What a strange time?! ​

I had been planning and preparing for a reading of a new, updated, snappier version of the Snow Queen that we could have a live reading of on campus, with invited professional actors but that is now all on hold. And I'll be honest, most of my concentration is sapped and there isn't much room for writing creativity. 
I have been trying to keep the creative spark alive by learning how to paint with Watercolours... emphasise the learning..... this has also been keeping my hands busy during the tough Zoom calls

Also having the time and space to tend to the garden and watch it grow is keeping me on the saner side...

Alas I missed Arts Day in MIC this year due to a scheduling clash but am delighted to hear it all went so well. Here again is the video I made, showing my work for young audiences. We hoped to project this on a wall during the day but I don't think it quite made it up there. 

Many thanks to the Arts Council for their support in this, the final year of the residency. 

It has been a very busy time since Christmas... 
I have spent the first weeks months working with Tenderfoot, a theatre apprenticeship programme for transition year students at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght and then straight into production for two shows....
I was invited by Tom Crowley the conductor and The Everyman to direct and design the performance elements for their version of Revolting Rhymes, starring Chris Schmidt Martin.

Despite the ridiculously short rehearsal period and the crazy tight tech time the whole team pulled out all the stops and made this wonderful show shine. 
Special mentions to maestro Tom Crowley and the genius of Chris Schmidt Martin... 

And now for a little lie down....

I've long been fascinated by St. Brigid and her place in the Irish psyche. 
Myself and the other artists in residence in Mary I had talked about trying to create some event to celebrate her but unfortunately this year has been too busy so far. 

I did, however get a chance to head out to gather some rushes and make some crosses. 

Winding down for the holiday season now, finished with both the BEd's and BCATS for their elective, Theatre for Young Audiences and the BCATS Theatre Design module. Well done to all the Students.
And I  am delighted to report that I got some feedback from students on our radio play... 
Some positives... they loved the music, and the voices
Some negatives... the pacing wasn't fast enough
But overall a great test audience, I'm going to go back to the script to see what can be done about pacing and am thinking about the next stage for this project!

I finished editing the whole radio play today, in time to share it with a class of 3rd to 6th class students before Christmas!

Here is the First Story of the ten, complete with little video. 

Well done to the student actors who participated...

 
The Snow Queen
A new version of Hans Christian Andersen’s story
 
Theatre Artist in Residence – Deirdre Dwyer (Adaptation and Direction)
Music Artist in Residence – Desi Wilkinson (Music)
Visual Artist in Residence – Maeve Clancy (Sculpture)
 
Voiced by
Emerald Kenny – Gerda and Little Sprite 2
David Wilson – Kai, Pigeons and Little Sprite 1
Aildeen Wylde - Snow Queen and The Roses
Desi Wilkinson - Raven
Aoife Duffy - Little Robber Girl 
Luke Kennedy – Prince and Reindeer
Deirdre Dwyer - Big Sprite
Orla Henry – Princess, Pigeons and The Lapp Woman
Elizabeth Scanlan - Old Robber Lady and The Finn Woman
Liadan Fennell – The Old Woman of the Flowers
 
Music by
Desi Wilkinson – Flute, Selyeflauta, fiddle
Emerald Kenny – Violin
David Wilson – Bazuki
 
Recorded and Engineered by
Emily Waters at the TV Studio, Mary Immaculate College
And Deirdre Dwyer in the Wired FM Studios
 
Edited by
Deirdre Dwyer
 
Thanks to
Jim Coleman, Nicky Fennell, Ray Burke, Alan Gielty, Dorothy Morrissey, Fiona McDonagh, Mike Finneran, Jacqui Kelleher, Kate McCarthy, BrokenCrows - Ronan FitzGibbon, Rosie O’Regan, George Hanover, Gavin McEntee, Aideen Wylde and Conall Ó Riain. And special thanks to Emily Waters for expert guidance in Audacity.
Additional sounds downloaded from Freesound.org
 
This is dedicated to Judy Elizabeth Gielty, welcome to the world little one.
​

Part of the introduction lecture asked students to bring in, and talk about, their favorite paintings... here are a few of the selection.

We talked about colour, focal points, where the eye is drawn and atmosphere.

 Teaching with Dorothy and Fiona this module on Theatre for Young Audiences.

Have you ever seen anyone as happy!

We had a ball in Lismore bringing our show to two a packed out family audiences!