyclone Repertory Company and Cork School of Music Adult Drama Group present

Suicide Notes

Written and Directed by Peadar Donohoe, BA Theatre Arts, MEd

(Director of Romeo and Juliet ((****Examiner)) and Merchant of Venice
((****Examiner and named as a theatrical Arts Highlight of the year)

Returns for a week of performed readings after its successful debut
for World Mental Health Awareness Week as sponsored by The Cork Mental
Health Foundation

Suicide Notes is a work that reflects on and explores the contributing
factors, notions, attitudes and fallout of the stigmatic quagmire of
the suicide issue.

Synopsis: Five regulars meet in the “Heaven Bar” and, for a laugh,
devise a plan with tips on how to write a “good” suicide note. Why are
they there? Why do they think it is funny? What are they trying to
forget? Their aspirations for a quick fifteen minutes of fame are
dashed when their light-hearted approach to taking one’s life is
confronted with genuine personal despair.

March 2nd – 6th (Monday – Friday)

10:30am each day in the Stack Theatre of The Cork School of Music

Followed by post-show discussion with a Samaritans volunteer, director and cast
Tickets 12/10
Call 086-3477867 for Bookings or email: cyclonerepertory@gmail.com

Reviews from the show:

“In a real and evocative way the play holds a mirror to society – and
investigates society’s responsibility for creating the circumstances
that might lead people to consider suicide or self-harming behaviour
as a release from their pain.” – Phil Mortell, Social Care
Co-ordinator, CIT

“A play dealing with the needs of the human spirit, love, acceptance,
respect and belonging.” – Cork city learner

“It was excellent. Judging by teens in the audience, who sat quietly
enthralled during the performance, it has just the right mix of
information and entertainment.” – Jacqueline Daly, Cork City
Partnership

“Powerful and dramatic and deals with a very sensitive subject but
feedback was very positive.” – Gerry Dunne, Cork Mental Health
Foundation

“It was excellent and I learned a lot. I’ve experienced some of what
happened.” – Cork county learner

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Wonderland productions ltd
Proudly presents

La Locandiera Or Mirandolina, the Hostess at the Inn.
Goldoni’s Classic Comedy as Italian Dinner theatre
at The Port House Tapas Bar, South William St Dublin 2
March 2nd -29th at 8.00 & 12.45 Pm.

Classic comedy, live music, tasty tapas – Wonderland’s staging of La
Locandieraturns the ever-popular ‘Port House’ restaurant into 18th
century Florence. The seductive innkeeper Mirandolina has every man at
her feet – they cover her in diamonds and cower about her like puppy
dogs. Until ‘the declared enemy of Italian women’ – the Ulster
Gentleman checks in, that is.

Piqued, Mirandolina vows to vindicate her sex – by making him fall in
love with her. Who will lose the night? The seduced Gentleman or the
seducing Locandiera?

‘La Locandiera’ is one of Italy’s most celebrated comedies.
Wonderland’s sparkling period production includes a delicious dinner
of tapas and wine, accompanied with a generous helping of live
Neapolitan arias and folk songs from Mirandolina and her admirers.

Wonderland has been praised as ‘the most promising company since the
debut years of Rough Magic’ by The Irish Times. Founded in 2003, it is
best known for its 2007 Dublin Fringe Festival hit, Molière’s The
Miser – performedsite-specificallyin an historic Georgian home, its
sell-out lunchtime opera version of Pagliacci at Bewelys Café Theatre
in 2008, and its self-help spoof Life Shop till you Drop! which is
currently on its third national tour.

‘Quite simply superb!’ The Irish Times on The Miser

‘A sheer joy to behold…The Wonderland company is one of the most
interesting young groups working in Ireland’Irish Mail On Sunday on
Pagliacci.

Starring: Neill Fleming, Connolly Heron, Claire Jenkins, Damien
O’Donnell & Mal Whyte.
Production Team: Translation & Direction Alice Coghlan, Costume Design
TaraJones Hamilton, Music Director: Sam Kavanagh Producer Nina
Antonioli Associate Producer Clodagh Reid, Dramaturgy: Irene Dei,
Assistant Director Amy Fox, Stage Management: James Fanning, Wigs:
Patricia McDevitt Company Administration: Grainne Lynch.

All tickets include a scrumptious three course meal of tapas & a glass ofwine.
The port house tapas Bar
Monday 2nd March –Sunday 29th March @ 8pm
Lunchtime Sat 14th ,21st*28th & Sun 22nd & 29th March.
Low Price Previews thurs-sat Feb 26th -28th @ 8PM. All tickets €25
No Shows SUNs 1st& 15th , Mons9th & 16th, 23rd & tues 17th March.
Dinner show tickets €39.95/34.95. Lunchtime show tickets: €29.95/24.95
(Doors and Dinner 8pmfor an 8.30pmshow, Doors and lunch 12.45 for 1.15
pmshow, Performance 2.5hrs)
At The Port House Tapas Bar, 64a,
South William St, Dublin2.
(A black fronted bar, on the left going up the street towards
Stephens’ Green, 4 doors up from the Wicklow/Exchequer St cross
street)
Bookings: Central Ticket Bureau tel:0818 205 205,www.ctb.ie

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Tue 31 March – Sat 4 April, 8.30pm

Cyclone Repertory Company presents

A DOUBLE BILL
LONESTAR & LAUNDRY AND BOURBON
Two interlinked one act comedies by James McClure

Lone Star: Roy, a Vietnam vet, comes back to his hometown to re-live
his glory days as a high school jock, cruising for girls and drinking
beer with his buddies out behind the local bar & grill and reclaim his
prized possession, a 1959 Thunderbird convertible. But his plans to
start life again where he left off are confounded by events his little
brother Ray and super-nerd Cletus wittingly and unwittingly
orchestrate.

Laundry and Bourbon: On a hot summer afternoon, Elizabeth and her
friend Hattie sit out on the porch folding laundry, sipping bourbon
and coke and gossiping. They are joined by the self-righteous Amy Lee
who cannot resist blurting out that Elizabeth’s husband Roy has been
seen around town with another woman. From this bitter and humorous
conversation emerges a sense of Elizabeth’s inner strength and her
quiet understanding of the turmoil which has beset her husband since
his return from Vietnam.

The two plays combine as a beautiful and comic exploration of human
nature and search for meaning.

“Mr. McLure’s strongest suit is his dialogue – salty comic banter that
derives from colorful indigenous characters.” – The New York Times

“These plays wreak wild comedy out of wrecked lives.” – Guardian

“McClure has infectious wordplay.” – Variety

Lone Star directed by Peadar Donohoe
Laundry and Bourbon directed by Damian Punch & Marcus Bale
Starring: Shane Casey, Shane Falvey, Caroline Hart, Paula McGlinchey,
Sean McNally & Rosie O’Regan

Tickets: €19 concession €13 (incl levy)

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