Participating in a performance of The Vagina Monologues might not seem an obvious addition to a residency, where I've mostly been developing my practice as a maker of work for young audiences, but this, less than obvious, inclusion in my year made for one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at Mary Immaculate College. 

Spurred on by my colleague (and my own personal MIC guide and guru), Dorothy Morrissey, I was persuaded to participate in Eve Ensler's epic play. Dorothy (of the Arts Education and Physical Education Department) and Carole Quigley (of the Drama & Theatre Studies Dept) wrangled a group of willing (but nervous) staff and PHD students into performing the piece on International Woman's Day (March 8th) with all proceeds going to McGarry House in Limerick, an organisation that provides emergency accommodation for homeless men and women. https://www.novas.ie/services/mcgarry-house/

We were directed by Fiona McDonagh (also of the Drama & Theatre Studies Dept) and I was joined on stage by Anne Blake, Deirdre Flynn, Helen O'Dea, (who wrote her own vagina monologue, entitled There were no Vaginas in our House) Vicky Brady, Emma Fisher, Fionnuala Tynan, Miriam Hamilton, Carole  and Dorothy. Major credit is also due to Mike Finneran (Head of D&TS) and his students who lit, stage managed, worked front of house and ushered for us, making an anxious bunch of performers much more at ease.

I must make it clear at this point that though I'm a theatre maker and theatre enthusiast I am not a performer. I quite enjoy reading plays aloud and am more than happy speaking in front of groups but performing something, learning it off and standing in front of a paying audience? Not so much. However I was prevailed upon by Dorothy's enthusiasm and it was a good cause and felt like I should be taking any and all opportunities that came my way as Artist in Residence. Right? 
And, to my surprise, it was a real delight and pleasure! Not alone did I do it. (Performing for the first time since my college final year show!) but I was immediately introduced and plugged into a community of marvelous MIC women. I was greeted in the corridor by my fellow actors and recognised and congratulated on my performance by audience members. With one project I had integrated, at least a little into the fabric of the college. 

And I had performed. Development of my own practice indeed! And if you want to get a taste of what I was at press play on the link below.... I call it CUNT!

Arts Day was on yesterday, the 21st of March and I contributed to the day's programme by directing four short play readings. 

The hit of the day was Mike Finn's Life in 2 Syllables, performed by first year student  Peter Moore, Arts Day organiser Dave Daly and Lecturer Deirdre Flynn. 

The plays from Fishamble's Tiny Plays for Ireland were perfect for some guerilla theatre action in the corridors. 

Thanks to the writers Niamh Creely, Sarah Binchy and Mike Finn for their permission to read them. 

It had given great ideas for other theatre interventions over the next year. 

 Arts Day
Rehearsed Readings of 4 Short Plays at MISU
 
10.00am – Commiserations - 4mins
By Niamh Creely. Written for Fishamble’s Tiny Plays for Ireland
 
11.00am - Thorny Island ­– 4mins
 By Sarah Binchy. Written for Fishamble’s Tiny Plays for Ireland
 
12.00noon – Life in 2 Syllables ­– 4mins
By Mike Finn. Written for Fishamble’s Tiny Plays for Ireland
 
1pm –      Trifles – 25 mins
By Susan Glaspell, Written in New York in 1916
 
Selected and Directed by Deirdre Dwyer,
Mary Immaculate College Theatre Artist in Residence
 
Featuring Staff and Students including:
Miriam Hamilton, Peter Moore, Carole Quigley, Dave Daly, Deirdre Flynn, Emma Fisher, Dorothy Morrissey, Diarmuid Glass, Darren Barry and Helen O’Dea.

Snow days don't mean days off for the self employed.
Nope.
Instead I'm using the enforced home time to crack on with the script writing for The Snow Queen.
​The snow outside is certainly useful to keep my mind thinking about snowflakes and icy cold. (But the beautiful drifting flakes are also mesmerising and a bit distracting.)

Along with Dr. Dorothy Morrissey and David Daly I'm teaching 3rd year education students on their elective module in Drama.

As a first introduction to design we examined colour and made a colour wheel from objects brought from home.
​
I also presented some of my favorite quotes about design and its importance in developing the world of the play... 

The students are going to be using found objects to create and perform scene of their own devising from a potential work of Theatre for Young audiences. 

A quick introduction  to the students about what it is I'm doing here.  (*Thanks for the photos Maeve Clancy maeveclancy.com/, Maeve is the wonderful Visual Artist in Residence) 

February always feels like the real beginning of a new year to me. Beginning things in January holds too much pressure. I prefer to ease my way in.

By that token I am now starting 2018 and starting plans and schemes for new work. 

Since October I have been Theatre Artist in Residence in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, co funded by Mary I, Belltable and the Arts Council. 
Thus far my residency has consisted of meeting as many of the student teachers as possible and figuring out how I can best engage with them, now it is time to hit the ground running. 

This term I hope work with Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen to develop it as a work for young audiences. I am focusing on the script and am breaking away from the visuals to create a play for voices!